blighter
/'blaitə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A fellow, man, or chap: An informal, often slightly old-fashioned or British term for a man or boy. It can be neutral or carry a tone of mild annoyance or sympathy.
- A persistently annoying or contemptible person: Someone who causes trouble or is a nuisance.
Examples of Usage
- Noun (meaning: a fellow):
- The poor blighter lost his wallet on the train.
- He's a decent blighter once you get to know him.
- Noun (meaning: annoying person):
- That blighter keeps parking in my spot!
- Don't be such a blighter and let me have a turn.
Advanced Usage
- The word often conveys a sense of exasperation but can also express a degree of rough affection or pity, depending on context.
- You lucky blighter! (Expressing envy in a friendly, informal way.)
- The poor blighter never stood a chance. (Expressing sympathy.)
Variants and Related Words
- Blight (verb/noun): To spoil or damage something; a thing that spoils or damages. While related in origin, "blight" is not a direct variant of "blighter" in modern usage.
- Rust blighted the crops.
- Urban blight.
Synonyms
- For "fellow": Chap, guy, bloke, lad, fellow.
- For "annoying person": Nuisance, pest, bother, scoundrel (stronger), rascal.
Related Phrases
- "You blighter!": A common exclamation of annoyance or, sometimes, admiration directed at a person.
- You blighter! You scared me half to death!
- You clever blighter! You solved it before I did.
Related Idioms
- "Poor blighter": A common idiom expressing sympathy for someone's unfortunate situation.
- Look at him trying to fix that in the rain, poor blighter.
Noun
- a boy or man
- that chap is your host
- there's a fellow at the door
- he's a likable cuss
- he's a good bloke
- a persistently annoying person