podge

A child uses a pot of podge to stick colorful paper shapes onto a poster.

Definition

1. Noun (informal):
   • A short, fat person: "podge" refers to a person who is overweight and usually of small stature.
   • A thick, soft mass: Rarely, "podge" can denote a soft, pulpy lump or mass, especially of food or clay.

Usage Examples

• (A short, fat person with a friendly demeanour.)
• (An affectionate term for a plump infant.)

Advanced Usage

• "to have a podge": to be somewhat overweight or to have a plump physique.
  • She’s got a bit of a podge around her middle after the holidays. (A slight accumulation of fat.)

Variants and Related Words

• Podgey (adj): variant spelling of "podgy"; meaning short and fat or plump.
  • The podgey puppy waddled across the room. (The plump puppy moved awkwardly.)
• Podgy (adj): (British informal) slightly fat in a way that is often considered cute or endearing.
  • His podgy fingers struggled to button his coat. (His plump fingers had difficulty.)

Synonyms

• Chub: a plump person or thing (informal).
• Dumpling: a term of endearment for a short, round person (informal).
• Pudgy: slightly fat; chubby.

Related Idioms

• A little podge: an affectionate term for a small, fat person or animal.
  • That kitten is a little podge — it loves eating and sleeping. (A playful description.)

Usage Notes

• "Podge" is primarily used in British English and is considered informal, often affectionate or humorous. It is less common in American English, where "pudgy" or "chubby" are more typical.
• The word can be used as a nickname or a term of endearment, but it may cause offence if used to describe someone without familiarity or consent.