s-o-b
Definition
- Noun:
- An insulting term: "s.o.b." is an abbreviation for "son of a bitch," used as a coarse insult to express anger, contempt, or strong disapproval toward a person.
- A difficult or unpleasant person: In informal usage, "s.o.b." can refer to someone who is considered mean, treacherous, or generally objectionable.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- That s.o.b. stole my wallet! (A person who is despised for a dishonest act.)
- He’s a real s.o.b. to work for — always yelling at his employees. (A person who is unpleasant or cruel.)
Advanced Usage
"to call someone an s.o.b.": to insult someone using this term.
- She called him an s.o.b. after he lied to her. (She insulted him harshly for dishonesty.)
"tough s.o.b.": used to describe someone who is resilient, tough, or ruthless, often with grudging admiration.
- He’s a tough s.o.b. who survived the war. (A person who is very strong or resilient.)
Variants and Related Words
Son of a bitch (n phrase): the full form of "s.o.b."
- He called his boss a son of a bitch. (He used the full insult.)
S.O.B. (acronym): another common way to write the abbreviation, often in all caps.
Synonyms
- Bastard: a coarse term for a person considered unpleasant or despicable.
- Scoundrel: a person who behaves dishonorably or immorally.
- Jerk: a milder informal term for an irritating or obnoxious person.
Related Idioms
"Son of a bitch!": used as an exclamation of surprise, frustration, or anger.
- Son of a bitch! I forgot my keys. (An expression of frustration.)
"Every s.o.b. for himself": a situation where no one helps others; everyone acts selfishly.
- In that company, it’s every s.o.b. for himself. (Everyone is selfish and uncooperative.)
Usage Notes
- Formality: "s.o.b." is a vulgar, offensive term and should be avoided in polite or formal conversation. It is commonly used in informal, angry, or highly emotional contexts.
- Abbreviation: The abbreviation "s.o.b." is often used in writing to soften the vulgarity, but it still carries strong negative connotations.