scallywag
/'skæləwæg/ Cách viết khác : (scallawag) /'skæləwæg/ (scallywag) /'skæliwæg/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A person, especially a child, who is playfully mischievous: "scallywag" can refer to someone who enjoys playful tricks or harmless misbehavior.
- A deceitful and unreliable scoundrel: The word also describes a person who is dishonest and cannot be trusted.
- A white Southerner who supported Reconstruction policies after the American Civil War (usually for self-interest): This is a historical, often derogatory term used in the United States for a Southern white person who cooperated with Northern Republicans during the post-Civil War Reconstruction era.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- That little scallywag hid my keys as a joke! (Referring to a playfully mischievous person.)
- Don't trust him with money; he's a known scallywag. (Referring to a deceitful person.)
- During Reconstruction, the term "scallywag" was used to insult Southerners who supported the new government. (Referring to the historical context.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used with affectionate humor when referring to a mischievous child.
- In its historical sense, "scallywag" carries strong negative connotations and reflects deep political divisions.
Variants and Related Words
- Scalawag (n): An alternative and more common spelling of "scallywag," with identical meanings.
- Rapscallion (n): A synonym often used for a mischievous person, especially a child.
Synonyms
- Rogue: A dishonest or unprincipled man.
- Rascal: A mischievous or cheeky person, often used affectionately.
- Mischief-maker: A person who causes trouble, often in a playful way.
Idioms and Phrases
- No specific idioms are uniquely formed with "scallywag." The word itself is often used in descriptive phrases, such as "a little scallywag" or "that old scallywag."
Noun
- one who is playfully mischievous
- a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
- a white Southerner who supported Reconstruction policies after the American Civil War (usually for self-interest)