Is there a really annoying person that you just can’t stand the sight of? Perhaps there is a foolish person who thinks they are smarter than they really are? For those dealing with people who are hard to be around due to a nasty personality, the best way to describe them is as being a smuck.
If you are to find out more about this phrase and how to use it, you are in the right place. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
A smuck is a foolish person who thinks they know it all. It also means that a person has a bad personality and is very hard to be around. In some cases, it can refer to a person’s bodily odor, specifically a bad smell. People that are acting like a jackass or an a**hole and refuse to get their life together are also considered smucks. The term can also be used to describe misfortune or something that is undesirable.
A lesser used meaning for smuck is the foreskin that has been removed during circumcision. The word has negative connotations and can also be used to express that a person is stupid or performed poorly. Smuck can also be used to describe debris, dirt, and other trash. More information can be found in the video (here).
Example Usage
“Don’t be such a smuck, just do what you are told”.
“I can’t stand him, he always acts like such a smuck every time we come over”.
“I need to clean up all that smuck in the driveway, the dogs got into the trash again”.
“Gosh you are really a dumb smuck aren’t you? Nothing you do seems to turn out properly”.
Origin
The word smuck actually comes from shmuck. Though the spelling is slightly different, both words carry the same meaning. Schmuck is the original word that comes from the Yiddish language. It is a vulgar way to say penis skin. It has been shortened to smuck over the years either through intention or simply misspelling. It originated in the Jewish culture in the late 1890s and is considered a vulgar term. In fact, it is highly taboo among Jewish people.
Though the phrase started off in Jewish circles, it started spreading to the regular English vernacular through movies and TV shows. One of the movies that helped spread the word is The Big Short which was released in 2015. It was also used often in the long-running series Seinfeld. There are plenty of instances of smuck being used on TV and online as early as 2001. Though vulgar and always offensive, the word has become a pretty commonly used phrase in modern language.
Phrases Similar to Smuck
- Jerk
- Asshole
- Idiot
- Prick
- Hardass
- Dumbass
Phrases Opposite to Smuck
- Nice guy
- Friend
- Helpful
- Polite
- Cordial
What is the Correct Saying?
- The proper way to say smuck is Shmuck.
Ways People May Incorrectly Say Smuck
In just about every instance the phrase smuck is used in a negative fashion. Some ways that smuck is used incorrectly are:
- John is such a smuck, I really like how things worked out with him.
- Please act like a smuck when you meet my parents.
- Behaving like a smuck is a sure way to get popular at school.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Smuck
- You are really a useless smuck, I’m glad we broke up.
- Jonsey looks and smells like a piece of smuck that has been in the sun too long.
- I hate my boss, he is really nothing better than an overpaid smuck.
- You are such a stupid smuck, it will be your downfall eventually.
- This team is nothing but smuck, I know we will lose even with half of their team absent.