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A verb for loutish, boorish, uncouth behavior

English Language & Usage Asked on December 28, 2020

Is there a single verb for someone behaving boorishly, in particular someone talking in loutish fashion? I googled it, and there are many nouns as well as off-noun adjectives like "loutish", but no verbs, although google translate from my native language suggests "lout" as a verb.

What do you say to someone who talks boorishly to you, as in "Don’t ___ to me!"

2 Answers

I suggest two candidates: bluster and mouth off

bluster =

to speak in a loud, angry, or offended way, usually with little effect

Cambridge dictionary

bluster has come into greater use in recent years (look at google ngram) perhaps because of the ways in which modes of political expression have changed.

Your answer: "Don't bluster at me."

If you prefer to answer in the same low register as the speaker I rather like the colloquial but effective "mouth off"

mouth off =

to speak in a rude or offensive way to someone:

Cambridge dictionary

Your answer: "Stop mouthing off at me!"

Correct answer by Anton on December 28, 2020

smart off

To talk back to someone in a rude, impertinent, and disrespectful manner.

You're going to get suspended again if you keep smarting off to your teachers like that.

[The Free Dictionary]

sass

To talk impudently to

[American Heritage Dictionary]

Answered by user403195 on December 28, 2020

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