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View Poll Results: If I told you Jim was starkers, you'd
conclude that Jim was naked 85 54.49%
conclude that Jim was insane 17 10.90%
insist that there's not enough information to make that call 37 23.72%
be baffled, having never heard the word before in either context 17 10.90%
Voters: 156. You may not vote on this poll

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  #1  
Old 11-04-2011, 12:54 AM
elfkin477 elfkin477 is online now
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Poll: Starkers
I swear I've heard both definitions for this word, but let's see, shall we?
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  #2  
Old 11-04-2011, 01:02 AM
jjimm jjimm is offline
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To me (UK), "starkers" is specifically and only ever 'naked'.

"Stark raving bonkers" is 'insane', but I've never heard or seen it shortened.
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  #3  
Old 11-04-2011, 01:57 AM
Grumman Grumman is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jjimm View Post
To me (UK), "starkers" is specifically and only ever 'naked'.

"Stark raving bonkers" is 'insane', but I've never heard or seen it shortened.
This. I would have gone with "Stark raving mad" for the second example, but that's even further from what the OP's going for.
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  #4  
Old 11-04-2011, 03:33 AM
don't ask don't ask is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jjimm View Post
To me (UK), "starkers" is specifically and only ever 'naked'.

"Stark raving bonkers" is 'insane', but I've never heard or seen it shortened.
Aussie. Same answer though probably not bonkers, just stark raving mad or a stark raving lunatic.
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  #5  
Old 11-04-2011, 04:08 AM
cochrane cochrane is online now
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To me, (USAian) it could be either naked or crazy, depending on context. Or both, as the two situations aren't always mutually exclusive of each other.
Last edited by cochrane; 11-04-2011 at 04:09 AM.
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  #6  
Old 11-04-2011, 04:22 AM
6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast 6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast is offline
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If Jim is starkers, he's definitely in the naked nudidity.

If he's stark raving mad, he's mental and hopefully fully clothed. Something with long sleeves that buckle at the back would be comforting fashion statement. For me, not him.
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  #7  
Old 11-04-2011, 07:32 AM
HazelNutCoffee HazelNutCoffee is online now
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If you said he IS starkers, I would assume he's insane. If you said he WAS starkers, I'd assume he was naked at some point in the past.
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  #8  
Old 11-04-2011, 08:14 AM
Anaamika Anaamika is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HazelNutCoffee View Post
If you said he IS starkers, I would assume he's insane. If you said he WAS starkers, I'd assume he was naked at some point in the past.
This!
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  #9  
Old 11-04-2011, 09:57 AM
applebetty applebetty is offline
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It depends on context. Stark raving mad vs. stark naked. "He's starkers!" is not heard much around here, usually he's either nekkid as a jay bird or just plain crazy, but he could be both.

US, Deep South here.
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  #10  
Old 11-04-2011, 10:03 AM
Cat Whisperer Cat Whisperer is online now
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I've thrown over 'starkers' for the more current 'nakies.'
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  #11  
Old 11-04-2011, 10:08 AM
LSLGuy LSLGuy is offline
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USA-type. Never heard the term before this thread.

It sounds Brit / Aussie / Kiwi / etc. to me but could mean darn near anything. My first guess was it was a new hipster terms for people with very black-and-white political / social opinions.
Last edited by LSLGuy; 11-04-2011 at 10:10 AM. Reason: Out! Out Foul typos!
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  #12  
Old 11-04-2011, 12:01 PM
Scubaqueen Scubaqueen is offline
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USAian here (good term, that, cochrane).

starkers = naked
barking = nuts

Lots of BBCA watched. And Harry Potter movies.
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  #13  
Old 11-04-2011, 12:39 PM
jsgoddess jsgoddess is online now
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starkers = stark naked rather than stark raving mad or stark staring mad
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  #14  
Old 11-04-2011, 01:39 PM
Rhiannon8404 Rhiannon8404 is offline
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I've only ever heard "starkers" refer to someone totally naked.
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  #15  
Old 11-04-2011, 02:44 PM
Cap'n Obvious Cap'n Obvious is offline
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Starkers have always meant naked to me, and I'm from the deep south of GA as well.

On an aside, am I the only one who misread the title of the thread as poll strokers?
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