# Phil Foden's mum called a 's\*\*g' \[what is a 's\*\*g' (British English insult)\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 9, 2025, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818 "2025-04-09T04:21:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SpicyDuckBillyHunt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@SpicyDuckBillyHunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpicyDuckBillyHunt)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818/1 "2025-04-09T04:21:19Z")
# Phil Foden’s mum called a ‘s\*\*g’. > **[The most vile chants sung by football supporters after Foden abuse](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14580603/Football-chants-Phil-Foden-Posh-Spice-Cheryl-Cole.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490)** > > The vile chant directed at Phil Foden's mother by Manchester United supporters is, sadly, just the latest example of a stomach-churning trend marring the game. Can someone please tell me what a s\*\*g is. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818/2 "2025-04-09T04:24:48Z")
It looks like it may be “slag,” which, in British English, when used in reference to a woman, essentially means “prostitute” or “slut.” > [@](#): > > In slang, _slag_ is an insulting British English term for a [contemptible](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/contemptible) person. When used of women, it can be equivalent to [_slut_](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/slut). > **[Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/slag)** > > The world's leading online dictionary: English definitions, synonyms, word origins, example sentences, word games, and more. A trusted authority for 25+ years! ---
**Author:** ![SpicyDuckBillyHunt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@SpicyDuckBillyHunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpicyDuckBillyHunt)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818/3 "2025-04-09T04:32:37Z")
That is what I thought. But I can not believe that is so offensive that a newspaper can’t print it. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818/4 "2025-04-09T04:34:56Z")
> [@SpicyDuckBillyHunt](#): > > But I can not believe that is so offensive that a newspaper can’t print it. I suspect that a lot of American newspapers wouldn’t print “slut,” either, which seems to be a rough equivalent. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818/5 "2025-04-09T06:04:48Z")
> [@SpicyDuckBillyHunt](#): > > But I can not believe that is so offensive that a newspaper can’t print it. Don’t know the laws but perhaps British defamation laws may not necessarily protect a newspaper repeating a libellous slur. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818/6 "2025-04-09T06:50:48Z")
> [@SpicyDuckBillyHunt](#): > > That is what I thought. But I can not believe that is so offensive that a newspaper can’t print it. Facebook bans the word from being used in groups. Which is actually a significant problem in a rock ID group. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818/7 "2025-04-09T08:00:53Z")
> [@SpicyDuckBillyHunt](#): > > That is what I thought. But I can not believe that is so offensive that a newspaper can’t print it. I don’t think the word itself is up there with c\*nt, but when directed maliciously at a woman, it’s pretty bloody offensive. I can appreciate the paper wouldn’t want to spell it out. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818/8 "2025-04-09T08:30:47Z")
One other comment - every paper has its own guidelines on reporting/using offensive language - from what I can tell, it’s generally how much they rate the intelligence of their readers. So tabloids won’t print the full word (but will probably put it in large type in a headline to sell more papers), whereas more intellectual papers such as The Guardian will print the word in full, knowing that their readers won’t get the vapours. ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818/9 "2025-04-09T15:41:02Z")
Part of the reason the triceratops Dinobot is named “Snarl” in Transformers Animated - even thought there already was a Snarl (a stegosaurus) in G1 - specifically _because_ his original name, “Slag”, is an offensive word in other English-speaking countries. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818/10 "2025-04-09T16:10:10Z")
There is actually a comic called “The Fat Slags”. I suppose that kind of content is aimed at mocking tabloid readers, rather than to be consumed by them. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818/11 "2025-04-09T16:11:49Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > [@SpicyDuckBillyHunt](#): > > > > But I can not believe that is so offensive that a newspaper can’t print it. > > I suspect that a lot of American newspapers wouldn’t print “slut,” either, which seems to be a rough equivalent. FWIW, “slut” is not a valid word in Words with Friends. OTOH four of George Carlin’s Seven Dirty Words (“shit”, “piss”, “tits”, and “cocksucker”) are valid words. As is “asshole”. And “slag”. > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Facebook bans the word from being used in groups. Which is actually a significant problem in a rock ID group. I’d think it would be a significant problem in metallurgy and volcanology groups as well (assuming you are sill talking about “slag”). ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818/12 "2025-04-09T16:14:17Z")
Quite a few news and sports outlets in the U.S. like ESPN do pearl-clutching over offensive names/chants that stir controversy, refusing to tell the reader what they were. So you have to go to TMZ or other sites to find out what the uproar’s about. In the current case, it’s easy to confirm that the s-word was indeed what’s been described here, and to find photos of the demeaned s\*\*\* in question. 🫣 ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818/13 "2025-04-09T16:17:06Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > I’d think it would be a significant problem in metallurgy and volcanology groups as well (assuming you are sill talking about “slag”). Or when discussing the “slag-heaps” in _The Great Gatsby_. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818/14 "2025-04-09T16:19:59Z")
“Slag” is a real word; I do not think anyone will be scratching their head or shocked reading about smelting ores. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818/15 "2025-04-09T16:28:15Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > There is actually a comic called “The Fat Slags”. I suppose that kind of content is aimed at mocking tabloid readers, rather than to be consumed by them. Ah yes, I remember the Fat Slags - a comic strip in the ‘lad’ mag Viz in the '90s. I think it’s fair to say it wasn’t a very ‘woke’ time. As I said above, the word itself doesn’t have the flinching effect of c\*nt - I wouldn’t really call it a swear word - but if you’re using it as a method of hurling abuse at someone’s mother, then it really really isn’t very nice - more for what it means than as a horrible word in itself. If that makes sense? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818/16 "2025-04-09T16:33:05Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > “Slag” is a real word; I do not think anyone will be scratching their head or shocked reading about smelting ores. And yet Facebook declines to allow posting comments that contain the word, in any and all contexts. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818/17 "2025-04-09T16:38:38Z")
> [@psiekier](#): > > Part of the reason the triceratops Dinobot is named “Snarl” in Transformers Animated - even thought there already was a Snarl (a stegosaurus) in G1 - specifically _because_ his original name, “Slag”, is an offensive word in other English-speaking countries. - At least the ones the Tenctonese settled in. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818/18 "2025-04-09T16:47:17Z")
> [@SpicyDuckBillyHunt](#): > > That is what I thought. But I can not believe that is so offensive that a newspaper can’t print it. This might be the reverse of the c-word we are discussing in another thread viz. mildly offensive in the US and practically verboten in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818/19 "2025-04-09T16:52:13Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Ah yes, I remember the Fat Slags - a comic strip in the ‘lad’ mag Viz in the '90s. I think it’s fair to say it wasn’t a very ‘woke’ time. Although long past its heyday, Viz (including the Fat Slags, Sid the Sexist, Biffa Bacon amongst others) is still going strong. ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818/20 "2025-04-09T16:53:26Z")
I’m not going to go around introducing you to people as “Sam Francisco”. Can I just call you “George”? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-fodens-mum-called-a-s-g-what-is-a-s-g-british-english-insult/1016818.md?page=2)