# The cu\*t word **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 7, 2025, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729 "2025-04-07T08:57:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729/101 "2025-04-08T06:54:33Z")
Anyone remember the term “punching down”? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729/102 "2025-04-08T06:55:38Z")
Along with “scream” and “whimper”. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729/103 "2025-04-08T06:58:20Z")
Yes, just ask Hillary Clinton. You could add cackle too. 😉 It’s amazing to me that we can’t meaningfully discuss wealth inequaliy, or apparently any other serious subjects without gendered and misogynistic insults. Maybe that is the answere to most of societies ills. … Um let me think a minute, Yeah, No. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729/104 "2025-04-08T09:00:23Z")
Just anote that the word “cunt” isn’t acceptable everywhere outside the UK/Oz. It’s not accepted in South Africa. I’ve even stopped using it in the Pit. And “Coloured” is not “colored”. There’s a _u_ in it. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729/105 "2025-04-08T09:12:22Z")
Go ahead. It’s not like having one conversation precludes all others. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729/106 "2025-04-08T12:34:12Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > Here it is not gender affiliated. Whilst a woman might be called a c-nt on occasion, it’s more often reserved for men who are complete and utter cu-ts. That seems so weird to me. The literal meaning of c-nt is vagina. How can that not be gender affiliated? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729/107 "2025-04-08T12:55:49Z")
The literal meaning of “goodbye” used to be “God be with ye”, and yet its usage today is completely devoid of religious connotations. Language drifts. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729/108 "2025-04-08T12:57:12Z")
Literally! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729/109 "2025-04-08T13:01:59Z")
I might argue the same about “gay” and “retarded.” But we try to avoid those too and would sound a bit silly claiming they are in no way homophobic or ableist. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729/110 "2025-04-08T13:06:16Z")
Cunt refers to female genitalia not just the vagina. It’s the whole shebang clitoris vagina cervix Why do men want to call each other cunts,? can’t have it darlings it belongs to us women in all its cunty glory. Guys got dick. Tbt, it’s not that shocking of a word ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729/111 "2025-04-08T13:16:36Z")
In UK or similar contexts, I don’t read it as too jarring. Perhaps like “asshole,” in that it can be used in a familiar non-angry way, like “what are you assholes up to?” (At least my peers often use it that way.) But “cunt” is a special taboo here, especially used against a woman. To my ears, in American English, it is among the strongest swear words. Only “nigger” comes close to me. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729/112 "2025-04-08T15:36:46Z")
I guess it drifts to different extents in different places. In the US, the word refers to female genitalia and nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729/113 "2025-04-08T15:45:42Z")
Yes, I’m in the US, and I’m aware of that. But i hang out with enough Brits to also be aware of its usage there. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729/114 "2025-04-08T16:05:58Z")
> [@natureboy](#): > > No, I am not, but I am suggesting that people are done with thought/language-policing. You can think what you want, but I don’t care. Are those people the ones who are trying to pull books out of public and school libraries around here? ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729/115 "2025-04-08T16:12:17Z")
I never fully appreciated or understood the insult, as I am quite fond of them myself. 😻 ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729/116 "2025-04-08T16:45:17Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > In the 90s, it was common to call people gay as an insult and people would clarify with how it didn’t _mean_ they were a homosexual, it meant they were lame and everyone knows homosexuals are lame so it’s fine. > > If you fell asleep tonight and woke up tomorrow in the 90s, would you happily go around calling everyone you didn’t like gay because everyone else was doing it or would you be like, it’s kinda fucked up we did that back then and you wouldn’t do it again even if you had the permission? FYI “gay” is still used as an insult where I live, in 2025. And not just as a resurgence, I’ve heard constant use since I was in middle school ~2008. /offtopic ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729/117 "2025-04-08T16:48:24Z")
> [@natureboy](#): > > This isn’t rooted in matriarchal oppression; it’s rooted in religious fundamentalism and Victorianism. No, it’s rooted in “this is how language works.” There are always words that are not acceptable in polite conversation, and they generally become acceptable over time or else vanish altogether. That doesn’t mean we’re obligated to speed the process along. If you were able to wave a magic wand and make every single word currently in existence devoid of pejorative invective, new ones would pop up immediately and you’d be right back in here complaining that not being allowed to call another poster a spippidyboop is unconscionable thought policing. This isn’t a public square where posters can say whatever they want to whoever they want. It’s a dinner party where we’re all expected to exercise a certain level of good manners. And just like in the real world, going to a dinner party and loudly insisting that you’re going to use exactly the words you want with zero regard for the people around you means you’re going to be asked not to come around anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729/118 "2025-04-08T20:18:05Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > If you were able to wave a magic wand and make every single word currently in existence devoid of pejorative invective, new ones would pop up immediately and you’d be right back in here complaining that not being allowed to call another poster a spippidyboop is unconscionable thought policing. Dude you can’t use the s-word anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729/119 "2025-04-08T20:58:31Z")
That reminds me…remember the word “_Bippy_”? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729/120 "2025-04-09T00:55:28Z")
Please stop thought policing me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cu-t-word/1016729.md?page=7)