Bellyaching: meaning, definitions and examples
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bellyaching
[ ˈbeliˌākiŋ ]
excessive complaining
Bellyaching refers to the act of complaining or expressing dissatisfaction in a persistent and often annoying manner. This term usually implies that the complaints are trivial or unwarranted, and the person engaging in bellyaching is often seen as whiny or irritating. It can be used in various contexts, but is typically associated with informal speech. The word suggests a sense of continuous whining about minor issues rather than addressing more significant concerns.
Synonyms
carping, complaining, grumbling, moaning, whining
Examples of usage
- He spent the whole dinner bellyaching about his job.
- Stop bellyaching and start taking action.
- She was bellyaching about the weather all day.
- I don't want to hear any more bellyaching from you.
Translations
Translations of the word "bellyaching" in other languages:
🇵🇹 reclamação
- queixa
- murmuração
🇮🇳 शिकायत करना
- रोना
- शिकायतें करना
🇩🇪 jammern
- klagen
- nörgeln
🇮🇩 mengeluh
- meng抱怨
- merintih
🇺🇦 скарга
- нарікання
- жалітися
🇵🇱 narzekanie
- skarga
- utyskiwanie
🇯🇵 不満を言う
- 泣き言を言う
- 文句を言う
🇫🇷 se plaindre
- grogner
- râler
🇪🇸 quejarse
- lamentarse
- rajar
🇹🇷 şikayet etmek
- mızmızlanmak
- yakınmak
🇰🇷 불평하다
- 투덜거리다
- 불만을 말하다
🇸🇦 الشكوى
- التذمر
- الشكوى
🇨🇿 stěžovat si
- reptat
- naříkat
🇸🇰 sťažovať si
- reptanie
- naťažovanie
🇨🇳 抱怨
- 发牢骚
- 抱怨
🇸🇮 pritoževati se
- jamrati
- pokrovitelj
🇮🇸 kvarta
- kvarta
- kvarta
🇰🇿 наразылық
- шағымдану
- реніш білдіру
🇬🇪 მოწუხება
- წუწუნი
- საჩივარი
🇦🇿 şikayət etmək
- narazı olmaq
- ağlamaq
🇲🇽 quejarse
- lamentarse
- chillar
Etymology
The term 'bellyaching' finds its origins in early American English, deriving from the combination of 'belly', meaning the stomach, and 'ache', denoting pain or discomfort. The phrase metaphorically equates excessive complaining to a troubled stomach, suggesting that the act of bellyaching arises from an internal discomfort with a situation or condition. Historically, the word has been used in informal contexts since at least the mid-20th century, often in relation to personal grievances or trivial complaints. It conveys a sense of annoyance both in the speaker's and listener's perspectives, as it implies that the complaints may lack substance or importance. The imagery of someone holding their belly while whining aligns with the term's semantics and has contributed to its continued use in colloquial speech. As such, 'bellyaching' remains a vivid descriptor of those who express grievances rather incessantly and with little to no resolution in sight.