Butchered Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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butchered
[ˈbʌtʃərd ]
Definition
past action
Butchered refers to the act of killing animals for meat. It can also describe messing up something badly, resulting in poor quality or finished product.
Synonyms
mangled, murdered, ruined, slaughtered.
Examples of usage
- He butchered the cow for the market.
- She butchered the pronunciation of the foreign name.
- The editor butchered the author's manuscript.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Pop Culture
- The phrase 'butchered a song' refers to poorly singing or playing a piece of music, often in a humorous context.
- In cinema, fans may say a movie was 'butchered' if significant cuts were made that altered the story's quality.
- Online communities often use 'butchered' to describe badly executed memes or jokes that lose their original humor.
Literature
- In writing, 'butchering' a story means that the author made so many changes it lost its original meaning or appeal.
- Editing processes can sometimes lead to manuscripts being 'butchered' if too much content is removed or altered without care.
- Classic tales have been 'butchered' in adaptations that fail to capture the essence of the original work.
Psychology
- Cognitive dissonance can be a reason behind people feeling that something was 'butchered', as mixed messages create confusion.
- The concept of 'butchered communication' highlights how poor explaining can lead to misunderstandings.
- Anxiety can cause individuals to 'butcher' their speeches or presentations, leading to poorer performance due to fear of judgment.
Technology
- In computer programming, code can be described as 'butchered' when it is inefficiently written and difficult to understand.
- User experience can be negatively impacted when software updates are poorly executed, leading to a 'butchered' interface.
- Video game releases sometimes face backlash when the final product is seen as 'butchered', often due to rushed development.
Origin of 'butchered'
Main points about word origin
- The term comes from the Middle French word 'bouchier', which means 'to cut' or 'to butcher'.
- In its original context, it referred specifically to the preparation of meat but has evolved to have broader meanings.
- The verb form suggests both physical cutting and metaphorical meanings related to poor execution.
The term 'butchered' comes from the Old French word 'bouchier', which means to slaughter animals for meat. This word has its origins traced back to the Latin word 'bucer', which refers to a cow or ox. The transition of the term into English occurred during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. Over time, the meaning of 'butcher' expanded beyond its literal sense of slaughtering animals to include a figurative sense of ruining or making a serious mistake, reflecting the idea of mishandling a task as one would mishandle a piece of meat while butchering. This dual usage illustrates the evolution of language and how certain words can transcend their original meanings to convey additional connotations.