Duffer: meaning, definitions and examples
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duffer
[ ˈdʌfə ]
informal usage
A duffer is an informal term often used to describe a person who is inept or clumsy in a particular skill or activity. It is commonly used in British English to refer to someone who is unskilled in sports or other endeavors. The term can also imply a lack of seriousness or competence, suggesting that the person is not to be taken seriously in their pursuits. Although it can be used humorously, it can also carry a derogatory connotation.
Synonyms
clumsy individual, dolt, fool, inept person.
Examples of usage
- He’s such a duffer at golf, always missing the ball.
- Don’t be a duffer; pay attention to the instructions!
- She thinks she can cook, but she’s just a duffer in the kitchen.
Translations
Translations of the word "duffer" in other languages:
🇵🇹 inútil
- pateta
- idiota
🇮🇳 बेवकूफ
- मूर्ख
- बेवजह
🇩🇪 Trottel
- Dussel
- Anfänger
🇮🇩 bodoh
- tolol
- pengecut
🇺🇦 недоумок
- дурень
- безтолковий
🇵🇱 nierozgarnięty
- głupek
- nieudacznik
🇯🇵 愚か者
- ポンコツ
- 無能
🇫🇷 idiot
- imbécile
- incapable
🇪🇸 idiota
- torpe
- inepto
🇹🇷 salak
- ahmak
- acemi
🇰🇷 바보
- 멍청이
- 무능한
🇸🇦 أحمق
- غبي
- جاهل
🇨🇿 hlupák
- pitomec
- neschopný
🇸🇰 hlupák
- tupý
- neschopný
🇨🇳 傻瓜
- 笨蛋
- 无能者
🇸🇮 neumenjak
- bedak
- neodgovoren
🇮🇸 fífl
- fáviti
- ófær
🇰🇿 ақылсыз
- ақымақ
- дәрменсіз
🇬🇪 დურაკი
- უტვინო
- არაპროფესიონალი
🇦🇿 axmaq
- cəfəngiyat
- bacarıqsız
🇲🇽 idiota
- torpe
- incapaz
Etymology
The word 'duffer' emerged in the early 19th century. Its origins are somewhat obscure, but it is thought to be derived from the verb 'duff,' which means 'to waste' or 'to spoil.' Over time, 'duffer' evolved to refer specifically to a person who wastes their potential or opportunities, particularly in the realm of sports or social situations. In the early days, 'duffer' had a more neutral connotation, but with the passage of time, it took on a more derisive tone. By the late 19th to early 20th centuries, 'duffer' became a popular term among British speakers, particularly in the context of golf, where it was used to describe inexperienced or incompetent players. The playful tone of the word allowed it to be used in a variety of contexts, cementing its place in informal English vernacular.