Schmuck, or shmuck, is a pejorative term meaning one who is stupid or foolish, or an obnoxious, contemptible or detestable person. The word came into the English language from Yiddish (Yiddish: שמאָק, shmok), where it has similar pejorative meanings, but where its literal meaning is a vulgar term for a penis.[1]
In the German language, the word Schmuck means "jewelry, adornment".[5] It is a nominalization of the German verb schmücken "to decorate" and is unrelated to the word discussed in this article.[2]
EuphemismsEdit
Because of its generally being considered a vulgarity, the word is often euphemized as schmoe, which was the source of Al Capp's cartoon strip creature the shmoo.[6] Other variants include schmo and shmo.
In Jewish-American cultureEdit
Leo Rosten writes in The Joys of Yiddish that schmuck is commonly viewed among Jews as an obscene word that should not be said lightly.[7]Lenny Bruce, a Jewish stand-up comedian, wrote that the use of the word during his performances in 1962 led to his arrest on the West Coast, "by a Yiddish undercover agent who had been placed in the club several nights running to determine if [his] use of Yiddish terms was a cover for profanity".[8]
In popular cultureEdit
Although schmuck is considered an obscene term in Yiddish, it has become a common American idiom for "jerk" or "idiot". It can be taken as offensive, however, by some Jews, particularly those with strong Yiddish roots. Allan Sherman explained in his book The Rape of the A*P*E* that, if a word is used frequently enough, it loses its shock value and comes into common usage without raising any eyebrows.[9]
The term was notably used in the 2010 comedy film Dinner for Schmucks, in which the plot centered on a competition among businessmen to see who could invite the biggest idiot to a monthly dinner. In her review of the film for the New York Times, film critic Debbie Schlussel took issue with the movie's use of the term "schmuck", and with its use of Yiddish at all, adding: “The more correct title would have been ‘Dinner for Schlemiels'.”[10] She added, "At The New York Times, where the word is still considered potentially offensive, the title of [the] film may be mentioned only sparingly. Still, advertisements for the movie would probably pass muster", and suggested that the main characters in the film might be more appropriately called "shmendriks".[10]
In bodybuilding culture, the term "schmoe", or "smos", is used to describe a person, often a wealthy man who is less muscular and weaker than bodybuilders, who pays bodybuilders money for private posing sessions, wrestling, and prostitution.[11][12][13]
Look up schmuck in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Yiddish Dictionary Online
October 21, 2023
schmuck, pejorative, schmuck, shmuck, pejorative, term, meaning, stupid, foolish, obnoxious, contemptible, detestable, person, word, came, into, english, language, from, yiddish, yiddish, שמא, shmok, where, similar, pejorative, meanings, where, literal, meanin. Schmuck or shmuck is a pejorative term meaning one who is stupid or foolish or an obnoxious contemptible or detestable person The word came into the English language from Yiddish Yiddish שמא ק shmok where it has similar pejorative meanings but where its literal meaning is a vulgar term for a penis 1 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Euphemisms 3 In Jewish American culture 4 In popular culture 5 In bodybuilding 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksEtymology EditThe Yiddish word shmok derives from Old Polish smok grass snake dragon 2 3 4 In the German language the word Schmuck means jewelry adornment 5 It is a nominalization of the German verb schmucken to decorate and is unrelated to the word discussed in this article 2 Euphemisms EditBecause of its generally being considered a vulgarity the word is often euphemized as schmoe which was the source of Al Capp s cartoon strip creature the shmoo 6 Other variants include schmo and shmo In Jewish American culture EditLeo Rosten writes in The Joys of Yiddish that schmuck is commonly viewed among Jews as an obscene word that should not be said lightly 7 Lenny Bruce a Jewish stand up comedian wrote that the use of the word during his performances in 1962 led to his arrest on the West Coast by a Yiddish undercover agent who had been placed in the club several nights running to determine if his use of Yiddish terms was a cover for profanity 8 In popular culture EditAlthough schmuck is considered an obscene term in Yiddish it has become a common American idiom for jerk or idiot It can be taken as offensive however by some Jews particularly those with strong Yiddish roots Allan Sherman explained in his book The Rape of the A P E that if a word is used frequently enough it loses its shock value and comes into common usage without raising any eyebrows 9 The term was notably used in the 2010 comedy film Dinner for Schmucks in which the plot centered on a competition among businessmen to see who could invite the biggest idiot to a monthly dinner In her review of the film for the New York Times film critic Debbie Schlussel took issue with the movie s use of the term schmuck and with its use of Yiddish at all adding The more correct title would have been Dinner for Schlemiels 10 She added At The New York Times where the word is still considered potentially offensive the title of the film may be mentioned only sparingly Still advertisements for the movie would probably pass muster and suggested that the main characters in the film might be more appropriately called shmendriks 10 In bodybuilding EditSee also Muscle worship In bodybuilding culture the term schmoe or smos is used to describe a person often a wealthy man who is less muscular and weaker than bodybuilders who pays bodybuilders money for private posing sessions wrestling and prostitution 11 12 13 See also EditJoe Shmoe Lance Corporal Schmuckatelli List of English words of Yiddish origin PrickReferences Edit Gross David C English Yiddish Yiddish English Dictionary Romanized Hippocrene Books 1995 p 144 ISBN 0 7818 0439 6 a b Schmuck Online Etymology Dictionary Retrieved 17 Jan 2011 Schmuck American Heritage Dictionary Retrieved 5 Dec 2018 Gold David L 1982 More on Yiddish shmok Comments on Etymology 11 15 33 37 Schmuck Leo Online German English Dictionary pp 360 362 Retrieved 13 Mar 2010 Rosten Leo The Joys of Yiddish New York Pocket Books 1968 pp 360 362 Rosten Leo The New Joy of Yiddish Crown Publishers New York 2001 pgs 78 162 ISBN 0 609 60785 5 Paley Maggie The Book of the Penis New York Grove Press 2000 p 78 ISBN 0802136931 Sherman Allan The Rape of the A P E the Official History of the Sex Revolution 1945 1973 Chicago Playboy 1973 Print a b Cieply Michael May 3 2010 Much Movie Title Meshugas The New York Times Retrieved November 19 2015 Schmoes In Bodybuilding muscle insider com Hildebrand Bryan P J Braun The Other Fans www rxmuscle com IFBB Pro Undercover 16 15 January 2003 External links Edit nbsp Look up schmuck in Wiktionary the free dictionary Yiddish Dictionary Online Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Schmuck pejorative amp oldid 1175728715, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
