
Tosser is a common slang term used by Brits. Well, did you know the meaning? It is used for someone’s annoying behavior. You will commonly hear it in football matches, group chats, during a driving bash, etc. People basically use the word tosser to express their agony over someone’s attitude.
It’s not only used by Brits but also in parts of the US, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. Shows like Love Island, Peaky Blinders, or old Top Gear episodes promote the use of such slang terms so that people know them commonly and can understand the context when they hear them in any uncertain conditions.
In plain English: a tosser is someone who’s being a total prat. They’re acting stupid, selfish, arrogant, or just really annoying. Think of that guy who pushes in front of you in the queue, or your mate who won’t stop bragging, yeah, perfect tosser material.
It’s not the worst insult ever (it’s not on the level of some proper nasty words), but it’s still rude. Brits use it when they’re irritated but don’t want to start a massive fight. Sometimes mates say it to each other as a joke, kind of like calling your friend a donut or a muppet. It’s playful if you know each other well.
Okay, the origin is a bit gross. “Toss” used to be a rude way of saying, well, you know, tossing yourself off (yeah, that). So calling someone a “tosser” basically meant they were a wanker literally. Over the years, the meaning softened. Now, most people don’t even think about that old meaning anymore; it just means “idiot” with a British accent.
It properly took off in the 70s and 80s, got thrown around in comedy shows, football terraces, and building sites, and just stuck. These days, even kids use it without knowing the dirty backstory.
You’ll hear “tosser” when:
Among close mates, it can be banter. Like one guy messes up on FIFA and his friend goes “You absolute tosser!” and everyone laughs. But learn to know the proper use of each such term because the wrong use may lead to serious troubles. You can use it with your friends or age fellows, but not with elders, or seniors, or during a serious talk. It’s pure pub talk.
Tosser is just classic British slang for someone acting like a fool. To use slang terms, one must know the proper usage and exact meaning so they can use them in the proper context and can interpret the meanings correctly. These terms are just used when you are chatting in a light mood with a group of friends or are relaxing in a pub after a long, hectic working day. Never use it for your seniors or elders, since it will sound rude.
You can follow us to keep reading about more similar terms as we keep posting regularly, and discuss a term with the complete information to brief you about the proper usage. Once understood, you can use it perfectly according to the situation or can understand the meanings if overheard somewhere or when you hear it on TV shows, etc.
To read more about British slang terms, follow us at British slang guide.
It means someone who’s acting like an idiot, being annoying, selfish, or just really stupid in the moment. Pretty much the British version of calling someone a jerk.
Yeah, it’s definitely rude; it’s an insult. But it’s not the harshest word they’ve got, so it’s more “cheeky rude” than outright nasty most of the time.
All the time, especially lads messing about. If you’re proper mates and everyone’s laughing, it’s just banter. Just don’t say it if the vibe feels off.
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