nuts
pronunciation
How to pronounce nuts in British English:
UK [nʌts]
How to pronounce nuts in American English:
US [nʌts]
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- Adjective:
- informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
Word Origin
- nuts (adj.)
- "crazy," 1846, from earlier be nutts upon "be very fond of" (1785), which is possibly from nuts (plural noun) "any source of pleasure" (1610s), from nut (q.v.). Sense influenced probably by metaphoric application of nut to "head" (1846, as in to be off one's nut "be insane," 1860). Nuts as a derisive retort is attested from 1931. Connection with the slang "testicle" sense has tended to nudge it toward taboo. "On the N.B.C. network, it is forbidden to call any character a nut; you have to call him a screwball." ["New Yorker," Dec. 23, 1950] "Please eliminate the expression 'nuts to you' from Egbert's speech." [Request from the Hays Office regarding the script of "The Bank Dick," 1940] This desire for avoidance accounts for the euphemism nerts (c. 1925).
Example
- 1. We set out the scheme 's nuts and bolts below .
- 2. His favorite argument today is one that instead drives some conservatives nuts .
- 3. Hard lock nuts have been proven effective in a variety of tests .
- 4. I 'm interested in coming up with concepts and not being too bogged down with all the implementation nuts and bolts .
- 5. Hard lock nuts are innovatively designed to withstand loosening from vibration longer than any other fastener on the market .