Slang dictionary
asshat
What does asshat mean?
Asshat is a vulgar slang term for a stupid, obnoxious, or contemptible person, used much like the word asshole.
Where does asshat come from?
Asshat is one of a family of slang terms insulting 鈥渋diots鈥� or 鈥渏erks鈥� with terms related to ass and/or head: assface, asshead, asshole, blockhead, and dumbhead, among others. Asshead, for instance, was used to mean 鈥渇ool鈥� in the 16th century, though ass is also historically associated with 鈥渄onkey鈥� in addition to 鈥渂utt.鈥�
As a popular alternative to asshole and similar terms, asshat emerged at least by the early 2000s. The first entry on Urban Dictionary appears in 2002, defining the term as 鈥淥ne who has their head up their ass. Thus wearing their ass as a hat.鈥� The term alludes to other expressions like 鈥減ull your head out of your own ass鈥� or 鈥測our head is so far up your ass,鈥� ways of saying a person is too self-absorbed or oblivious to their surroundings, hence 鈥渟tupid.鈥�
The phrase 鈥渨earing your ass as a hat,鈥� a possible source of asshat, appears in some notable films and television shows. In Clint Eastwood鈥檚 1976 film The Outlaw Josey Wales, a character orders another to 鈥済et back in line before I kick you so hard you’ll be wearin’ your ass for a hat.鈥� Later, in the 1991 movie City Slickers, one character says the line 鈥淚 like your ass. Can I wear it as a hat?鈥� Wearing an ass as a hat is also used as a joke in an episode of the sitcom That 鈥�70s Show from 2000: 鈥淩ED: Eric, if you don’t want to wear your ass for a hat, you’ll get up here, pronto! DONNA: You better go. You know how that ass-hat screws up your hair.鈥�
The term could have also been influenced by medical terminology. In hospitals and nursing homes, when nurses require either urine or stool specimens, they use a plastic bin informally called a 鈥渉at,鈥� or a 鈥渢oilet hat,鈥� or 鈥渘urse鈥檚 hat,鈥� due to the bin鈥檚 resemblance to an upside-down cowboy hat. The hat is placed inside a toilet, where the brim holds it aloft, and the hat鈥檚 bucket is then positioned to catch stool (or urine) so that it can be tested. Essentially, the plastic hat becomes a 鈥渉at for the ass,鈥� since the ass is sitting on top of it.
Obscenity rules may have helped spread asshat in the early 2000s, as many broadcasts prohibit a more common swear like asshole from air. In 1989, for instance, comedian Andrew 鈥淒ice鈥� Clay used the word 鈥渁sshole鈥� on live television during an MTV awards show; the controversy resulted in Clay being banned from the network.
While asshat seems to predate online multiplayer gaming, the term may have become more popular due to it. In some 亚洲网紅露点, after one player has killed another, the victorious one might show off by squatting over the dead opponent鈥檚 head, a maneuver that can also be called asshatting or teabagging (after the sexual act).
Examples of asshat
Who uses asshat?
Calling someone an asshat is generally a way to insult them for being rude and self-centered. The obnoxious actions made by an asshat, which usually involve angering or disregarding other people, are known as asshattery. Asshat is also sometimes used as a verb. As with any negative term, however, there are some people who choose to wear the asshat label with self-deprecating pride.
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of asshat like most terms we define on 亚洲网紅露点, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of asshat that will help our users expand their word mastery.