ass
ass
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "ass" is /æs/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds:
æ: This represents the "a" sound in "cat" or "trap." It's a near-open front unrounded vowel.
Word Form Variations
The word "ass" has a few word form variations:
ass (singular noun)
asses (plural noun)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
The word "ass" primarily functions as a noun, and its other potential uses are quite rare and often considered nonstandard or archaic.
Noun:
A donkey. This is the most common and widely understood meaning.
Synonyms: donkey, burro, jenny (female ass), jack (male ass), moke (dialect)
Antonyms: While not a direct antonym, perhaps a horse or other equid could be considered a contrasting animal.
(Vulgar, slang) A person regarded as stupid, foolish, or stubborn. This is a derogatory term.
Synonyms: idiot, fool, dolt, dunce, moron, simpleton, blockhead, nitwit, twit
Antonyms: genius, sage, wise person, intellectual, expert
(Vulgar, slang) The buttocks. This is a vulgar and informal usage.
Synonyms: butt, backside, rear, behind, rump, derriere, keister (slang), fanny (informal)
Antonyms: front, face, head
Other Word Classes (Rare/Archaic/Nonstandard):
Verb: While "ass" isn't typically used as a verb, it could theoretically be used (though it's not standard) to mean something like "to make an ass of oneself," meaning to act foolishly. This usage is highly uncommon.
Adjective/Adverb: These forms are extremely rare to nonexistent in standard English. You might encounter "ass-like" as an adjective, but "ass" itself isn't used this way.
It's important to be mindful of the context when using the word "ass" due to its potential for vulgarity. The primary and safest meaning is "donkey," but the slang terms are quite common and can be offensive.
Examples of Use
Meaning 1: Donkey (Literal)
Literature: "The donkey, or ass, is a member of the horse family." (This is a hypothetical example of a factual statement from a nature book.) You'd find this in educational texts about animals.
News/Online Publications: "Local farmer wins prize with his prize-winning miniature ass." (Again, hypothetical news headline.) News stories about agriculture or animal shows might use this meaning.
Entertainment: Donkeys are frequently featured in children's stories and animated films. Think of Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. (A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh)
General Public Discourse: "I saw the cutest little ass on the side of the road today!" (Referring to a donkey.)
Meaning 2: Stupid/Foolish Person (Slang)
Literature (Dialogue): "You're such an ass for doing that!" (This is a hypothetical example of how the word might be used in a fictional conversation.) Be aware that in published works, this word is sometimes censored with asterisks (e.g., "You're such an a**").
Entertainment (Film/TV): "He made a complete ass of himself at the meeting." (Again, hypothetical dialogue.) This kind of language is common in movies and TV shows, particularly in comedies or dramas depicting conflict.
General Public Discourse: "Don't be an ass!" (A common exclamation.) This usage is very prevalent in spoken language and online communication, although often considered vulgar.
Meaning 3: Buttocks (Slang)
Entertainment (Music Lyrics): This usage is very common in certain genres of music, particularly hip-hop and rap, though often in more explicit forms than I can reproduce here. It's also present in some comedic routines.
Online Discourse: This is probably the most common slang use online, especially in forums, comments sections, and social media. It's often used in a casual or vulgar way.
General Public Discourse: "Get your ass over here!" (A very informal and sometimes rude way of telling someone to move.) This is common in casual speech.
It's important to remember that meanings 2 and 3 are considered vulgar by many, and their use should be carefully considered depending on the context. The first meaning (donkey) is the only one that is always considered acceptable in polite company.
10 Famous Quotes Using Ass
"You can’t ride two horses with one ass, sugarbean." — Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees
"Opinions are like asses: everybody’s got one and everyone thinks everyone else’s stinks." — Common saying, often attributed to Clint Eastwood or Steve Carell (in paraphrase)
"I did not come here to make friends. I came here to win, and I will do whatever it takes. I didn’t bust my ass to get here just to play nice." — Reality TV trope, popularized across multiple shows
"I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man — so let me handle my business, damn. Jay-Z’s got his grown-ass hustle on." — Jay-Z, “Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)”
"Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please — but don’t pull them out of your ass." — Paraphrased from Mark Twain and modernized
"I’m too busy working on my own grass to notice if yours is greener. Mind your own damn ass." — Inspirational meme culture / Unknown
"Sometimes you just have to put on lip gloss and kick ass." — Mindy Kaling (frequently quoted in variations)
"Diplomacy is the art of saying ‘nice doggie’ while you look for a bigger stick — or haul ass to safety." — Will Rogers (adapted)
"You can’t fix stupid, but you can numb it with a 2x4 to the ass." — Redneck comedy tour / Ron White (comedic performance)
"Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes and kicking his ass forward." — Jim Carrey (paraphrased)
Etymology
Let's break down the etymology of "ass" in a way that's easy to understand. It's a bit complicated because the word has two distinct origins, one for "donkey" and another for the vulgar slang meanings.
Meaning 1: Donkey
This "ass" comes from the Latin word asinus. Think of it like "asinine," which also relates to donkeys and foolishness (because donkeys were sometimes seen as silly). Asinus likely came from an even older word, but its exact origin is uncertain. The first known use of "ass" in English to mean "donkey" dates back to around the year 1000. So, this meaning is quite old and respectable.
Meanings 2 & 3: Foolish Person/Buttocks
These meanings have a completely different origin. They come from a word that meant "buttocks" or "rump." This word is related to other words like "arse" (which is still used in some parts of the world) and possibly even words related to sitting. The connection to "foolish person" probably arose because the buttocks were sometimes associated with the back of a person, implying a lack of intelligence (being "behind" in thinking). These slang meanings are much more recent than the "donkey" meaning, appearing in English around the 16th century.
In short:
Donkey: From Latin asinus, related to "asinine." Oldest meaning, respectable.
Foolish Person/Buttocks: From a word related to "arse" and "rump." Slang meanings, more recent, often considered vulgar.
It's important to remember these two distinct origins to understand why "ass" can have such different meanings and why some are considered offensive while others are not. They are, etymologically speaking, two totally different words that happen to be spelled the same.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Ass
Literal "Ass" (Donkey) - Limited Use:
"As stubborn as a mule/ass": This is probably the most common idiom using "ass" in its literal sense. Mules (a hybrid of a donkey and horse) and donkeys are known for their perceived stubbornness. However, "mule" is far more common in this idiom than "ass."
"To make an ass of oneself": This phrase uses "ass" metaphorically to mean "to make a fool of oneself." It's more common than using "ass" literally to refer to a donkey in a phrase.
Why So Few Literal "Ass" Idioms?
The primary reason is the negative connotations the word has acquired due to its slang usages. This has led to a preference for using "donkey" or "mule" in more formal or polite contexts, thus limiting the development of common idioms with "ass" in its literal sense.
Slang "Ass" - Phrases, Not True Idioms:
The slang uses of "ass" (foolish person, buttocks) are very common in phrases, but these are usually considered informal or vulgar and don't typically rise to the level of formal idioms. Examples:
"Get your ass over here!" (Impolite command)
"He's a real ass." (Insult)
"He made a complete ass of himself." (Meaning he acted foolishly)
These are more like slang expressions or exclamations than true idioms.
Substituting Synonyms for Similar Effect:
To get the flavor of some possible "ass" idioms (if they existed), we can substitute synonyms:
Instead of a hypothetical "He's got the strength of an ass," we might say, "He's got the strength of a mule" or "He's strong as an ox."
Instead of "He's stubborn as an ass," we more commonly say "He's stubborn as a mule."
Original Phrases (Playing with the Idea):
Since common "ass" idioms are scarce, here are a few original phrases playing with the idea, trying to avoid vulgarity:
"He carried the weight of the world on his ass" (Metaphorically, referring to burdens.)
"Don't let them treat you like a pack ass." (Meaning, don't let them take advantage of you.)
"He brayed like a stuck ass." (Referring to a loud, foolish complaint.)
These are attempts to create phrases that evoke the imagery of the donkey without being offensive, but they are not established idioms.
In summary, the negative connotations of "ass" in its slang meanings have severely limited its use in common, polite idioms. While phrases using the slang meanings are plentiful, they are rarely considered formal idioms and are often vulgar. The literal "donkey" meaning is mostly relegated to the "stubborn as a mule/ass" expression, with "mule" being more common.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of ass from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
