Drongo
Meaning: Australian insult meaning a stupid or incompetent person.
'Drongo' is a distinctly Australian insult meaning idiot or fool. Named after a racehorse called Drongo who consistently came last in the 1920s. Despite the horse's name coming from a bird, Australians use it purely as an insult for hopeless people.
Examples
- What a drongo! 真是个蠢蛋！¡Menudo inútil!なんてバカだ！이런 멍청이!
- Don't be such a drongo. 别那么蠢。No seas tan inútil.そんなバカなことするな。그렇게 멍청하게 굴지 마.
- That drongo can't do anything right. 那个蠢货什么都做不好。Ese inútil no hace nada bien.あのバカは何をやってもダメだ。저 멍청이는 하는 일마다 엉망이야.
Pronunciation
/ˈdrɒŋɡəʊ/
Usage Guide
Context: insult, teasing
Tone: insulting, exasperated
✓ Do Say
- Australian insult澳大利亚的侮辱语insulto australianoオーストラリアの侮辱語호주식 욕
✗ Don't Say
- Not understood outside Australia在澳大利亚以外不被理解No se entiende fuera de Australiaオーストラリア以外では通じない호주 밖에서는 통하지 않음
Common Mistakes
- Specifically Australian term
Origin & History
Named after Drongo, an Australian racehorse in the 1920s who never won despite racing 37 times. The bird called a drongo is actually quite clever, but Australians use the word purely to reference the hapless horse.
Etymology: From Drongo the racehorse
First recorded: 1920s racehorse, 1940s slang
Cultural Context
Era: 1940s onwards
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal Australian
Pop culture: Australian media
Regional notes: Distinctly Australian. Not used or understood elsewhere.
Story & Trivia
Drongo was a racehorse who raced 37 times between 1923-1925 and never won, though he came second five times. His consistent failure made his name synonymous with hopelessness, and by the 1940s 'drongo' meant any incompetent person in Australian slang.
Variations
Related Phrases
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