50 insults/retorts only Singaporeans will get

When plain English words can't express our frustration as well as Singlish

Jonathan Lim| December 29, 05:01 PM

When you're pissed, frustrated or irritated, nothing beats Singlish in laying the smack down on someone. Here's 50 you can use without having to resort to vanilla vulgarities.

 

1.

wake up your idea1

Usually not a good sign if your boss tells you that.

 

2.

Goondu

We all have one or two special friends like that.

 

3.

pattern more than badminton

The beauty of Singlish. You understand what this means intrinsically without needing an explanation.

 

4.

see you no up

When there is someone you despise intensely.

 

5.

I C U C I C U

ICUCICU

You've had an awesome childhood if you know what that means.

 

6.

One quarter fish, three quarters duck

Duck Fish

Another classic from our schooling days. Because the F-bomb was just taboo.

 

7.

Your eyes paste stamp / Bak kiu tak stamp

eye paste stampNo idea how this came about or why people use stamps and not Post-it notes.

 

8.

act cute buay cute acbcOriginal Source

This phrase was coined years ago in preparation for the arrival of Instagram and #selfies.

 

9.

nato

Original Source

Used to describe political parties in The Real Singapore.

 

10. 

cannot make itOriginal Source

Can be used to describe a dish, a person, a situation, or a timing. And they all mean different things.

 

11.

extra

Used on people who are like film extras, but in real life.

 

12.

Gabra

 gabra

Our word for klutz. But gabra sounds more like what it describes.

 

13.

远看朱莉耶, 近看猪八戒

zhu ba jie

For those not proficient in Chinese, direct translation: Look like Juliet from afar, but look like Pigsy up close.

 

14. 

half past six

 

Usually used to describe someone's work, but also can be used on a person who is generally slipshod or happy-go-lucky.

 

15.

horrigible

Why waste time saying horrible and incorrigible when you can say it in one word?

 

16.

Blob fish. Credit: Science.Discovery.com

When 'ugly' just doesn't cut it.

 

17.

head grow from backside

A local flavoured 'head in your ass' rendition isn't complete without our use of 'backside' or 'backsai'

 

18.

flat like airport runway

Well the ladies can also use this to describe a guy's crotch. Just saying...

 

19.

Eat full too free

If only you could use it on supervisors suggesting pointless initiatives to look good in front of the boss.

 

20. 

itchy backside

When you see the sign 'wet paint' you know your backside will start to itch.

 

21.

cockanadenSome people are just very cock.

 

22.

Cry Mother Cry Father / KPKB

kpkb

We all have that friend who can't stop yapping.

 

23.

Action Bedek

action bedek

Similar to pattern more than badminton but this can also mean that person likes to talk cock.

 

24.

Basket

Basket

When 'shit' and 'damn' just doesn't cut it but 'bastard' is just too strong a word.

 

25.

Drama mama

drama mama

More drama than the drama queen.

 

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