Muppet (slang)
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The term "Muppet" (capitalized), coined in 1954 by Jim Henson for his puppet act, has unofficially become a slang term (lowercase) with different meanings in various regions. The term is currently owned by the Walt Disney Company's subsidiary, Muppets Holding Company.
Outside of its regional usage -- in the United States for example -- calling an individual a "muppet" has caused some confusion for some, misinterpreting it as a compliment.[1] These cases have assumed a literal interpretation of the Muppet characters, the property for which the term is trademarked.
[edit] Regional usage
In Great Britain and in Ireland the word muppet has come to be used as a mild term of abuse, meaning a stupid, incompetent, or moronic person, or the obvious interpretation of someone who is inanimated or somehow not there.[2][3] In a physical context alluding to the tendency for Muppets to wave their arms around or otherwise move clumsily on-screen.[citation needed] It is often used mildly affectionately. It can also be applied (in the United Kingdom but not in Ireland) to an aesthetically displeasing individual.[citation needed]
In the video game Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Captain Price, the squadron leader of the player's SAS unit refers to the player's character as a "muppet." "What the hell kind of name is 'Soap'? How'd a muppet like you pass Selection, eh?"
The term is frequently used by English football fans to describe an inept performance by an individual player, or a player or manager perceived to be lacking in skill.
The film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, penned by British writer/director Guy Ritchie, features an example of the regional usage of the term in pop culture. The character "Hatchet" Harry Lonsdale (played by P.H. Moriarty) remarks, "I don't want to know who you use, as long as they're not complete muppets."[4]
The term muppetry is also rapidly gaining popularity as a description for an individual, or group of people collectively behaving in a muppet-like fashion. The origins are believed to have come from workers in large organisations, who were unhappy with the low to non-existent level of thought or application, that other colleagues put into their work. For example - "I'm sorry the figures will be late this quarter, due to the high amount of muppetry going on in the accounts department", or "Gregory's muppetry appears to have been infectious."[5]
The popular BBC Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright often gives contestants of his 'Big Quiz' a 'stificate of muppetry' for contestants who fail spectacularly on the general knowledge questions.[6]
In Law Enforcement circles, Muppet has been backronym-ed to 'Most Useless Police Person Ever Trained'.[7]
In Mexico there's a drink called Muppet, wherein a shot of tequila is added to a shot of lemon-lime soda in a glass. It then is pounded on the table and is drunk in one shot. [8]
[edit] References
- ^ Orlando Sentinel "MLS rankings: It's the Muppet Show" by Brant Parsons, 06/19/07
- ^ The Mighty Muppets UK softball team
- ^ The Daily Record "Chef Sacked for Calling Boss's Son a Muppet" 08/14/07
- ^ IMDb memorable quotes
- ^ Richard Jolley comic strip
- ^ The Zimble Zone
- ^ Officer Blog - A Tale Of Modern Policing
- ^ Muppet, alcoholic drink. Webtender.
