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Glite Dictionary
to be a tosser

to be a tosser

1 9.9
To behave in a rude, stupid way
  • idiom
  • /biː ə ˈtɒsə/
  • Offensive
translation icon : ser un idiota

Examples

  • 'Cause the chairman is a tosser.

    Goal! (2005)

  • Don't be a tosser and forget to bring your notes for the meeting.

  • He made a fool of himself again; everyone thinks he's a tosser for that.

  • When you act like that, you really come across as a tosser.

Synonyms

to act a fool
vsto be a tosser
  • Informal
3 8.0

To behave in a silly or embarrassing way to get attention

is the British slang for foolish conduct without performance aim
to be a buffoon
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
2 8.1

To act in a silly, embarrassing way to make people laugh

is the same basic foolishness in British informal use
to be a berk
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To act in a foolish way

is the British informal name for that action
to act like a putz
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To behave in a silly or clumsy way

is the British informal term covering that ineptness
to act like a tosser
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave rudely or foolishly in a way that annoys others

is the British informal term for that behaviour
to be a tithead
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

Act in a foolish way that can cause trouble

is the British informal expression for that conduct
to be a numskull
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.5

To do something silly without thinking

is the British informal label for that kind of error
to act like a dingus
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a foolish, clumsy way that makes people laugh

is the broader British slang for general foolish behaviour
to act like a dumbo
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.6

Behave in a silly or foolish way

is the same idea in British informal speech
to be a booby
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

Act in a silly or stupid way

is the British informal way to name that silliness
to be a dink
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a rude or foolish way that annoys other people

is the same foolishness but expressed in British slang
to act like a dipstick
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave foolishly or clumsily

is the British informal label for that kind of clumsiness
to act like a peabrain
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.6

Behave in a silly, not very smart way

is the British informal word for the same senselessness
to act like a doylem
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

Behave in a silly, clumsy way

is the British informal expression for that foolishness
to act like a clodpole
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a foolish and clumsy way

is the British informal term for similar foolish action
to be a clipcock
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

Act in a foolish or careless way

is the British informal name for such incompetence
to act like a dingleberry
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a silly or annoying way

is the British informal term for that annoying foolishness
to act like a dodo
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.3

To behave foolishly and show little common sense

is the British informal expression capturing the same cluelessness
to act like a brickhead
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

To ignore good advice and behave foolishly

is the British informal term for general foolish behaviour
to act like a buffoon
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
6.8

Behave in a silly, clumsy way to make people laugh at you

is general foolishness without the attention seeking focus
to act like a dorkus
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a silly, awkward way that looks foolish

is the British informal term for general foolish awkwardness
to be a wally
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

Act in a silly, embarrassing way

is the British informal word for that embarrassing silliness
to be a skaapie
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

Act in a foolish way because you trust people too easily

is the British informal label for that naive foolishness
to be a chutiya
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a stupid and rude way

is the British informal expression for that naive conduct
to act like an airhead
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
8.6

To behave in a silly way without thinking when nervous or tired

is the British informal term for general foolish behaviour
to act like a ditz
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.6

Behave in a silly, careless way to avoid serious talk

is the British informal word for broader foolishness without scatter
to act like a scally
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a silly, rude way and break rules

is the British informal term for general foolish conduct
to act like a booger brain
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a silly and immature way

is the British informal expression for similar immature behaviour
to act like an arseface
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a rude and annoying way

is the British informal term for foolishness without the rudeness
to act like an asshat
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

Behave in a rude and stupid way

is the British informal word for foolish behaviour without insult focus
to act like a douchecanoe
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

Behave rudely and selfishly and annoy other people

is the British informal term for mere foolish conduct without extreme insult
to act like a fuckskull
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

To behave in a very foolish and rude way

is the British informal expression for general foolish behaviour
to act like a total fucktwat
vsto be a tosser
  • Offensive
9.9

Behave in a very rude and thoughtless way that upsets other people

is the British informal term for foolishness without extreme offensiveness

Antonyms

wise
758 2.1

Showing good judgment from experience

clever
573 1.7

Understands things quickly and finds smart solutions

How Foolish

to be a tosser
  • Offensive
1 9.9
to be silly
88 2.1

Surface Forms

be a tosser infinitive
being a tosser present participle

Morphology

be + a + tosser

The phrase is compositionally built from 'be' + 'a' + 'tosser' and, assuming the learner knows 'tosser' as an insulting term for a contemptible person, the meaning 'to act like an idiot' is directly inferable from the parts. Although slangy and register-marked, the syntactic and semantic combination is transparent and follows a common pattern (be + noun) found across languages, so learners who know the constituents will understand it.

Etymology

Be a tosser comes from older British slang. One popular story says tosser first meant someone who 'tossed' themselves (a rude phrase for touching their own body), and people later used tosser as a general insult for a rude or foolish person, so to be a tosser now means 'to act like an idiot'.