tartar
1
9.9
A strict, unpleasant person who is hard to deal with
- noun
- /ˈtɑrtər/
- Offensive
:
arpía
- The teacher was known as a tartar, always enforcing strict rules that left the students on edge.
Examples
-
She's a tartar.
-
This child was turning into a regular tartar: if Beth weren't careful, she'd grow up to be another Eleanor Palmer.
Fiction book (1995) -
"Judge was always such a tartar.
Fiction book (2002) -
With him, the twins were such angels, and with her, sometimes such tartars.
Fiction book (1994) -
She's a regular little tartar, ain't she, Horace?
-
Many found her a tartar because she never accepted excuses for late assignments.
-
Everyone dreaded working with him; he was a real tartar when it came to meeting deadlines.
Synonyms
33
7.9
A strict unpleasant woman who treats people harshly
focuses more on strict vigilance and harshness rather than simple domination
Idioms
Compounds
How Strict
Surface Forms
Etymology
Tartar meaning a fierce or unpleasant person comes from the name of the Tatar people, who were known in Europe as fierce warriors, so calling someone a 'tartar' compares them to a very strict, hard-to-deal-with fighter.