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Glite Dictionary
to call someone a biddy

to call someone a biddy

9.9
Say that an older woman is foolish or annoying in a mean way
  • idiom
  • Slur
translation icon : llamar (a alguien) [término ofensivo para referirse a una mujer mayor]
  • He regretted calling his aunt a biddy during their argument.

Examples

  • You shouldn't call someone a biddy, even if they're nosy.

  • She angrily called her a biddy after hearing more gossip.

  • Don't call her a biddy!

  • I think it's rude to call someone a biddy.

  • It's disrespectful to call someone a biddy just because she's criticizing your choices.

  • After hearing the latest rumors, he couldn't help but call her a biddy in front of the others.

  • Some people call others a biddy without realizing how insulting it can be.

Antonyms

to compliment
95 1.6

To say something nice about someone or their work

How Insulting

hag
  • Slur
39 8.5
to call someone a biddy
  • Slur
9.9

Surface Forms

call someone a biddy infinitive
called someone a biddy past
called someone a biddy past participle
calling someone a biddy present participle
calls someone a biddy third person singular

Morphology

call + someone + a + biddy

The expression uses the productive pattern 'call someone a X' so its meaning is directly compositional: 'call' (refer to) + 'a biddy' (a nosy/older woman). A B1 learner who knows the constituent words would therefore understand it means to refer to someone as an old woman in a disparaging or mocking way, though they should be aware that 'biddy' is slang and derogatory.

Etymology

Call someone a biddy may come from the old word biddy for a small hen, because noisy hens were often compared to women who fuss and peck at others. So, to 'call someone a biddy' is to mock them as an 'old woman' or 'nagging' person.