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Glite Dictionary
cockroach of the sea

cockroach of the sea

8.8
A rude name for shrimp, lobster, or crabs that compares them to a small common insect
  • noun
  • Offensive
translation icon : cucaracha del mar
  • Many people refuse to eat shrimp, calling them the cockroach of the sea.

Examples

  • He jokingly referred to lobster as the cockroach of the sea at the seafood restaurant.

  • Some people call shrimp the cockroach of the sea.

  • Some seafood lovers dislike crabs being labeled the cockroach of the sea.

  • Why do you think they refer to crabs as the cockroach of the sea?

  • Many people consider shrimp to be the cockroach of the sea due to their scavenger habits.

  • The chef joked that lobster is just the cockroach of the sea on a fancy plate.

  • People often say crabs are the cockroach of the sea because of their unappealing appearance.

Surface Forms

cockroach of the sea singular
cockroaches of the sea plural

Morphology

cockroach + of + the + sea

The phrase composes 'cockroach' (a pest/derogatory animal) with 'of the sea' to indicate a marine counterpart, so a learner who knows the constituent words can infer it likens certain sea creatures to cockroaches. This metaphorical extension follows a common 'X of the sea' pattern found across languages, making the intended derogatory comparison predictable for a B1 learner.

Etymology

Cockroach of the sea may come from a simple image: small animals like shrimp, lobster, or crabs crawling over food on the sea floor like a land cockroach. That's why people use it as a rude way to call that seafood 'dirty' or 'ugly'.