dyke tyke
- noun
- Slur
:
[Término ofensivo para una mujer joven lesbiana y desafiante]
- The dyke tyke never hesitated to challenge authority at school.
Examples
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People admired the dyke tyke for her confidence and refusal to conform.
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As a self-proclaimed dyke tyke, she led the club with energy and bold ideas.
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That dyke tyke stands out in the crowd!
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Many people admire a dyke tyke for her confidence.
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As a self-proclaimed dyke tyke, she led the club with energy and bold ideas.
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People admired the dyke tyke for her confidence and refusal to conform.
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The dyke tyke never hesitated to challenge authority at school.
Synonyms
An attractive woman who wears bold clothes and acts in a showy way
A woman who dresses or acts in a bold, showy, and unusual way
Surface Forms
Morphology
dyke + tyke
The compound elements give partial clues: 'dyke' (a slang term for a lesbian, often derogatory or socially marked) combined with 'tyke' (a small or cheeky person) could suggest a young or sassy woman, so some aspects of the meaning are derivable from the parts. However, the evaluative sense 'assertive and confident' and the socio‑pragmatic/pejorative or reclaimed nuances are not fully predictable from the literal constituents, and 'dyke' may be unknown or carry strong cultural connotations for learners, making the expression only partially transparent.
Etymology
Dyke tyke combines dyke (a word for a lesbian) and tyke (a small, lively child). The picture is of a young person who is small but bold and does not follow rules, so dyke tyke came to mean 'an assertive, confident young woman'.
