Two of my male characters (early 20s) are getting into a bit of a fight. One is Well-To-Do. The other is the Son Of A Fisherman (or a shrimper, something along those lines). I need the WTD to insult the SOAF: "I told you to stay the hell out of this, [insert insult here]." Something that plays on the fact that he's poor, or a nobody, ect. Something that hits hard. My initial thought was, 'Shrimpy' but it just seemed too juvenile to be taken seriously. Care to insult my SOAF?
I really can't think of anything. Sorry. Maybe he could have a long-running derogatory nickname like "Trout" or something. I'm drawing a blank...
"Trout." Good one. Better than mine. I'm planning on working in the "insult" into the SOAF's background that it has been long-running. From school days, probably.
I hope I don't get in trouble for saying these but I'm quite accustomed to the put downs, being from a rural island north of Scotland. I suppose names like 'Hick' 'Inbred' 'yokel' 'hillbilly' and 'redneck' would be really nasty Local boys where I'm from often get called "sheep shaggers" though I think it's a native thing
Well, seeing as how he is a SOAF, he probably helps Pops with things like skinning and gutting fish -- or at least has seen it done. Likewise, he's probably gone fishing and is more familiar than most with what fish look like. So I'd go with something related to that. "Anglerfish-face," or something like "You can't get kissed 'cause your tongue tastes like fish guts." Stuff like that.
Also having a North of Scotland background I can think of plenty. Pikey (no idea is that is how you spell it lol its pronounced Pike-ee), Skank, if you want more lol
Stinking kipper. Fish face. Use his first name in the insult e.g. Kipper Johnny. When I was a child in our neighbourhood there was a large loud mouthed woman that loved a fight, her and her family were always getting themselves into some argument or fight. Apparently her mother had sold fish from her back door of their family home. Behind her back she was known as 'Sarah kippers' I say behind her back because I don't think anyone had 'the guts' to say it to her face. Excuse the pun!
Scale-Face and Fish-Lips are right up there on the list of fisherman insults. Unless the well-to-do character is familiar with fishing, though, you probably aren't going to be able to get much more in-depth with the insult.
With the fire of anger seething within his eyes, the foppish merchant held the young man within his piercing gaze. "I told you to stay the hell out of this, you fish f**king, sea urchin." he growled under his breath, barely able to contain his rage. That should pretty much sum it up.
for some reason my favourite piece of Shakespeare dialogue comes to mind from Act II scene 4 of Henry IV * Henry V. I'll be no longer guilty of this sin; this sanguine coward, this bed-presser, this horseback-breaker, this huge hill of flesh,— * Falstaff. 'Sblood, you starveling, you elf-skin, you dried neat's tongue, you bull's pizzle, you stock-fish! for breath to utter what is like thee! you tailor's-yard, you sheath, you bowcase; you vile standing-tuck,— * Henry V. Well, breathe awhile, and then to it again: and when thou hast tired thyself in base comparisons, hear me speak but this.
The "rural" nicknames are good, but I was trying to go with a more maritime insult. "Sheep shaggers" is hilarious. Maybe I could make his father a sheep-rancher instead...hmm... Unfortunately, the well-to-do ain't so well to do with fishing. Which is why a lot of these nice insults just don't seem to want to fly out of his mouth. This had me rolling, Lothgar. I might just go with plain ol' "you fish f**k." Thanks all!! I'm going to give the list a second (and third and fourth) over to see if anything really calls out to me or sparks something.
