no-goodnik

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Pronunciations

no goodnik (NO GOOD-nik) listen

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Definitions

  • n. Bad person, scoundrel (sometimes humorous or affectionate).

Example Sentences

  • "Ah, he's a regular no-goodnik."

  • "He essays the role of a middle-class Milquetoast and failed rapper who pilfers the identity of a neighborhood thug when said no-goodnik ends up behind bars." (SPIN magazine, Feb 1993)

  • "I wouldn't let that no-goodnik house-sit for me if I were you."

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Languages of Origin

  • Yiddish
  • English

Etymology

  • Eng "no good" + Yiddish ניק- suffix, signifying a person

      • Who Uses This

      • Jews: Jews of diverse religious backgrounds and organizational involvements
      • Older: Jews who are middle-aged and older
      • Non-Jews: (words that have spread outside of Jewish networks)
      • Ashkenazim: Jews with Ashkenazi heritage
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      Regions

      • North America
      • Great Britain
      • South Africa

      Dictionaries

      • The New Joys of Yiddish, by Leo Rosten and Lawrence Bush (New York, 2003[1968]).

      Alternative Spellings

      no-good-nik, no-goodnick, no goodnik, no good-nik, no goodnick

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