Make Your Point > Archived Issues > NEBBISH
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pronounce
NEBBISH:
Say it "NEB ish."
To hear it, click here.
connect this word to others:
There's Tony Hale playing the nebbish, Buster, on Arrested Development.
A nebbish tends to blend into the scenery, being a wimp. A weakling. A pushover. A zero. A nobody. A c_ph__. A non_t__y. A mi___t__st.
Could you recall those last three synonyms?
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
definition:
We took the word "nebbish" into English from Yiddish, around 1843. It might trace back to a word that means "not endowed," or more figuratively, "poor or unfortunate."
That's pretty much how we use it in English. A nebbish is a loser or a nobody: a timid, useless, unremarkable guy. In other words, a nebbish is a man who isn't strong and isn't important.
And, something nebbish is harmless or useless.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Most often a noun ("He's such a nebbish"), but also an adjective ("his nebbish personality").
Other forms:
The plural noun is "nebbishes."
There's an alternate adjective, "nebbishy," which is rarer and slangier than "nebbish." Here's the New York Times Magazine: "a shy and nebbishy teenager."
For a noun for the quality, you could use "nebbishness," but it's not officially recognized by dictionaries.
how to use it:
"Nebbish" is a slangy, colorful, interesting, somewhat rare word that can sound insulting or just mild and descriptive.
We apply it only to men.
You might refer to people or characters as nebbishes, or talk about nebbish personas, personalities, people, or characters.
Dictionaries will note that "nebbish" most often appears in Jewish texts, and you'll see, for example, that it often describes Woody Allen, the Jewish American writer and director who creates (and plays) wimpy characters. You could even say that the nebbish is a kind of ethnic trope. But "nebbish" works just fine outside of that context, and in fact, I'll suggest that you avoid picking it just because the person you're describing is Jewish. To do so could sound offensive or cringey. (The same with picking "vendetta" when you're describing someone Italian. Perhaps let's don't.)
examples:
"Peter Parker was a brainiac nebbish living with his aunt and uncle when a radioactive spider bit him."
— Michael Powell, New York Times, 15 October 2015
"Demetri Martin stakes out a different sort of category in his directorial debut, Dean. He’s the Soulful Loser: the pathetic-but-endearing nebbish who might actually have a chance of working out his problems by the end of the film."
— Tasha Robinson, The Verge, 19 April 2016
has this page helped you understand "nebbish"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "nebbish" without saying "guy who fades into the background" or "some wimpy dude."
try it out:
Imagine you're creating the costumes for a movie. One of the main characters is a nebbish, described in the script as "lonely," "awkward," "clueless," "hopeless," "bumbling," and "sniveling."
What clothes and accessories will you select for him to convey his nebbishness? How will you have his hair styled? Ultimately, do you want the audience to find him endearing or off-putting--and how will you sway the audience with these stylistic choices?
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Our game for this month is Rhyming Puzzles!
I'll give you a description of something, and you name it in a rhyming phrase.
Longtime readers will recognize this game from years past, when we grappled with silly answers like "shopworn popcorn," "hidebound guide hound," "cow chow kowtow," "unflagging pun bragging," and "catch-as-catch-can Etch A Sketch fan."
The answers will get longer as the month goes on. To see the clue, click the link. To see the answer, scroll all the way down. Enjoy!
Try this one today:
You're a fashion blogger, so keeping up with trends is absolutely vital to you. It's not just how you roll. In fact, it's not just how you operate; it's how you live your life. It's your ______-____'_-_____ _____ _______.
Two terms. The first term, totaling five syllables, is three words, with two hyphens and one apostrophe. The second term is two words, also totaling five syllables.
Clue: use this term. Oh, and don't use this one.
review this word:
A. SCHOLAR.
B. MAMA'S BOY.
C. ALPHA MALE.
2.
Tony Hale plays the perfect nebbish, _____.
A. clumsy, wild-eyed, and animated
B. always the loudest voice in the room
C. arms curled inward and eyes cast down
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
On vocabulary...
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
On writing...
How to improve any sentence.
How to motivate our kids to write.
How to stop procrastinating and start writing.
How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count.
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A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
We took the word "nebbish" into English from Yiddish, around 1843. It might trace back to a word that means "not endowed," or more figuratively, "poor or unfortunate."
Part of speech:
"Nebbish" is a slangy, colorful, interesting, somewhat rare word that can sound insulting or just mild and descriptive.
"Peter Parker was a brainiac nebbish living with his aunt and uncle when a radioactive spider bit him."
Explain the meaning of "nebbish" without saying "guy who fades into the background" or "some wimpy dude."
Imagine you're creating the costumes for a movie. One of the main characters is a nebbish, described in the script as "lonely," "awkward," "clueless," "hopeless," "bumbling," and "sniveling."
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. |