A Word that Tells It Like It Is

 

skanky - adjective - informal - revolting (Lexico.com)

Let's face it. Our society has become filterless. Decorum went out of the window decades ago with mothers forewarning their kids that if they said shut-up to them one more time that their mouths would be washed out with soap. I'm channeling my own mother here, a woman born in 1917 who was in high school during the Great Depression. She knew the meaning of etiquette. A word like "skanky" would have never flown with her as she wasn't particularly fond of words beginning with "s" (I already mentioned "shut-up"). God forbid if you ever said "suck" in front of her, and if you hurled a "shit" at her, you might have wound up swallowing your teeth, chasing them down with a shot glass of blood...yours. It was clearly a different world back in the sixties and the seventies, a tad more dangerous for the filterless particularly under 18. 

Today there are myriad colloquialisms that have found themselves into dictionaries. Obviously, a lot has to do with the Internet. "Skanky" is a slang term that tells it like it is. Not only does it mean revolting, it sounds revolting as well. How perfect. The word obviates any need for a mnemonic device since, simply put, all you have to do is pronounce it, and you feel ill instantly. But it is nothing new. According to Wikipedia, believe it or not, the word came about in the 1930s as a variation of "skag," a poor, scruffy person or ugly woman who might have had poor hygiene or was sexually promiscuous. The term has evolved, as most do, or should I say devolved. Today, it can be used to refer to anything or anyone that is nauseating in any sense of the word. 

Whether or not, you are a fan of "skanky" is up to you. The good thing about language is that there are usually many synonyms you can use in place of a word that you don't especially like. "Skanky" is not my cup of tea. Although my mom passed away in 1999, I still think she might reprimand me at some point if I use "ugly" verbiage, no matter what letter it begins with. But neither she nor I would judge you if "skanky" happens to be your favorite, go-to insult. To each his/her/their own. Word to the wise, though. You can win more friends with compliments rather than insults. Sorry, I just had to squeeze that one in there. 

Happy Labor Day Weekend!!!!!

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