prat

Fool across pond

A prat is British slang for a fool or idiot, someone who does or says stupid things: He made a prat of himself at the meeting.

Originally, prat was slang for the buttocks, which survives in the term pratfall—a comedy fall landing on one's backside.

Calling someone a prat is milder than stronger insults; it suggests foolishness rather than malice.

fool

idiot

Foolish, senseless person

nitwitFoolish, silly person
twitMinor fool
dimwitFoolish, slow person

buffoon · dolt · blockhead · dunce · numbskull · simpleton · nincompoop · bonehead · airhead · halfwit

buttocks

backside

Buttocks or rear

posteriorRear or later
rearBack portion or raise
bottomLowest point or underside

rump · bum · behind · derriere · seat · hindquarters · cheeks · tush · fanny · booty

pratfall

tumble

Uncontrolled rolling descent

stumbleLose footing momentarily
tripPlanned travel somewhere
slipMinor error or misstep

fall · blunder · flop · sprawl · stumbler · clumsy · awkward · bumbling · fumble · spill

Categories

British slangblag, bloke, bodge, blagger, bobby
Catalan Wordshola, si, no, casa, amor
Talmud StudiesMishnah, sugya, folio, oral law, yeshiva
farceslapstick, mistaken identity, buffoonery, disguises, physical comedy

Opposites

intelligence/competence

Person of rare brilliance

brain · whiz · intellectual · wizard · sage

social regard/esteem

Unverified traditional tale

class act · champion · hero · star · gentleman

anatomy (British slang)

Forward-facing side

face · mug · groin · kisser · belly

Phrases

prat aboutBehave in silly fashion

Family

prattle, pratfall, prate, prats, pratfalls, prating

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Timeless · Concrete · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG