old cuss

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableinformalAmerican

   an informal, often affectionate way to talk about an old person, especially a man with a strong or unusual character

   Grammar: Countable and usually used with 'an' or 'the': an old cuss, that old cuss.

   Patterns

   • an old cuss
   • that old cuss
   • a funny old cuss

   My grandfather was a funny old cuss who told stories all day.

   The old cuss next door still fixes bicycles for the neighborhood kids.

   Everyone in town knew the old cuss who sat on the same bench every morning.

2. 2nouncountableinformaldisapprovingAmerican

   a rude or annoying old person, especially a man, when the speaker is annoyed

   Grammar: Countable; the disapproving force comes from the situation and tone, not from the grammar.

   Patterns

   • a mean old cuss
   • some old cuss

   Some old cuss cut in front of me in line and pretended not to notice.

   The old cuss refused to move his car even after we asked politely.

Word forms

Common combinations

a funny old cuss

Her uncle is a funny old cuss who makes everyone laugh.

a mean old cuss

The mean old cuss on the corner never returns a greeting.

a tough old cuss

He survived the storm and three surgeries; he is a tough old cuss.

an ornery old cuss

That ornery old cuss still argues about everything.

Synonyms and how they differ

character

Used in a similar affectionate way, but 'character' praises someone's interesting personality, while 'old cuss' adds the idea of age and slight roughness.

geezer

Also informal and often about an old man, but it is more British and can sound more dismissive than 'old cuss'.

codger

An old man with odd habits, often in the phrase 'old codger'; it is more fixed and usually more humorous than 'old cuss'.

Practice

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