TIL "jerk" had the meaning of "stupid"

Great article by the host of my favorite Podcast.

I remember hearing the “…that jerk” and mentally translating it as “dumb meanie” kind of mixing the current and archaic meaninga

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bionicjoey, 9 months ago

It’s funny. The Steve Martin film “The Jerk” used to confuse me because he’s an idiot, not a jerk.

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fubo, 9 months ago

Etymonline suggests “jerk” in this sense is originally carnival slang; possibly from “jerk off” but also possibly from “jerkwater” — referring to a rustic town where you have to use a manual water pump.

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