noun General Slang

mongrel

MONG-grəl · noun · informal

A contemptible person; also toughness/spirit.

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Definitions

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A nasty or despicable person; separately, 'mongrel' can mean aggressive competitive spirit ('a bit of mongrel').

“That referee's a mongrel. / The team needs more mongrel.”
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mongrel In A Sentence

That referee's a mongrel. / The team needs more mongrel.

Origin & Usage

From 'mongrel' (mixed-breed dog); Australian figurative senses.

Variants mongrel dog

People Also Ask

What does mongrel mean in Australian slang?

It can mean a nasty, despicable person, or separately it can describe aggressive competitive spirit, as in 'the team needs a bit of mongrel'.

Is calling someone a mongrel an insult?

Yes, in the 'despicable person' sense it's a real insult. But 'a bit of mongrel' about toughness is actually a compliment.

Where does the word mongrel come from?

It comes from 'mongrel' meaning a mixed-breed dog, which Australians extended into these figurative senses.

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