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What does “two-bit (jerk)” mean?
What does 'two-bit paper pusher' mean?What does “going blue” mean?What does “fast eye” mean?“You are not your f***ing khakis” - What does “khakis” exactly mean in the Fight Club movie?Are these two meanings of “phenomenal” related?What does “a bit unfortunate” mean?What does “two-by-six crashing" mean?What do native English speakers mean by “Russian”?
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From subtitles for a Russian movie.
The source translated for two-bit was:
полный/последний/конченный
[English meaning totally, absolutely (something bad)] (Do you know russian word "dno"?)
meaning translation
asked May 6 at 17:57
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add a comment
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From subtitles for a Russian movie.
The source translated for two-bit was:
полный/последний/конченный
[English meaning totally, absolutely (something bad)] (Do you know russian word "dno"?)
meaning translation
asked May 6 at 17:57
0-Level UNIX Monk0-Level UNIX Monk
2101 silver badge13 bronze badges
3
"Two bits" is an American expression for a quarter (dollar). Hence "Two-bit" is a slang adjective meaning "of little value". It doesn't appear to be a literal translation, but expresses a judgment which is presumably elsewhere in the script, or in the setting.
– Colin Fine
May 6 at 18:05
2
"Two-bit" is American slang for a quarter of a dollar. By extension, it means something cheap. A "two-bit jerk" would be a petty, unpleasant person.
– user888379
May 6 at 18:06
@ColinFine You beat me by a few seconds...
– user888379
May 6 at 18:06
2
If you are interested in a more accurate translation, 'two-bit' doesn't seem to correspond to the original Russian. The more appropriate English would be 'total (or absolute) jerk', meaning literally that the person is all jerk. A 'two-bit' jerk would be a jerk that is of little value or negligible.
– Mitch
May 6 at 18:59
add a comment
|
From subtitles for a Russian movie.
The source translated for two-bit was:
полный/последний/конченный
[English meaning totally, absolutely (something bad)] (Do you know russian word "dno"?)
meaning translation
asked May 6 at 17:57
0-Level UNIX Monk0-Level UNIX Monk
2101 silver badge13 bronze badges
From subtitles for a Russian movie.
The source translated for two-bit was:
полный/последний/конченный
[English meaning totally, absolutely (something bad)] (Do you know russian word "dno"?)
meaning translation
meaning translation
asked May 6 at 17:57
0-Level UNIX Monk0-Level UNIX Monk
2101 silver badge13 bronze badges
asked May 6 at 17:57
0-Level UNIX Monk0-Level UNIX Monk
2101 silver badge13 bronze badges
edited May 6 at 20:56
0-Level UNIX Monk
asked May 6 at 17:57
0-Level UNIX Monk0-Level UNIX Monk
2101 silver badge13 bronze badges
asked May 6 at 17:57
0-Level UNIX Monk0-Level UNIX Monk
2101 silver badge13 bronze badges
asked May 6 at 17:57
0-Level UNIX Monk0-Level UNIX Monk
2101 silver badge13 bronze badges
2101 silver badge13 bronze badges
3
"Two bits" is an American expression for a quarter (dollar). Hence "Two-bit" is a slang adjective meaning "of little value". It doesn't appear to be a literal translation, but expresses a judgment which is presumably elsewhere in the script, or in the setting.
– Colin Fine
May 6 at 18:05
2
"Two-bit" is American slang for a quarter of a dollar. By extension, it means something cheap. A "two-bit jerk" would be a petty, unpleasant person.
– user888379
May 6 at 18:06
@ColinFine You beat me by a few seconds...
– user888379
May 6 at 18:06
2
If you are interested in a more accurate translation, 'two-bit' doesn't seem to correspond to the original Russian. The more appropriate English would be 'total (or absolute) jerk', meaning literally that the person is all jerk. A 'two-bit' jerk would be a jerk that is of little value or negligible.
– Mitch
May 6 at 18:59
add a comment
|
3
"Two bits" is an American expression for a quarter (dollar). Hence "Two-bit" is a slang adjective meaning "of little value". It doesn't appear to be a literal translation, but expresses a judgment which is presumably elsewhere in the script, or in the setting.
– Colin Fine
May 6 at 18:05
2
"Two-bit" is American slang for a quarter of a dollar. By extension, it means something cheap. A "two-bit jerk" would be a petty, unpleasant person.
– user888379
May 6 at 18:06
@ColinFine You beat me by a few seconds...
– user888379
May 6 at 18:06
2
If you are interested in a more accurate translation, 'two-bit' doesn't seem to correspond to the original Russian. The more appropriate English would be 'total (or absolute) jerk', meaning literally that the person is all jerk. A 'two-bit' jerk would be a jerk that is of little value or negligible.
– Mitch
May 6 at 18:59
3
3
"Two bits" is an American expression for a quarter (dollar). Hence "Two-bit" is a slang adjective meaning "of little value". It doesn't appear to be a literal translation, but expresses a judgment which is presumably elsewhere in the script, or in the setting.
– Colin Fine
May 6 at 18:05
"Two bits" is an American expression for a quarter (dollar). Hence "Two-bit" is a slang adjective meaning "of little value". It doesn't appear to be a literal translation, but expresses a judgment which is presumably elsewhere in the script, or in the setting.
– Colin Fine
May 6 at 18:05
2
2
"Two-bit" is American slang for a quarter of a dollar. By extension, it means something cheap. A "two-bit jerk" would be a petty, unpleasant person.
– user888379
May 6 at 18:06
"Two-bit" is American slang for a quarter of a dollar. By extension, it means something cheap. A "two-bit jerk" would be a petty, unpleasant person.
– user888379
May 6 at 18:06
@ColinFine You beat me by a few seconds...
– user888379
May 6 at 18:06
@ColinFine You beat me by a few seconds...
– user888379
May 6 at 18:06
2
2
If you are interested in a more accurate translation, 'two-bit' doesn't seem to correspond to the original Russian. The more appropriate English would be 'total (or absolute) jerk', meaning literally that the person is all jerk. A 'two-bit' jerk would be a jerk that is of little value or negligible.
– Mitch
May 6 at 18:59
If you are interested in a more accurate translation, 'two-bit' doesn't seem to correspond to the original Russian. The more appropriate English would be 'total (or absolute) jerk', meaning literally that the person is all jerk. A 'two-bit' jerk would be a jerk that is of little value or negligible.
– Mitch
May 6 at 18:59
add a comment
|
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
"Two-bit" is an idiom meaning cheap or petty. It comes from a slang term for the American eighth of a dollar, a "bit." Even after the "bit" was phased out of the currency in 1792, the term "two-bit" persisted to refer to the quarter dollar.
A two-bit person isn't worth much. From the Oxford English Dictionary under "two, adj, n., and adv.":
1978 T. Willis Buckingham Palace Connection viii. 155 Some other two-bit General will try shooting us up.
When applied to people or things, unless it is used ironically, it is a put-down or insult, implying cheapness or low quality.
So "two-bit jerk" may mean that the character isn't of much importance and he's a jerk (i.e. he's rude or crass).
answered May 6 at 18:07
TaliesinMerlinTaliesinMerlin
18.4k1 gold badge30 silver badges60 bronze badges
2
Side note: the British equivalent of "two-bit" is the derogatory tuppenny-ha’penny, an abbreviation of "two-and-a-half pence." You’d think he’d lost a Rolex rather than that tuppenny-ha’penny old watch of his. It's not heard much these days.
– Weather Vane
May 6 at 18:39
2
@WeatherVane Brits abbreviate "two-and-a-half-pence" with a phrase that's longer?
– David Rice
May 6 at 20:57
1
Also because tuppeny-ha'penny is pronounced with four syllables, not six. (tup-nee hape-nee)
– DJClayworth
May 6 at 21:12
1
pre-decimal there were smaller coins than the penny, ie: ha'penny and farthing
– Jasen
May 6 at 21:47
3
@supercat Decimal half pence were in circulation up till 1984.
– David Marshall
May 6 at 22:24
|
show 16 more comments
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"Two-bit" is an idiom meaning cheap or petty. It comes from a slang term for the American eighth of a dollar, a "bit." Even after the "bit" was phased out of the currency in 1792, the term "two-bit" persisted to refer to the quarter dollar.
A two-bit person isn't worth much. From the Oxford English Dictionary under "two, adj, n., and adv.":
1978 T. Willis Buckingham Palace Connection viii. 155 Some other two-bit General will try shooting us up.
When applied to people or things, unless it is used ironically, it is a put-down or insult, implying cheapness or low quality.
So "two-bit jerk" may mean that the character isn't of much importance and he's a jerk (i.e. he's rude or crass).
answered May 6 at 18:07
TaliesinMerlinTaliesinMerlin
18.4k1 gold badge30 silver badges60 bronze badges
2
Side note: the British equivalent of "two-bit" is the derogatory tuppenny-ha’penny, an abbreviation of "two-and-a-half pence." You’d think he’d lost a Rolex rather than that tuppenny-ha’penny old watch of his. It's not heard much these days.
– Weather Vane
May 6 at 18:39
2
@WeatherVane Brits abbreviate "two-and-a-half-pence" with a phrase that's longer?
– David Rice
May 6 at 20:57
1
Also because tuppeny-ha'penny is pronounced with four syllables, not six. (tup-nee hape-nee)
– DJClayworth
May 6 at 21:12
1
pre-decimal there were smaller coins than the penny, ie: ha'penny and farthing
– Jasen
May 6 at 21:47
3
@supercat Decimal half pence were in circulation up till 1984.
– David Marshall
May 6 at 22:24
|
show 16 more comments
"Two-bit" is an idiom meaning cheap or petty. It comes from a slang term for the American eighth of a dollar, a "bit." Even after the "bit" was phased out of the currency in 1792, the term "two-bit" persisted to refer to the quarter dollar.
A two-bit person isn't worth much. From the Oxford English Dictionary under "two, adj, n., and adv.":
1978 T. Willis Buckingham Palace Connection viii. 155 Some other two-bit General will try shooting us up.
When applied to people or things, unless it is used ironically, it is a put-down or insult, implying cheapness or low quality.
So "two-bit jerk" may mean that the character isn't of much importance and he's a jerk (i.e. he's rude or crass).
answered May 6 at 18:07
TaliesinMerlinTaliesinMerlin
18.4k1 gold badge30 silver badges60 bronze badges
2
Side note: the British equivalent of "two-bit" is the derogatory tuppenny-ha’penny, an abbreviation of "two-and-a-half pence." You’d think he’d lost a Rolex rather than that tuppenny-ha’penny old watch of his. It's not heard much these days.
– Weather Vane
May 6 at 18:39
2
@WeatherVane Brits abbreviate "two-and-a-half-pence" with a phrase that's longer?
– David Rice
May 6 at 20:57
1
Also because tuppeny-ha'penny is pronounced with four syllables, not six. (tup-nee hape-nee)
– DJClayworth
May 6 at 21:12
1
pre-decimal there were smaller coins than the penny, ie: ha'penny and farthing
– Jasen
May 6 at 21:47
3
@supercat Decimal half pence were in circulation up till 1984.
– David Marshall
May 6 at 22:24
|
show 16 more comments
"Two-bit" is an idiom meaning cheap or petty. It comes from a slang term for the American eighth of a dollar, a "bit." Even after the "bit" was phased out of the currency in 1792, the term "two-bit" persisted to refer to the quarter dollar.
A two-bit person isn't worth much. From the Oxford English Dictionary under "two, adj, n., and adv.":
1978 T. Willis Buckingham Palace Connection viii. 155 Some other two-bit General will try shooting us up.
When applied to people or things, unless it is used ironically, it is a put-down or insult, implying cheapness or low quality.
So "two-bit jerk" may mean that the character isn't of much importance and he's a jerk (i.e. he's rude or crass).
answered May 6 at 18:07
TaliesinMerlinTaliesinMerlin
18.4k1 gold badge30 silver badges60 bronze badges
"Two-bit" is an idiom meaning cheap or petty. It comes from a slang term for the American eighth of a dollar, a "bit." Even after the "bit" was phased out of the currency in 1792, the term "two-bit" persisted to refer to the quarter dollar.
A two-bit person isn't worth much. From the Oxford English Dictionary under "two, adj, n., and adv.":
1978 T. Willis Buckingham Palace Connection viii. 155 Some other two-bit General will try shooting us up.
When applied to people or things, unless it is used ironically, it is a put-down or insult, implying cheapness or low quality.
So "two-bit jerk" may mean that the character isn't of much importance and he's a jerk (i.e. he's rude or crass).
answered May 6 at 18:07
TaliesinMerlinTaliesinMerlin
18.4k1 gold badge30 silver badges60 bronze badges
edited May 6 at 18:13
answered May 6 at 18:07
TaliesinMerlinTaliesinMerlin
18.4k1 gold badge30 silver badges60 bronze badges
answered May 6 at 18:07
TaliesinMerlinTaliesinMerlin
18.4k1 gold badge30 silver badges60 bronze badges
answered May 6 at 18:07
TaliesinMerlinTaliesinMerlin
18.4k1 gold badge30 silver badges60 bronze badges
18.4k1 gold badge30 silver badges60 bronze badges
2
Side note: the British equivalent of "two-bit" is the derogatory tuppenny-ha’penny, an abbreviation of "two-and-a-half pence." You’d think he’d lost a Rolex rather than that tuppenny-ha’penny old watch of his. It's not heard much these days.
– Weather Vane
May 6 at 18:39
2
@WeatherVane Brits abbreviate "two-and-a-half-pence" with a phrase that's longer?
– David Rice
May 6 at 20:57
1
Also because tuppeny-ha'penny is pronounced with four syllables, not six. (tup-nee hape-nee)
– DJClayworth
May 6 at 21:12
1
pre-decimal there were smaller coins than the penny, ie: ha'penny and farthing
– Jasen
May 6 at 21:47
3
@supercat Decimal half pence were in circulation up till 1984.
– David Marshall
May 6 at 22:24
|
show 16 more comments
2
Side note: the British equivalent of "two-bit" is the derogatory tuppenny-ha’penny, an abbreviation of "two-and-a-half pence." You’d think he’d lost a Rolex rather than that tuppenny-ha’penny old watch of his. It's not heard much these days.
– Weather Vane
May 6 at 18:39
2
@WeatherVane Brits abbreviate "two-and-a-half-pence" with a phrase that's longer?
– David Rice
May 6 at 20:57
1
Also because tuppeny-ha'penny is pronounced with four syllables, not six. (tup-nee hape-nee)
– DJClayworth
May 6 at 21:12
1
pre-decimal there were smaller coins than the penny, ie: ha'penny and farthing
– Jasen
May 6 at 21:47
3
@supercat Decimal half pence were in circulation up till 1984.
– David Marshall
May 6 at 22:24
2
2
Side note: the British equivalent of "two-bit" is the derogatory tuppenny-ha’penny, an abbreviation of "two-and-a-half pence." You’d think he’d lost a Rolex rather than that tuppenny-ha’penny old watch of his. It's not heard much these days.
– Weather Vane
May 6 at 18:39
Side note: the British equivalent of "two-bit" is the derogatory tuppenny-ha’penny, an abbreviation of "two-and-a-half pence." You’d think he’d lost a Rolex rather than that tuppenny-ha’penny old watch of his. It's not heard much these days.
– Weather Vane
May 6 at 18:39
2
2
@WeatherVane Brits abbreviate "two-and-a-half-pence" with a phrase that's longer?
– David Rice
May 6 at 20:57
@WeatherVane Brits abbreviate "two-and-a-half-pence" with a phrase that's longer?
– David Rice
May 6 at 20:57
1
1
Also because tuppeny-ha'penny is pronounced with four syllables, not six. (tup-nee hape-nee)
– DJClayworth
May 6 at 21:12
Also because tuppeny-ha'penny is pronounced with four syllables, not six. (tup-nee hape-nee)
– DJClayworth
May 6 at 21:12
1
1
pre-decimal there were smaller coins than the penny, ie: ha'penny and farthing
– Jasen
May 6 at 21:47
pre-decimal there were smaller coins than the penny, ie: ha'penny and farthing
– Jasen
May 6 at 21:47
3
3
@supercat Decimal half pence were in circulation up till 1984.
– David Marshall
May 6 at 22:24
@supercat Decimal half pence were in circulation up till 1984.
– David Marshall
May 6 at 22:24
|
show 16 more comments
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"Two bits" is an American expression for a quarter (dollar). Hence "Two-bit" is a slang adjective meaning "of little value". It doesn't appear to be a literal translation, but expresses a judgment which is presumably elsewhere in the script, or in the setting.
– Colin Fine
May 6 at 18:05
2
"Two-bit" is American slang for a quarter of a dollar. By extension, it means something cheap. A "two-bit jerk" would be a petty, unpleasant person.
– user888379
May 6 at 18:06
@ColinFine You beat me by a few seconds...
– user888379
May 6 at 18:06
2
If you are interested in a more accurate translation, 'two-bit' doesn't seem to correspond to the original Russian. The more appropriate English would be 'total (or absolute) jerk', meaning literally that the person is all jerk. A 'two-bit' jerk would be a jerk that is of little value or negligible.
– Mitch
May 6 at 18:59