Perhaps more than proverbs, insults are the first thing you learn about language, you know: it’s a cultural gem, of course, but let Vargas (or a psychoanalyst) know why. How interesting it is to compare the “degrading” ability of each language! personally, … I think that you can only shoot with desire and pleasure in Spanish, and if so, in Italian, because others are too calm (French) or have standard sharpness (German). But I’m the judge and the party, I know.
It’s not fun to see this kind of language in public places like Congress, which has to maintain a certain amount of decorum. Now, since I’m starting, let it be with knowledge, elegance and variety. In fact, I propose a challenge: a witty and subtle insult contest – if possible – to mock and insult your party rivals (as they say now). This way, at least we will learn and have fun.
When they feel like making fun of another rather than arguing about the topic, they can receive classic insults and memorable sayings from literature, take inspiration from historical anecdotes or play it smart and invent new terms.
Some random examples: the word “paniaguado” is cool (as Pérez-Reverte recently mentioned) and can be replaced with “capigorrón”, there are cool arrows like “agote” (something like “hated by all”, choose your filter), with “witch lineage” family is referred to transparently and you can also use professions like “executioner” to pejoratively portray the current victim, or twist nicknames with a spark (and I’m not giving ideas). Or, if you want to insult like Quevedo, you can spit out “cornicantano” (“cuckold variety”), torpedo with “sarcastic savvy” and end with “destined estolo claim” (come on and say whatever), in addition to other insults. I don’t know about you, but I see Ruffian throwing yesterday’s insults at today’s issues.
If you want more, check out “Dictionary of Insults” by Tabernero and Osunarez. It won’t be all fruit sons or dogs with the last name.
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