four-letter word

plural four-letter words

1. human sciencesA reference to any of several of the strongest English swear words that are also four letters long, especially those composing the so-called seven dirty words.

   Words can make you pay and pay / Four-letter words I cannot say

   1981, “Wordy Rappinghood”, performed by Tom Tom Club

   1 more example

   Good authors, too, who once knew better words / Now only use four-letter words

   1934, Cole Porter, “Anything Goes”, in Anything Goes

2. broadlyhuman sciencesA swear word or any words considered to be taboo in a given scenario (regardless of length of word).

   To me, coming from you, 'Friend' is a four letter word

   1996, “Friend Is a Four-Letter Word”, in Fashion Nugget, performed by Cake

   2 more examples

   People say that you were born lazy / because you think that work is four-letter word

   1968, “Work Is a Four-Letter Word”, performed by Cilla Black

   “Tech” is not yet a four-letter word, but it could soon become one.

   2018 January 20, Eve Smith, “The techlash against Amazon, Facebook and Google—and what they can do”, in The Economist