muppet

plural muppets

1. alternativeAlternative form of Muppet (“a puppet in the style of Jim Henson's Muppets”).
2. CommonwealthIrelandUKderogatoryslangAn incompetent or foolish person.

   Some muppet has parked a car at the bus stop.

   5 more examples

   Sally is such a muppet, the way she always misses the train.

   You impudent muppet, diu lay! You may be able to hoodwink people over in the UK, but not those of us over here.

   1996 April 18, soc.culture.singapore (Usenet)

   'Honestly, Ellie, I don't know why you bother.' 'Err, because I need to squeeze my size twelve self into a size eight wedding dress?' She rolls her eyes. 'You're such a muppet. Why didn't you just buy a bigger size? Dieting is pointless.'

   2011, Ruth Saberton, Ellie Andrews Has Second Thoughts, Hachette UK, →ISBN

   There was a silence while Miranda tried to form a sentence that wouldn't antagonise her friend. Or was she a friend? Would a proper friend have set her up with such a – such a muppet?

   2011, Penny Smith, Summer Holiday, HarperCollins UK, →ISBN

   The truth was I'd love to be in the school team but I wouldn't get picked anyway: most of the kids think I'm a real muppet, a gormo who's into bird-watching and if I tried to join in, they would just rib me, so I don't bother to show any interest.

   2012, Diane Perry, Red Kite, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 29

plural Muppets

1. countableuncountableA term of endearment, used with a young girl

   “I thought we were pretty happy the way we were,” Aunt Holly said, ruffling Jamie's hair. “I'm happy. Aren't you, Muppet?“

   1997, Across the Rainbow, page 14

   2 more examples

   "Mamma, I see Mr. Joshua Parker coming up the road in his gray hat with the black band," announced the daughter emphatically, craning her neck to see over the evergreens. “Do you, Muppet? Then he is coming to call at the rectory; for he never wears his hat except when he is going to make a call, — and there is nowhere to call at but here."

   1858, The National Magazine - Volumes 3-4, page 257

   You know my little Muppet, Abby may not be able to find out if there is anything untoward going on at the institute, but I sure can.

   2016, Bryan Whelan, The Boson Experiment and Earths End

plural Muppets

1. A type of puppet created by Jim Henson or his studio, typically operated with one hand of the puppeteer inside the head and a rod or glove to move one arm of the puppet.
2. One of a group of established puppet characters acting as a sort of repertory company on The Muppet Show, and/or appearing on Sesame Street.
3. AustraliaCanadaEasternIrelandNew ZealandSouth AfricaUKUSalternativederogatoryslangAlternative form of muppet (fool).

   What's your fucking name you Muppet? I won't ask you again.

   2018, Peter D. Bull, Undercover, page 13

   4 more examples

   'I'll come, if you like,' Paul says. 'I'm not asking you, Muppet,' Kit snaps.

   2008, Cathy Cassidy, Driftwood

   English version: I'm A Cockney Geezer, You Muppet. No, you are an upper middle class, public school educated wanker (it takes one to know one) and I feel I must apologize to everyone on behalf of the land of my birth for the many crimes to cinema committed in the wake of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998).

   2011, Julian Hoxter, Write What You Don't Know, page 45

   She tilts her head towards him, and whispers in his ear, “Of course I do, you Muppet. I keep telling you to trust The Source and our guides; don't I?"

   2013, Guy Dance, Soul Brigade: The Mission of Light, page 245

   Not that kind of atmosphere, you Muppet. A cut it with a knife atmosphere.

   2021, Margaret de Rohan, The Icarus Affair