ENGLISH
REFERENCE

grammar Nazi

idiom
Meaning

A person who habitually criticizes the grammar and (often) usage in others' speech or writing, often in ways that are sometimes not even linguistically accurate.


Origin

first recorded 20th c.

First use appears c. 1991. From grammar + Nazi (“one who imposes one's views on others; one who is considered unfairly oppressive or needlessly strict”).

Examples
SIMPLE

My brother is a grammar Nazi about my text messages.

CONTEXTUAL

She acts like a total grammar Nazi whenever someone uses the wrong form of their or there.

COMPLEX

Although he considers himself a helpful editor, his friends often find his behavior as a grammar Nazi quite exhausting during casual conversation.

Anchors to
Related idioms2entries
  1. 01

    grammar police

    One or more people who make negative comments, which are usually unsolicited and unwanted, concerning the correctness of someone's English usage.

  2. 02

    play the Nazi card

    To invoke the reductio ad Hitlerum argument in a dialogue or debate.

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