ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ard

adj.
C2 Proficiency US //ˈɑɹd// ard Slang

adj. tough, cool, or impressive. You use this when someone is brave or acts like they are not afraid of anything.

adj. tough, resilient, or formidable in character or appearance. A shortened form of 'hard', common in Multicultural London English and related urban dialects.


SIMPLE

He thinks he's ard because he doesn't wear a coat in winter.

CONTEXTUAL

The older kids on the estate always tried to look ard when walking past the police station.

COMPLEX

In certain urban subcultures, maintaining an ard reputation is a survival strategy, signaling to others that one is not easily intimidated or exploited.

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Norwegian ard (“plough”), from Old Norse arðr, from Proto-Germanic arþrą (“plough”), from Proto-Indo-European h₂érh₃trom (“plough”), whence also Latin aratrum.

Etymology 2

Contraction of all right, possibly influenced by regional Philadelphia English pronunciation.

Usage

Often follows a linking verb like 'look' or 'act'.

Pitfall

He is very ard.He is well ard.In the dialects where this word is used, 'well' is the standard intensifier rather than 'very'.

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