# arse

/ˈɑɹs/ (US) · /ˈɑːs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/arse
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. a rude or stupid person

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Slang · Vulgar

a person who is very annoying, stupid, or mean.

For teachers: a derogatory term for a person perceived as stupid, arrogant, or contemptible.

- Don't be such an arse and just help me with these bags.
- He made a complete arse of himself by shouting at the waiter in front of the entire restaurant.

### 3. to act silly

verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Slang · Informal

to waste time or behave in a silly way.

For teachers: to behave in a foolish or irresponsible manner; almost always used with 'about' or 'around'.

- Stop arsing about and finish your homework before dinner.
- The team spent the whole afternoon arsing around instead of preparing the presentation for the morning meeting.

Usage: Usually appears as the phrasal verb 'arse about' or 'arse around'.

## Examples

- He fell right on his arse.
- The manager was acting like a total arse during the meeting, shouting at everyone for no reason.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.