ass

[æs]

ass Definition

  • 1a hoofed mammal of the horse family with a braying call, typically smaller than a horse and with longer ears and a shorter mane.
  • 2a foolish or stupid person
  • 3the backside; the buttocks

Using ass: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "ass" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The farmer had a few asses on his farm.

  • Example

    He's such an ass for not listening to her advice.

  • Example

    She fell down and hurt her ass.

  • Example

    I need to work out more to tone my ass.

ass Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for ass

Phrases with ass

  • kick someone's ass

    to beat someone up or defeat them soundly

    Example

    If he doesn't stop bothering me, I'm going to kick his ass.

  • to behave in a foolish or embarrassing way

    Example

    I made an ass of myself at the party last night by drinking too much and dancing on the table.

  • cover one's ass

    to take steps to protect oneself from blame or criticism

    Example

    He always covers his ass by documenting everything he does.

Origins of ass

from Old English 'ass(a)', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'ezel' and German 'Eseltier'

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Summary: ass in Brief

The term 'ass' [æs] has three main meanings: a hoofed mammal of the horse family, a foolish or stupid person, and the backside or buttocks. The first meaning is used in zoology, while the second and third meanings are used informally. Examples include 'The farmer had a few asses on his farm.' and 'She fell down and hurt her ass.' Phrases like 'kick someone's ass' and 'make an ass of oneself' use 'ass' to denote physical or behavioral aspects, while 'cover one's ass' refers to taking steps to protect oneself from blame or criticism.

How do native speakers use this expression?