[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/effing/)

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# effing

adjective, adverb, verb (effing, eff, effed); stand-in word

«effing» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

(slang, euphemism, UK) a softer stand-in for the very rude f-word, used to add anger or force. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/effing/#m1)

### In the lessons

People say «effing» to swear without saying the full rude word; still rude, used in angry talk, TV and comedy; UK, Ireland, Australia.

### Examples

- The effing car won't start! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/effing/#x1)
- Chat: «It's effing freezing.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/effing/#x2)
- «Turn that effing music down!» shouted the neighbour. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/effing/#x3)
- He was effing and blinding at the referee. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/effing/#x4)
- Not an effing chance. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/effing/#x5)
- It's an effing joke, this bus service. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/effing/#x6)

### Note

Still rude: everyone knows which word it stands for. Not for school or polite talk.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «effing» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/effing/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«effing» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/effing.html) on Mova free.