From calling someone a 'tube' when they've done something daft to telling someone they're 'doing your nut in,' these are insults and phrases that many Scots will recognise instantly. Some have been passed down through generations, while others are still regularly heard in homes, pubs and among groups of friends across Scotland.
Insults used as banter between friends
Scots are well known for having a way with words and when it comes to insults, there are plenty of phrases that can leave people from outside Scotland completely baffled. While some of the insults might sound harsh, many are actually thrown around between family and friends in a light hearted way. However, others are best avoided if you don't want to risk starting an argument.
Here are some classic Scottish insults you might still hear today.
Boggin, tube and roaster
If someone calls you 'boggin', they're essentially saying you're smelly, dirty or just plain disgusting. It's a particularly useful Scottish insult because it can be used to describe both people and things. You might tell someone 'you're boggin' or declare that 'this house is pure boggin' - something parents across Scotland may have said after seeing the state of their child's bedroom.
To many people elsewhere in the UK, the tube means the London Underground. However, in Scotland calling someone a 'tube' has an entirely different meaning. It's another way of calling someone an idiot or saying they've done something silly, although it is often used affectionately between friends. If your pal does something particularly stupid, you might hear: "Ya tube!"
If someone is being obnoxious, behaving like an idiot or doing something particularly embarrassing, they might be described as a 'roaster'. It's not exactly a compliment, although it can be used affectionately between friends. It's often used when someone has made a complete fool of themselves. You might say: "Did you see that person falling over there? What an absolute roaster."
Glaiket and other classics
You might not hear 'glaiket' as often as some of the other insults on this list, but it's a classic Scottish word that deserves to be remembered. Calling someone glaiket generally means they're looking a bit simple or acting like an idiot. Think of the phrase 'the lights are on but nobody's home' and you're not far off. You might hear someone say: "Don't you think he is so glaiket looking?" or "He's standing there looking glaikit."
This is one for when someone has really started to annoy you. If someone is 'doing your nut in', they're getting on your nerves and testing your patience. It can be used on its own, but Scots aren't exactly known for holding back when they're particularly irritated. You might hear: "F*** off, you're doing my nut in with all these questions."
If someone has done something disgusting or there's a particularly unpleasant smell in the room, this is the phrase to reach for. In Scotland "You're geein' me the boak" essentially means "you're making me feel sick". It can be used when someone is eating something disgusting, has brought a questionable smell into the room or has done something that turns your stomach.
More colourful Scottish phrases
If someone is talking complete nonsense and you don't believe a word they're saying, you can tell them "yer bums oot the windae". It's essentially a Scottish way of saying that someone's talking rubbish or you're not buying their story. It's particularly useful when someone is trying to convince you of something that sounds far too ridiculous to be true.
It's certainly not the most flattering phrase, but 'face like a well skelped erse' is one of Scotland's more colourful ways of calling someone ugly. The phrase compares someone's face to a sore or badly slapped backside. If you're feeling particularly brave you might say: "Why do you fancy him? He's got a face like a well skelped erse."
If someone is being particularly grumpy, short-tempered or snappy, they might be described as 'awfy crabbit'. It's the sort of phrase you might hear from a parent or relative when you've woken up in a bad mood or had a particularly rough day. "Jeez, she's awfy crabbit this morning" is enough to let everyone know that someone is not in the best of moods.
Another classic Scottish insult is 'bam', which is generally used to describe someone who is acting like an idiot, being loud, obnoxious or causing trouble. Like many Scottish insults, it can be genuinely insulting or simply thrown between friends as a bit of banter.
