Search
Select the dictionary language
Yob
01
an aggressive, impolite, crude, and often loutish person
Dialect
British
BritishOffensive
Slang
Grammatical Information
What is the origin of the term "yob" and how is it used?
"Yob" is British slang from the late 19th century and is often explained as "boy" spelled backward, though the exact origin is uncertain. It came to describe rude, aggressive, or loutish young men associated with street trouble or hooliganism. The term appears in British media and everyday speech. It is derogatory but not vulgar.
Examples
A gang of yobs started smashing bottles outside the pub after closing time.
