Untranslatable wordSocial
Russian
RussianPoshlost'
Meaning: Not merely the trashy, but the falsely important, falsely beautiful and falsely clever — bad taste passing itself off as significance.
Literally: Self-satisfied vulgarity
Origin: Russian пошлость; that definition is Vladimir Nabokov's, who devoted pages to the word.
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Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Без царя в голове (Bez tsarya v golove) Foolish and reckless — with no one in charge upstairs.
- Ты умница (ty umnitsa) You're bright, clever, and admirable — said warmly of someone who handles things well.
- У тебя золотые руки (u tebya zolotye ruki) You're extraordinarily skilled — able to make or fix anything with your hands.
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