Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
cotton-picking — (adj.) as a deprecatory term first recorded in a Bugs Bunny cartoon, but a similar noun meaning contemptible person dates to around 1919, perhaps with racist overtones that have faded over the years. Before mechanization, cotton picking was the… … Etymology dictionary
cotton-picking — ☆ cotton picking [kät′ npik΄ən ] adj. Slang worthless, damned, hateful, etc.: used as a general intensive of opprobrium * * * cot·ton pick·ing (kŏtʹn pĭk ĭng) adj. Informal Used as an intensive: a cotton picking fool; out of your cotton picking… … Universalium
cotton\ picking — • cotton picking • cotton pickin adj slang colloquial Worthless, crude, common, messy. Keep your cotton picking hands off my flowers! You ve got to clean up your room, son, this is a cotton pickin mess! … Словарь американских идиом
cotton-picking — cotton .picking adj [only before noun] especially AmE old fashioned used to emphasize that you are annoyed or surprised ▪ Mind your own cotton picking business! … Dictionary of contemporary English
cotton picking — [cotton pickin ] {adj.}, {slang}, {colloquial} Worthless, crude, common, messy. * /Keep your cotton picking hands off my flowers!/ * /You ve got to clean up your room, son, this is a cotton pickin mess!/ … Dictionary of American idioms
cotton-picking — ☆ cotton picking [kät′ npik΄ən ] adj. Slang worthless, damned, hateful, etc.: used as a general intensive of opprobrium … English World dictionary
cotton-picking — adjective Date: circa 1952 1. damned used as a generalized expression of disapproval < a cotton picking hypocrite > 2. damned used as an intensive < out of his cotton picking mind Irving Kristol > … New Collegiate Dictionary
cotton-picking — AND cotton pickin’ mod. worthless; damned. (Folksy.) □ What’s the cotton pickin idea? □ Who is this cotton picking bigwig pushing us around? … Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions
cotton-picking — 1. noun The harvesting of cotton The season of cotton picking commences in the latter part of July, and continues without intermission to the Christmas holidays. 2. adjective a) Of little value, or for emphasis. b) Describes a person who tends to … Wiktionary
Cotton-picking — unworthy; simple: out of one s cotton picking mind (originally US slang (1950s)) … Dictionary of Australian slang
