As seen on I-57:
Does someone at the Department of Transportation know British slang? Here’s one of those moments when it’s difficult to decide if someone is intending to make a joke — i.e., to get away with something.DONT BE A TOSSERUSE ATRASH CAN
comments: 5
Yes, "a tosser" (like "a wanker") is a jerk, a schmuck. Both words originally referred to masturbation but are now generally considered safe. In our favorite Britcom, One Foot in the Grave, Victor Meldrew receives a riddle that reads something like "What's the difference between Victor Meldrew and a broken salad spinner?" The answer: "They're both useless tossers." Meldrew isn't annoyed by the insult; he's annoyed by the faulty logic.
I know the word has lost its vulgarity, but somehow I can’t read/hear “tosser” or “wanker” (or “sod off”) without thinking of inappropriateness. Maybe from seeing the words in older literary contexts.
Do you think drivers who see the sign are meant to recognize “tosser” as British slang?
Apparently there have been "Don't be a tosser" anti-litter campaigns in the UK and elsewhere. It's possible that the US signs are simply parroting that language without knowing what it means. Or it could be someone's little private joke.
Thanks, Chris — it never occurred to me to look further for this slogan. Well, now we know that somewhere people get the joke.
And it appeared in the Reddit group funnysigns, four years ago:
https://www.reddit.com/r/funnysigns/comments/mmnnd8/dont_be_a_tosser/
Post a Comment