pencil-neck

See also: pencilneck

English

Alternative forms

• pencilneck, pencil neck

Etymology

pencil +‎ neck, popularized by wrestler Freddie Blassie.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

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Noun

pencil-neck (plural pencil-necks)

1. (informal) A person with a very thin neck.
2. (idiomatic, US, derogatory) An insubstantial person; a weakling.

   That pencil-neck from systems isn't going to tell me what I can't do.

   • 1977, Pete Cicero, Martin Margulies (lyrics and music), “Pencil Neck Geek”, performed by Freddie Blassie & The Geekettes:

     Mom said, “Sell it to the circus, what the heck.” / Dad said, “Nope, this one's a pencil neck / And if there's one thing lower than a side show freak / It's a grit eatin', scum suckin', pencil neck geek.”

   • 2020, Kevin Sullivan, Mary Jordan, quoting Donald Trump, Trump on Trial, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 217:

     On Thursday, March 28, Trump took the stage in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for a campaign rally, where he unleashed a new schoolyard nickname: “little pencil-neck Adam Schiff.”

Derived terms

• pencil-necked