- Today's Word
Noodge
[NOOJ]
Definition
- (verb) To pester, nag, or annoy someone persistently. As a noun, a “noodge” is a person who nags or complains frequently.
Example
His mother would noodge him constantly about cleaning his room, calling him every day until he finally gave in and tidied up.
Fun Fact
The word “noodge” comes from Yiddish “nudyen,” meaning to bore or pester, which itself comes from a Polish word “nudzić” with a similar meaning. It entered American English through Yiddish-speaking immigrants and became popular in the mid-20th century. The term is particularly common in New York City and other areas with strong Jewish cultural influences. Its persistent sound, with the drawn-out “oo” and soft “j” sound, seems to embody the act of nagging itself, making it a phonetically appropriate word for its meaning.
(adjective) Full of knots; or, figuratively, extremely difficult and complex, with no straightforward solution.
The lawyers spent weeks untangling the knotty language buried deep in the old property deed.