- 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.
(verb) To criticize someone or something severely and publicly, often with harsh or scathing language.
The columnist excoriated the company’s leadership for ignoring repeated safety warnings.
Excoriate comes from the Latin excoriare, meaning “to strip off the skin,” from ex- (“off”) and corium (“hide” or “skin”). While the word originally described physical abrasion, its meaning shifted metaphorically over time to describe verbal attacks so harsh they feel skin-deep, leaving nothing protected.