HELP!

[deelaundry]

Need some language help here.

One who bets and then won't pay up is a "welsher."

One who gives you something and takes it back is an "indian giver."

(Yes, both of those are offensive stereotypes, sorry.)

One who makes a promise and then breaks it is a... what?

Comments

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

The only thing I can think off the top of my head is "double-dealer". But that means deliberately being deceptive -- the DD knew from the start the promise would not be kept, as opposed to simply being negligent about keeping a promise.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

In this particular case, it's negligence (or technically, inability) not deception.

Doesn't it seem like there should be a term for this? Perhaps even more than one? Thanks!

[nuclearfootball.livejournal.com]

BASTARD hth

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

BASTID is also acceptable, I believe.

♥

PS. I'm sooooo curious what's in that newspaper-wrapped box!

[(Anonymous)]

If you're looking for something slangy, "double-crosser" works for a lot of things, but it can depend on the secret.

One who promises to keep a secret and then tells is a "rat."

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Thanks! In the case I'm trying to write about, there was no dastardly intent. Ergh, there should be a word for this!

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

I would vote for Anonymous' "double-crosser" also.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

It's a possibility.

[inlaterdays.livejournal.com]

Reneger (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/reneger)?

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that's the closest I've seen. It sounds angry, too, with the hard "g" in there. Thanks!

[purridot.livejournal.com]

Traitor?

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

That'd work in many cases, but in this particular case, it's not that big a promise. Hmm.

[your-villainess.livejournal.com]

Frencher

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

As in the kissing or the country?

[xaipw.livejournal.com]

A cop out?

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Would you call the person a cop out? Or the situation?

[jdr1184.livejournal.com]

Backstabber is the first that comes to mine. If you're looking for House to say something offensive then how about schiester? More trickery than breaking promises but it might work.

Totally unrelated. I got introduced to a new slur for white people, cocksauce. Funniest thing ever. I love it and must find a way for House to say it. I don't collect stamps, I collect offensive things for House to say. :)

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Scheister's definitely something House would say. And it's a slur on Jewish people too, so bonus points for him.

[hugelaurie.livejournal.com]

DAMN LICHTENSTEINIAN

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

THEY THINK THEY'RE SO COOL WITH THEIR COUNTRY SMALLER THAN ITS NAME.

VATICAN CITY, SAME EXACT PROBLEM

I like yr icon. Very thinky, and the dude's expression is good -- like, "Yeah, you're seeing my brain, whatever."

[hugelaurie.livejournal.com]

WELL IF YOU'RE GOING TO SLANDER A COUNTRY, MIGHT AS WELL PICK AN INEFFECTUAL ONE W/O ANY MILITARY MIGHT.

LOL THANKS IT'S FROM THE MENU SCREEN FOR BEING JOHN MALKOVICH. I SHOULD HAVE KEPT IT ANIMATED BUT I WAS FEELING LAZY WHEN I CROPPED IT.

[poeia.livejournal.com]

According to the thesaurus at Dictionary.com, welsh is also a synonym for renege. So you can use it twice.

And Wiki has a very long list of ethnic slurs:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

It seems like there should be a more common term for promise-breaker. Hmm.

That's a lot of slurs. Wonder if House has that page bookmarked.

Thanks!

[blackmare.livejournal.com]

One who makes a promise and then breaks it is a ...

Politician?

*snerks*

Okay, I couldn't resist.

If I think of anything else, anything actually useful, I'll let you know.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Awesome! Best reply of the night.

I think I'm going to go with "reneging" for the situation I need it for, and then cut the speaker off before he gets to the noun (which would've been "bastard," probably).

[poeia.livejournal.com]

When I was in high school, our principal's name was Aaron Fink. He signed all the official announcements from the office "A Fink."

Wasn't that sweet of him? He knew how much all the 16-year-olds enjoyed giggling over that. It never got tired.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

That was sweet of him! At a local church were I grew up, the pastor was Father Smellie. I can't remember if he had a sense of humor about his name or not, though.

[slashfan54.livejournal.com]

Liar. Someone who says an untruth. In bygone times one who broke a proposal of marriage could be sued for false promise.

[maddoggirl.livejournal.com]

So was Frank Sinatra, I believe. At least, that's what the caption under his mugshot in our History classroom tells me.

[simmysim.livejournal.com]

Your mom.


OH HOOOOO

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

*bawling*

No, Mommmmmmyyyyyyyyyy!

ILU, sim