Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • interjection Used to express disgust, contempt, or refusal.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective slang, euphemistic Crazy; nuts.
  • interjection slang, euphemistic Nuts! Expression of dismay.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Alteration of nuts.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Alteration of nuts to avoid vulgar nuts ("testicles")

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Examples

  • In 80s slang it became a generalized term of contempt, like dork (perhaps from the cutting-edge dirk influenced by a nickname) and the too-studious student grind or nerd (probably from the earlier “nerts to you,” based on nuts).

    No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003

  • In 80s slang it became a generalized term of contempt, like dork (perhaps from the cutting-edge dirk influenced by a nickname) and the too-studious student grind or nerd (probably from the earlier “nerts to you,” based on nuts).

    No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003

  • In 80s slang it became a generalized term of contempt, like dork (perhaps from the cutting-edge dirk influenced by a nickname) and the too-studious student grind or nerd (probably from the earlier “nerts to you,” based on nuts).

    No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003

  • In 80s slang it became a generalized term of contempt, like dork (perhaps from the cutting-edge dirk influenced by a nickname) and the too-studious student grind or nerd (probably from the earlier “nerts to you,” based on nuts).

    No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003

  • ‘Speaking as a soul not yet mated, nerts,’ said Amanda.

    Sweet Danger Allingham, Margery, 1904-1966 1933

  • Plus, the people who comment about art are fucking annoying, so nerts to you.

    EXTRALIFE – By Scott Johnson - Today’s Comic: Game name reality 2007

  • Between what Ira Gershwin called "the worst lyric I ever wrote" ( "I gave up pie and ice cream/'Cause your lips make better desserts/You'll pardon my Polish/But you're the nerts!") and dialogue like "Oh, my pulchritudinous parlor maid from Potsdam!", the muddled plot is about six addled psychiatrists examining the case of a split personality, one of whom is an English secret agent with a passion for American gangster films, and the other a German bootlegger named Golo Schmidt who is also the criminal ringleader of a gang of thieves who rob the home of a Dresden police commissioner, who is also the sauerkraut king.

    Julia Stiles, Dairy Queen 1933

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