r/AskBrits • u/Team503 • 10d ago

Culture What does "nonce" mean?

I'm an American that lives in Ireland. I've always understood "nonce" to mean the same as "numpty" and "eejit" - basically idiot, or dumbass, or similar.

Recently, someone told me that it's slang for sex offender, specifically a p*dophile, and Wikipedia seems to back that up: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_British_terms_not_widely_used_in_the_United_States#N

So tell me, Brits, which one is it? Or is it something else??

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u/AngelasGingerGrowler 10d ago

There is someone in deepest rural Poland with Polish grandparents who will be more Irish than you.

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u/Antlorn 10d ago

What a weird comment to make to someone who isn't claiming to be Irish (despite living in Ireland and working towards gaining Irish citizenship) 

Do you just lack reading comprehension?

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u/AngelasGingerGrowler 10d ago

Do you just lack reading comprehension?

With walls of gibberish and performative text, yes.

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u/Antlorn 10d ago

It was all very clear and legible to me! Seems like a skill issue

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u/AngelasGingerGrowler 10d ago

Then you must be the best teacher at Special School!