I've had this word stuck in my head for the past couple days and can't figure out were i've heard it...or if it's even a word. I don't know how to spell it or say it...but here is the phonetic spelling from what I can remember..."nair-dE-well" I think I remember it from some movie I've seen, and I think it is used as an insult, but I'm not sure. Can someone please help me?! Am I crazy or is this actually a word?
2007-07-10 11:31:11 · 6 answers · asked by One Love 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
ne'er-do-well is often used to describe a badly behaved child
2007-07-14 10:35:12 · answer #1 · answered by irkenelitezim 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The correct spelling is ne'er-do-well, but the apostrophe is usually dropped (neer-do-well). Either way, the first word is pronounced "nair" like "hair", but between the pronunciation and the dropped apostrophe, determining the meaning can be a tough call. Ne'er is an archaic/poetic contraction for "never", hence "never-do-well", meaning one who "never amounted to much" or "never lived up to his/her promise".
2007-07-10 19:06:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think it is "ne'er do well" a contraction for never-do-well. It is often an insult, and sometimes only a statement of fact. It means what it looks like it means.
2007-07-10 18:35:43 · answer #3 · answered by merrybodner 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I am also unsure of the spelling, but it is something like Nare-do-well. It's old english slang for someone who is a trouble maker "Nare" like rarely, "do well"; someone who rarely does good things.
2007-07-14 17:51:07 · answer #4 · answered by peaceloveliberals 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only thing I can think of is "fare thee well," which basically means "goodbye."
2007-07-10 18:34:48 · answer #5 · answered by Elaine P...is for Poetry 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
ne'er do well= it means someone who will 'never do well' or never has
2007-07-10 18:36:13 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋