Althouse: "Tüpflischiesser — Literally someone who 'shits little dots,' a Tüpflischiesser is a pedant for whom everything has to be done in the right way."

June 23, 2016

"Tüpflischiesser — Literally someone who 'shits little dots,' a Tüpflischiesser is a pedant for whom everything has to be done in the right way."

"This could include the government official who makes you redo a form because you’ve filled everything out in black pen rather than the blue pen clearly specified. Or it might include the neighbour who enjoys reminding you cleaning is not allowed after 10pm."

From "Nine surprising Swiss German words you need to know now."

13 comments:

rehajm said...: Is the plural Bünzli as well?

Switzerland is a county of bünzli.

(I really just wanted to use the umlaut...); 6/23/16, 4:47 PM
JackWayne said...: Allies nicht in ordnung. Same as it's ever been for Germans.; 6/23/16, 5:07 PM
campy said...: The article didn't explain why I need to know those words, so I'll just assume I really don't.; 6/23/16, 5:09 PM
effinayright said...: The word I like is "sitzpinkler", a guy who sits while he pees.

We gotta whole lotta those in this country, generally known as lib weenie "Pajama Boys".; 6/23/16, 5:14 PM
mockturtle said...: That's cool! Can't wait to use it.; 6/23/16, 5:21 PM
Mary Beth said...: Whether it has to do with washing on Sunday or not using pre-approved garbage bags, I'd prefer not to need more words about people who concern themselves with everyone else's business.; 6/23/16, 5:23 PM
William said...: I'm a living link with the past. I can explain why it was necessary to fill out some forms in black ink only. In the early days of photocopying blue against white did not supply sufficient contrast for copying purposes......The original purpose for this diktat has disappeared, but the rule has taken on a life of its own. Sort of a metaphor for lots of things.; 6/23/16, 5:37 PM
Big Mike said...: Speaking as someone who once was hauled into his department manager's office, along with my team lead, for a complete dressing down because I had signed my expense report in green ink instead of the prescribed black or blue ink, I completely understand "Tüpflischiesser."; 6/23/16, 5:55 PM
Michael said...: I know lawyers who are specialists in discovering the few flecks of fly shit in the gallons of pepper.; 6/23/16, 6:09 PM
chickelit said...: Tüpflischiesser

The High German equivalent would be Tüpfelscheisser — notice the equivalent diminutive suffices "li" vs. "el" and also the transposition of the "i" and "e" in "shitter." The Swiss German version is the older Germanic word.

/Tüpflischiesser; 6/23/16, 7:44 PM
Comanche Voter said...: Well the Swiss are inventive with their insults--like to go the animal route.

Schafshacker was a favorite back in the day. Calling someone a sheep's male organ had a certain flair to it. (Comanche Voter spent some high school time as an exchange student in Switzerland way back in the way back).; 6/23/16, 8:07 PM
madAsHell said...: I recently purchased a firearm. One of the forms was not explicit, and I put the wrong information in the right spot. They handed me another form, and told me to do it again. They said "The FBI reviews these forms", and my error would cause them undo grief.

My response was "FBI? What the hell does ATF do?". They didn't know. I filled out a new form.; 6/23/16, 8:11 PM
jaydub said...: The Swiss perfected the concept of federalism with their very strong canton governments and weak national government, and they all live the tenets of our 2nd Amendment with universal (for males) gun ownership for national defense purposes. Unfortunately, they also developed a strong nanny state attitude within the cantons as well as the federal government. Regardless, there is a lot to like about the Swiss, and I always enjoyed doing business with them back when I was working.; 6/24/16, 3:02 AM