knob

15:11 Dec 7, 2020
This question was closed without grading. Reason: No acceptable answer

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Sports references
English term or phrase: knob
In the text I am reading/translating, a character is nicknamed "Knob".
A woman seeking to learn why he got the particular nickname asks: "You must’ve played pro football".

I searched and searched but so far have failed to find any connections of the word "Knob" with football.

The story is placed in Florida and the characters are Americans so I am sure it's about American football.

Thank you for any ideas!
Alexander Demyanov
Local time: 19:37


SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +1slightly offensive term of endearment
Bridgette Mitchell
2 +1football-playing freshman
Sheila Wilson
Summary of reference entries provided
knob=moron or dick
Yvonne Gallagher
Further context
Helena Chavarria

Discussion entries: 7





  

Answers


13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
slightly offensive term of endearment


Explanation:
I think this may be his nickname because guys tend to call each other slightly offensive things for fun, especially among footballers who have a lot of banter with one another. It would be like calling your friends idiot or twat instead of their real names as a joke, they will not be upset and probably pick a name to call you back. I have done this with my friends at school.

Bridgette Mitchell
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:37
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you! Certainly a possibility. The only thing is that unlike epithets like "idiot" or "twat" one calls a friend, this "Knob" is not just from some banter name calling. The guy is introduced as "Knob", so it's his nickname.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Bashiqa: Applies to UK Prime Minister.
17 mins

neutral  Yvonne Gallagher: doesn't really explain it in context
22 mins

neutral  philgoddard: As I mentioned, this is British as far as I know.
2 hrs

neutral  Kristopher Brame: I've mainly heard Brits use it like this. There might be another reason (like a plot-related reason).
5 hrs
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33 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +1
football-playing freshman


Explanation:
Maybe this extract is the meaning: My second fixed memory of the campus is when I was a junior in high school visiting The Citadel for homecoming. Homecoming is the biggest weekend of the year to alumni. I had never thought of attending The Citadel. I don’t know exactly when I made the decision during the homecoming football game, but I remember looking up to the far right of the home stands and seeing the knobs standing. Knobs are freshmen—they have to complete fourth-class training to become members of the Corps of Cadets.
http://magazine.citadel.edu/2019/featured/



Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 23:37
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 28

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Yvonne Gallagher: and possibly with the meaning of "moron" =rookies
4 mins
  -> Thanks, Yvonne. I'm really not sure, but it could be.

neutral  philgoddard: Could be, though it appears to be specific to one school.
1 hr
  -> Yes, it depends on the actual context that the Asker has
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Reference comments


38 mins
Reference: knob=moron or dick

Reference information:
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Knob

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 651
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1 day 3 hrs
Reference: Further context

Reference information:
Soon they were joined by a third man that Christian introduced as The Knob. His shaved head looked like a cypress stump. He was tall and wide enough to cast shade over the table. One chubby hand clutched what appeared to be a taxidermied Pekingese, but was later disclosed to be a vividly lush hairpiece attached to a skull cap. The Knob wore ample slacks and a too-snug golf shirt that tragically failed to conceal the outline of floppy, simian breasts. Both his cheeks were freckled and peeling, while his squinty eyes sat in odd circles of milky-white skin. In a flat voice he said hello while rocking slightly from one thick leg to another.

________________

The Knob had nothing to add; he was already immersed in the menu. The subject of his unconventional occupation didn’t arise again until after they’d finished lunch, which took longer than expected because The Knob, acting alone, devoured three orders of lump crab cakes, two plates of linguine, and half of Christian’s fragrant scallop entree. “He’s got basically the same height and frame as the President,” Christian explained, “so we use him for the trial tan, just to make sure there’s no temperature issues or electrical glitches.”

________________

The Knob stood on the scale and hit the day’s mark, two-hundred-and-sixty-nine pounds. Christian told him to put on the wig made of Mastodon’s hair and lie down in the tanning bed.
“It’s not a fuckin’ wig, it’s a piece,” the Knob shot back. “Wigs are for chicks.”
“Hurry up,” said Christian, and set the timer.
The Knob donned the skull cap and adjusted the hairpiece in the President’s iconic style. Then he squeezed into the acrylic cylinder and lowered the canopy cover.

_____________________

The Knob was supposed to avoid natural sunlight during periods when he was testing one of the presidential tanning beds. Usually he spent his daytimes watching porn in his motel room, and at night he went out to gorge and drink. In spite of his somewhat off-putting appearance, he almost always attracted female company. He never wasted a moment trying to understand how or why. The women who approached him seemed genuinely curious; often they asked if he had a circus background. Sometimes one would get a friend to snap photos while she smooched the knotty crown of his head.



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Note added at 1 day 3 hrs (2020-12-08 18:35:02 GMT)
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I would say that the character is called 'The Knob' because some people think he looks like one (big and bald, similar to a toadstool). I'm not sure if his job as the President's tanning bed tester has anything to do with it.

Helena Chavarria
Spain
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
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