spanner

[stefania87]

Hello, in which sense the word "spanner" is used to insult someone?? What does it mean?

 

[pinkkatze]

Hi,

It means that someone is stupid. You can say simply 'you're such a spanner' to mean 'you're an idiot' or 'you're a tool'

 

[Egmont]

"Spanner," in the sense of a tool used to tighten nuts and other fittings, is BE only. So is this expression.

In AE that tool is called a wrench. That word wouldn't be used in this way, though "idiot" and "tool" could be.

 

[stefania87]

Thank you!