Hooligan

Quick meaning: Hooligan is a noun meaning (informal, attributive) A young person who causes trouble or violence, typically as a member of a gang or other group.

Meaning

(informal, attributive) A young person who causes trouble or violence, typically as a member of a gang or other group.

More Meanings

1. Ellipsis of football hooligan.
2. (intransitive) To act as a hooligan (etymology 1, noun sense 1).
3. (transitive, by extension) To treat (a person) roughly.
4. A type of fish, an anadromous smelt, Thaleichthys pacificus, found in the North Pacific.
5. (slang, US) A member of the United States Coast Guard.

Example Sentences

And I was in danger of turning into a right little hooligan if left to my wayward ways.

Navy crew along the rail shouted smart-ass remarks and jeered at the hooligan doing his job.

She also heard boys from other classes behind her talking: “So, Teacher Tang is a female hooligan.”

I frequently notice that the hooligans (a respectful reference to the U.S. Coast Guard) are a hard act to follow.

Word Forms

• hooligans
• hooliganing
• hooliganed

Synonyms for hooligan

Depending on context, synonyms include agitator, bear, beggar, bhoy, blackguard, booger.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include yobo, yobbo, ruffian, bully, roughneck, rowdy.

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