Ass. Everyone likes a good-looking ass, right? While there might be lovely bottoms on the streets, there are lots of asses in the English language too.
In the UK, ass isn’t used much. Bum is common, arse is our ass, and butt is the US polite version.
In the US, however, people use ass a lot. Here are ten juicy, casual expressions you’ll hear in everyday American English.
The Essential ‘Ass’ Vocabulary
Pain in the ass
Someone or something very annoying.
Fixing this old computer is such a pain in the ass.
Kiss ass / ass-kisser
Flatter someone excessively for personal gain.
He’s a huge ass-kisser.
Kick ass
Perform extremely well or succeed.
Our team kicked ass in the final game.
Haul ass / get your ass in gear
Move very quickly or hurry up.
We need to haul ass right now.
My ass!
Express disbelief or doubt.
He ran a marathon? My ass.
Work your ass off
Work extremely hard.
I worked my ass off for six months.
Cover your ass
Protect yourself from blame.
Save the emails to cover your ass.
Get your ass handed to you
Be completely defeated or humiliated.
I got my ass handed to me in three moves.
Make an ass of yourself
Embarrass yourself or act foolishly.
I made an ass of myself at the wedding.
Flat ass broke
Have no money at all.
I’m flat ass broke until payday.
Why Use These Phrases?
These expressions are everywhere in informal English. They add attitude and emphasis that polite English sometimes lacks.
Learn them, understand them, and use them wisely — mastering tone and context is what makes you sound truly natural.
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