“Fat head” is a common insult used to describe someone who is either stupid or has a big ego. It can also refer to certain fish species. The insult is often used by bullies and can be directed at someone who is not actually overweight. The term has also been used in media and culture, such as in the nickname of jazz musician David Newman and a hip hop band from Philadelphia.
The term “fat head” is often used as a childish slur in schools throughout the English-speaking world. Insult has two basic meanings: someone who is stupid or someone who has a big ego. “Big head” and “fat face” are related slurs. The term fat head can also describe other things like fish.
When connected to the ego, the “fat head” slur is a way to put a person in their place. A person has a higher opinion of himself than is reflected in the opinion of another or of the group. In that sense, “fat” might just be a more offensive term than “big.” It’s possible that “big head” and “fat head” were separate slurs that fused together at some point.
“Well, you’re stupid” is the last refrain of a bully devoid of wit and invention. Children naturally attach themselves to a person’s distinctive physical qualities and use them as terms of insult. These include hair or skin color, height and weight. The person does not have to be overweight to be considered a “fat head”.
Even the recipient of this insult need not be stupid. The insult can also be used, in scenes twisted by logic, against someone who is shown to be smarter. Why fat has been confused with low intelligence is unknown, but could be related to slurs such as “as thick as two short boards.”
“Fat head” also refers to a number of other things. There are a number of fish species that are referred to as “fat head” variants. These include bighead minnow, bighead carp, a species of sculpin and cubiceps. Minnows are found throughout North America and Canada, while bighead carp are native to Asia.
The term “fat head” also appears in the media and culture. It is the nickname of jazz musician David Newman and the title of his 1960 album. It is also the name of a Jamaican disc jockey and the name of a hip hop band based in the American city of Philadelphia. A 2009 film used “Fat Head” as its title when director Tom Naughton tried to debunk many of the claims made in “Super Size Me.”
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