sod

¹

[ sod ]

noun

1. a section cut or torn from the surface of grassland, containing the matted roots of grass.
2. the surface of the ground, especially when covered with grass; turf; sward.

verb (used with object)

, sod·ded, sod·ding.

1. to cover with sods or sod.

sod

²

[ sod ]

verb

, Archaic.

1. simple past tense of seethe.

sod

³

[ sod ]

noun

, Chiefly British Slang: Vulgar.

1. a chap; fellow; guy:

   You almost feel sorry for the poor sod.

2. an inconsequential, annoying, or unpleasant person.
3. Older Use. a gay man.

verb (used with object)

, Chiefly British Slang: Vulgar.

, sod·ded, sod·ding.

1. to damn:

   Sod the bloody bastard!

verb phrase

1. to leave (usually as an imperative):

   Why don't you just sod off!

sod

¹

/ sɒd /

noun

1. a piece of grass-covered surface soil held together by the roots of the grass; turf
2. poetic.
   the ground

verb

1. tr to cover with sods

sod

²

/ sɒd /

noun

1. a person considered to be obnoxious
2. a jocular word for a person

   the poor sod hasn't been out for weeks

3. sod all slang.
   nothing

interjection

1. sod it
   a strong exclamation of annoyance

Derived Forms

• ˈsodding, adjective

Other Words From

• sodless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sod¹

First recorded in 1475–1525; late Middle English sod(de), from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German sode “turf”

Origin of sod²

First recorded in 1810–15; by shortening of sodomite ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of sod¹

C15: from Low German; compare Middle Low German, Middle Dutch sode; related to Old Frisian sātha

Origin of sod²

C19: shortened from sodomite

Example Sentences

Michael described himself as a "very awkward, slightly porky, very strange-looking bloke" who walked into his first day of school with a mop of curly hair and wearing "sodding great big window-frame glasses."

From Salon

Is there really anything to be gained from being served yet another reminder every single time we open a sodding email?

From The Guardian

“Can you perhaps stop putting your sodding life in danger now?”

From Literature

Midway through the novel, Lennon tells Anton he’s his father’s “sodding Cyrano de Bergerac.”

From New York Times

“This path must be laid out like a sodding maze,” said Alice.

From Literature

Related Words

• dirt
• turf