General
rupert
What does rupert mean?
A British Army commissioned officer — particularly a young, posh, Sandhurst-fresh one. The squaddies' name for the officer class, ranging from mildly affectionate to openly contemptuous depending on tone and how the Rupert in question is performing. The Hugh Grant of military slang.
"Some Rupert fresh out of Sandhurst tried to give the colour sergeant a bollocking — went about as well as you'd expect."
Origin
British Army squaddie slang, in wide use from at least the 1970s. The name 'Rupert' was chosen because it sounded suitably plummy and upper-middle-class — the stereotype of the young Sandhurst-trained subaltern.
Frequently asked questions
What does Rupert mean in the British Army?
Rupert is slang for a British Army commissioned officer — usually Sandhurst-trained and usually posh.
How do you use Rupert in a sentence?
"The lads rolled their eyes as another young Rupert tried to give orders."
Is Rupert an insult?
It's mildly mocking — used by enlisted soldiers to gently poke at officers' privileged, upper-class background rather than as a serious insult.
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