General
sap
What does sap mean?
A simpleton or fool, with the specific flavour of being soft and easily taken advantage of. Common across Ireland and Britain — the sap is the one who picks up the bill, believes the excuse, lends the money he won't see again. Less mean than 'eejit', more pitying.
"I'm such a sap — I actually thought he'd pay me back."
Origin
British/Irish slang, late 1700s; short for 'sapskull' (a person with a head full of sap, i.e. wood pulp — soft and useless).
Frequently asked questions
What does sap mean?
A sap is a soft fool — someone gullible, naive, and easily taken in.
How do you use sap in a sentence?
"Don't be such a sap; they're obviously lying to you."
Is calling someone a sap rude?
Yes, it's mildly insulting — it means the person is a pushover who's easily fooled.
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