noogie

American

[noog-ee] / ˈnʊg i /

Also nuggie,

noun

Slang.

a light blow or jab, usually to a person's head, back, or upper arm and accompanied by a twisting motion, with the extended knuckle of the curled-up second or third finger: done as a gesture of affection or painfully as a prank.

Etymology

Origin of noogie

1975–80; apparently expressive alteration of knuckle; see -y ²

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Umm: Is giving someone a noogie ever a good idea?

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 3, 2018

But it says he exercised poor judgment by giving her a noogie.

From Washington Times • Aug. 31, 2018

Mr World is played by Crispin Glover, a man who will forever be remembered as Biff Tannen’s noogie partner.

From The Guardian • May 28, 2017

Instead, the Cavs wrapped them in a headlock and delivered a four-game noogie.

From Golf Digest • May 23, 2017

He gave me another noogie sandwich, to let me know that he could, and somewhere in that we hugged a real hug.

From "Gone Crazy in Alabama" by Rita Williams-Garcia

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023