tonto en · ADJ · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish tonto (“stupid, foolish; idiot, fool”), of uncertain etymology. Originally in US use but now chiefly British. Cf. earlier Tonto, with which it is sometimes confused.
Meanings
-
(offensive, possibly, slang) Synonym of crazy.
He told the businessmen that the law that required the certification by the President was ‘tonto’.
1982 Feb. 26, New York Times, A10Oi, bruv. He's gone full tonto.
Yes, and then I got drunk one night and snogged one of his friends, and he went tonto.
2011, Gil McNeil, Stand by Your Man, Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN:AMERICA! The richest prize on the bloody planet. Gone, for want of a few paltry seats on the cross benches. George the bloody Third wasn't just mad, he was completely tonto!
2014, Ben Elton, Time and Time Again, Random House, →ISBN:Whether you're based in Cyprus or you know we do longer tours in Kenya or Oman or are busy just making it to the brigade at the moment up in Estonia, you know it's going to be a busy army and unfortunately we've got a busy adversary now in Putin. Gone full tonto, I think, as I'd say, and you know that's going to be quite... We've got 1,000 people on standby.
2021 Feb. 23, Robert Ben L. Wallace, comment at Horse GuardsHis two heroes are both ex-FO types and both terminally tonto about cricket.
1985 Jan. 31, Listener, p. 34
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most tonto | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more tonto | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |