It's not just a matter of degree. It's possible to be a dick by accident (you behave like a dick) but prick is more about the soul of a person (that guy IS a prick)
Prick is fairly more British, pointed and condescending to me for an unnameable reason. I see too much casual anatomy talk for Dick to not have a medical meaning too which takes off the insulting edge.
At least in NZ,dick is lower ranking. Call a guy a dick in a bar and conversation goes on. Prick has more potential for the bar to go silent… best bet is fuck under a table.
Dicks, I think, have a tendency to be meat-headed and more aggressive in their dickery. Prices can be slyly prickish and more subtle in how much they suck
I would say prick more dismissive. Like, calling someone a prick is like “he sucks; just ignore him,” whereas calling someone a dick is like “Wow that guy sucks, and I cannot ignore it.”
Yes. It is a subtle distinction to be sure. 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌 has the connotation of an irritating, arrogant person. Yet there might be some measure of humour in it. Whereas a 𝑫𝒊𝒄𝒌 is those things but worse and perhaps thoroughly/-existentially—it is his nature. 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌 may be situational, 𝑫𝒊𝒄𝒌 is his identity.
Prick is a small Dick. So prick is focused on belittling (in size and stature) the actual person being a Dick. Whereas Dick is just a blanketed term for a person that’s a jerk or butt munch.
“Prick” is, to me, a more extreme derogatory term than “dick”. You might say to your buddy, “Dude, don’t be a dick.” over a minor annoyance. But I don’t think you’d say “Dude, you’re being a prick.” unless there was a more significant offense.
For me, a "prick" is a lot more egotistical and self-absorbed, where their systematicly-enforced privileges provide for a main character complex that negatively affects others. They could have made different decisions but didn't. A "dick" is more ignorant, at the peak of the Dunning-Kruger effect.
It's funny how many responses have to do with prick being more pointed (intentional) and sharp (intelligent), I wonder if we associate it with prick's other meaning.
Prick: drives a BMW with a vanity plate along the lines of “MY BMW”.
Dick: drives a turbo diesel pickup truck that’s always spotless because they never use it for anything other that couldn’t be done with a Camry.
That's hilarious, I said the same thing but exactly the reverse lol. A dick is born a dick, but a prick is a brief poke in the same isolated spot. Prick is in a moment, I'd say, but a dick is born that way 😂
Just going by vibes (which is all any of this is), I'd say "prick" is more dismissive, if not more insulting. I've heard someone say "oh, you were a real dick to that guy" in an appreciative "you're a jerk, but I kinda get it" tone, but "prick" doesn't really get used that way.
Both of the terms refer to centrist pricks like you who have daddy's credit card and then tell working class people that they deserve to suffer because daddy had a business.
What I'm hearing from the comments is that a prick is more pretentious than a dick. Did "prick" come from people mishearing the older British term "prig"?
I think there is a difference.
My brain says being a prick requires a level of intentionality. But being a dick is involuntary, like... a baseline unpleasant idiot personality.
A dick is going to fuck you regardless of if they like you, a prick is more annoying and purposeful, like getting blood drawn. You're never accidentally a prick, but you have about a fiddy-fiddy shot of just being a natural dick.
Yeah. “Dick” is more forceful. That person is someone I have active disdain for and consider to be a problem in need of resolution. “Prick” is dismissive, as in “don’t take what he says to heart, he’s a prick”. While I may not like this man, he does not register as a meaningful problem to me.
Absolutely! Dick is more akin to general a**-hole-ness. Almost interchangeable. A prick is a more incessant, unredeemable, pestering, insufferable, and often painful to be around. A dick (like a**hole) can be a momentary lapse in judgement or consideration. While a prick is a life long affliction.
Most pricks are dicks but not all dicks are pricks. It's all about presentation. Pricks are more snobbish, self-righteous, or just convinced they're right.
This. It’s kind of about presentation and intent, I think. A person can be a dick without realizing it (not that that ever excuses dickish behavior). A person who’s a prick knows exactly what they’re doing and is all in about the choices that brought them there.
Honestly dick is used more often than prick so it's a good bit less impactful.
like you can get called a dick in casual setting (like stealing the last slice of pizza) but you're never going to get called a prick unless you deserve it.
Only in intensity of their annoying-ness. Dicks are mildly annoying, they do stuff you can brush off. Pricks really drive the needle in and need to be avoided or stopped.
Adick has been born and grown as a dick. It isn't eithe unaware it is a dick, or doesn't care. It can learn.
A prick acts like a dick to spite you, from a position of false superoirity
"Prick" feels extremely aggressive to me, but that's thanks to my mom's husband who used to say it all the time. DBAD (Don't Be a Dick) is just... Hey, be nice. But saying don't be a prick is more like telling them to stop being a piece of shit.
Fun fact! Prick was my first “bad word”! I was reading an article aloud to my mom about the difference between English and Australian parliamentary behavior and the article said one Australian minister stood and called another a prick right in the middle of a session! Mom was aghast.
Agreeing with many that the difference is intent. A dick may or may not know that they are awful but it’s just who they are. A prick is a dick that knows and enjoys being detestable.
The way I use them: a dick is a guy who just basically and thoughtlessly acting in an annoyingly assholish manner particular to guys. A prick has thought it through and made a decision to act like an asshole in a very particular way
Yeah, I'm with those who think they do. I think of the first phrases that come to mind, and they're "thoughtless dick," and "mean prick," so for me, the former is mostly selfish, and the latter is mean-spirited. 🤷♂️
Everyone in your replies trying really hard to give you elaborate answers but I’m just going to say no, nobody is going to bat an eye if you use them interchangeably.
A dick fucks you and fucks you over, but can be fun sometimes. A prick is little and draws blood, the whole purpose is to harm.
That’s to say: when I hear someone is a dick, I assume they’re just generally an asshole. When I hear someone is a prick, I think they’re purposefully malicious
Agreed, to me prick is more about personality while dick is just doing things with no regard to others even if their demeanor doesn’t reflect it. They might just be clueless.
I know from personal experience, the term prick will illicit a much more visceral response from men, than the word dick
Never really found out why. But I utilize it when I want to accelerate.
While I often use them synonymously, when I think about it, I usually think of someone as being a dick as opposed to acting like a prick. Prick has more intentionality, dick is more a state of being.
I've only heard "Don't be a Dick," whereas I've only really heard people be called a Prick. My interpretation is you can stumble into being a Dick by ignorance but it takes intention to be a Prick.
If you invite a group of people to a work do and tell them to bring their partners, but Janet just had a rough breakup and you didn't even consider that, you're a Dick.
If you mentioned that everyone should bring their partners because you KNEW Janet just had a rough breakup, you're a Prick.
The connotation being that being a prick is done with a more robust knowledge of the ramifications of ones actions versus dick leaving more room for ignorance.
Prick seems like the more "serious" one. If someone doesn't let you merge into traffic, he's being a dick. If someone cuts you off and brake-checks you, he's being a prick.
Prick is a more agressive dick. Dick is a dumber prick. A prick might have some admirable traits like intelligence, an unwillingness to suffer fools. A dick is just dumb and nasty.
want to add that the exact meaning difference happens across other languages
in Polish it would be 'chuj' and 'kutas' respectively, and the first one is more vulgar but more common about someone who's just a, well, dick in actions and words. and second one will refer to sleazy asshole.
Comments
Prick = an asshole but with the connotation that they're annoying/more of a general nuisance
I can’t explain how but that’s just the way it is
But I’d argue that “prick” is slightly worse because of the alternate, “sharp stab” sense of “prick.”
Like, it indicates a connotation of familiarity or relative social distance in the nuance.
prick is a state of being. a prick is always a prick
So adapting Wheeton's law to "don't be a prick" wouldn't work.
Dick: drives a turbo diesel pickup truck that’s always spotless because they never use it for anything other that couldn’t be done with a Camry.
Someone is a dick.
Someone is being a prick.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prig
A prick is just so much worse at being an approachable human
A dick knows he's a dick, but that's just his nature.
A prick knows he's a prick because he goes out of his way to do this stuff.
It's possible all pricks are dicks, but not all dicks are pricks. I need to think on that part more....
Prick -> pretentious asshole
My brain says being a prick requires a level of intentionality. But being a dick is involuntary, like... a baseline unpleasant idiot personality.
I’ll call my friends a dick as a joke from time to time, but i’ve only used prick on people who have done something actually fucked up.
Going off of vibes, prick just comes off as harsher.
Dicks are just dicks.
A prick is someone who wishes to cause inconvenience, harm, frustration, etc but has to put effort to do so.
prick = an arrogant jerk
like you can get called a dick in casual setting (like stealing the last slice of pizza) but you're never going to get called a prick unless you deserve it.
I feel like a prick is dressed fancier.
Like, if Derek Guy turned evil, he would be a prick.
Phylum: Douchata
Class: Scrotalia
Order: Bellendiformes
Family: Wankeridae
A dick is generally nasty and a prick is particularly nasty
A prick acts like a dick to spite you, from a position of false superoirity
But, occasionally a prick is someone who's more pretentious/"high class" (derogatory). Just depends on context.
Come. Sit. Enjoy a finger sandwich.
“Dick” is someone being/is an asshole.
“Prick” is something actively, intentionally, and openly being an asshole, for the sake of being one/harassing others.
Prick = snarky yuppy asshole.
A prick wants to be mean, whereas a dick often ends up being mean out of stupidity.
When you’re a prick, it’s your general vibe and who you are as a person.
That’s to say: when I hear someone is a dick, I assume they’re just generally an asshole. When I hear someone is a prick, I think they’re purposefully malicious
And dick is just general suckage.
A Prick seems like a guy who is more calculating.
Trump = Dick
Vance = Prick
Never really found out why. But I utilize it when I want to accelerate.
Dick is a low-class jerk
A prick is like pompous or petty, but also maybe immature or self serving.
Thor can be a dick. Loki can be a prick.
If you mentioned that everyone should bring their partners because you KNEW Janet just had a rough breakup, you're a Prick.
A prick is no good to anybody. (e.g. Our current dear leader.)
The connotation being that being a prick is done with a more robust knowledge of the ramifications of ones actions versus dick leaving more room for ignorance.
Prick refers to any guy you wanna stab.
hope this clears it up!
Dick = more flappy
in Polish it would be 'chuj' and 'kutas' respectively, and the first one is more vulgar but more common about someone who's just a, well, dick in actions and words. and second one will refer to sleazy asshole.