CanadianSlangFilter: What is a "tucker"?

July 16, 2004 12:55 PM

CanadianSlangFilter: What is a "tucker"?

So I'm reading some Canadian personal ads on the web (why yes, it is a slow day here) and an ad says "don't be a tucker", seems to refer to fashion sense, and doesn't seem to be a misspelling of trucker. I do realize there is a town named Tucker, but does it have some sort of reputation or funny story? Someone who tucks their shirts in maybe? It's not on urbandictionary.com.

posted by milovoo to writing & language (20 comments total)

Carson Tucker? as in Queer Eye? If I'm right, don't ask me how I know this.
posted by dness2 at 1:14 PM on July 16, 2004

Never heard of it, and I am Canadian, so...

Could it refer to a cross-dresser or transexual? You know, "tucking" the junk as to remove unsightly penis lines.
posted by Quartermass at 1:15 PM on July 16, 2004

Perhaps they are referring to Tucker Max?
posted by jackmakrl at 1:17 PM on July 16, 2004

tucking (t-) shirts into jeans?
posted by andrew cooke at 1:21 PM on July 16, 2004

Only fashion-related definition of tucker I could find:
tucker -- (a detachable yoke of linen or lace worn over the breast of a low-cut dress)

Somehow I doubt this is what's being referred to...
posted by louigi at 1:24 PM on July 16, 2004

In Australia a tucker is a kind of sausage pie. "Don't be an Australian sausage pie". It makes perfect sense.

Or maybe he/she was referring to Sophie Tucker. No one wants that.

Why don't you cut and paste the ad here so we can see it in context? It's slow here too.
posted by iconomy at 1:25 PM on July 16, 2004

More context would help. I have vague memories of this possibly being related to people who tuck their shirts into their underwear, since you say it's fashion related, but my first instinct would have been to relate it to food.
posted by jacquilynne at 1:39 PM on July 16, 2004

Ah, yes, dness2's answer seems right in context.

They essentially said "I like someone who dresses well, but not a tucker".
(I haven't seen queer eye since the first few episodes, so the reference eluded me)
posted by milovoo at 1:42 PM on July 16, 2004

BTFOoM. I've never heard the term used to refer to fashion before. I was vaguely aware of an Aussie food/eating sort of association.
posted by five fresh fish at 1:54 PM on July 16, 2004

I'm pretty sure in the context the statement was written, the "T" is meant to be taken for an "F". No, I'm not kidding.
posted by majick at 2:02 PM on July 16, 2004

Not slang. It literally describes someone who always tucks his t-shirts into his jeans. I've heard it used that way at least a couple of times. I'm Canadian, but I would never have guessed it was a regional thing.
posted by Monk at 2:17 PM on July 16, 2004

Carson Kressley is the guy from Queer Eye, so that's not it.
posted by rorycberger at 2:21 PM on July 16, 2004

The first thing I thought of was this guy: Darcy Tucker.

To Toronto Maple Leaf fans, he's a "gritty player who lays it all out for the team". For EVERYONE ELSE who follows hockey, he's an dirty sonofabitch who deserves to be driven head first into the ice, like this.

So if I had to guess, it would mean Tucker = dickhead.

(for the record, I'm a Leaf fan and even I know he's an asshole...at times)
posted by grum@work at 2:30 PM on July 16, 2004

I have always heard it the same as Monk - to tuck your shirt into jeans (or pants too, I suppose). It was associated with wimpiness or 'looking like your mother dressed you'. This is in the American Great Plains region, if that matters.
posted by dual_action at 2:47 PM on July 16, 2004

Carson Kressley

doh.

But in a way my failure at cultural references redeems my intellectuality. So I feel better.
posted by dness2 at 3:45 PM on July 16, 2004

But in a way my failure at cultural references redeems my intellectuality

keep telling yourself that
posted by rorycberger at 3:59 PM on July 16, 2004

I've always heard "tucker" used as a slang word for food, like "grub".
posted by MiguelCardoso at 7:16 PM on July 16, 2004

Maybe it's Tucker Carlson. I wouldn't want to date someone who dressed like him, either. Blah.
posted by gatorae at 9:31 PM on July 16, 2004

In Australia a tucker is a kind of sausage pie.
Actually, tucker is used to refer to any kind of food.
posted by dg at 10:55 PM on July 16, 2004

A painting, as in Ted Tucker.
posted by orbit at 1:59 PM on July 17, 2004