arsed

Arsed is informal British English slang derived from arse, the word for the buttocks. It can function as an adjective, a nominal phrase, or as part of phrasal verbs in everyday speech. In its most common usage, phrases such as “be arsed” or “can’t be arsed” express that someone has the energy or inclination to do something, or that they are bothered to do it. For example, “I can’t be arsed to go out” means “I can’t be bothered to go out.” The question “Are you arsed?” asks whether someone is willing to do something.

Arsing about or arsing around is a related phrasal usage meaning to waste time or to fool around, often with the sense of not taking a task seriously. Example: “Stop arsing about and finish your work.” These expressions are typically used in casual conversation and are considered vulgar or coarse in many settings.

Usage and regional note: Arsed is understood across the United Kingdom and Ireland and is common in informal speech, some comedy, and certain literary works. It is generally avoided in formal writing, professional contexts, or polite conversation. In American English, the terms are usually unfamiliar or regarded as crude slang, though recognizable to speakers of British English through exposure in media.

Etymology and sense development: The term arsed comes from arse, the British variant of “ass,” referring to the buttocks. The figurative sense—emphasizing energy, motivation, or bother—emerged in British slang and spread through popular usage.