MovieChat Forums > Home Alone (1990) Discussion > Is “jerk” supposed to be a bad word?

Is “jerk” supposed to be a bad word?

posted 3 months ago by Sidha108 (2676)
6 replies | jump to latest

When Uncle Frank says “Look what you did you little jerk!,” everyone goes dead silent. Nowadays it seems like “jerk” is a common word everyone uses, but was it considered offensive or a “cuss word” back in 1990, or at least a word a kid would think is something you can’t say (eg how kids think “shut up” is a curse word).

[–] samoanjoes (56743) 3 months ago

Maybe because he was saying it to his own nephew.

[–] csweetleaf2 (3674) 3 months ago

It's supposed to be an unpleasant word to call someone.

[–] strntz (12255) 3 months ago

I don't think it was the word "jerk" as much as an uncle yelling at his nephew.

[–] Aylmer (441) 3 months ago

Oddly enough, that's the line my friends and I quote by far more than any other line from the movie, pretty much any time someone accidentally drops or runs into something.

[–] Megan254 (305) 3 months ago

I would've loved it if Peter just turned and decked him right in the mouth for saying that!

[–] Sidha108 (2676) 3 months ago

Or if Peter tells him to “f-off”