According to Merriam Webster online, the word has been in use since at least 1680 and is among the top 1% of searches to its site.
But that didn’t prevent a Danish Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from being censured for not-so-politely telling US president Donald Trump to ‘f*ck off’ over his insistence on taking over Greenland. Or Canada, even.
Anders Vistisen, a member of Denmark’s right-wing Danish People’s Party, addressed the issue during an EU session in Strasbourg, France on Wednesday.
In what could only be described as a tirade, Vistisen expressed outrage over Trump’s repeated overtures to purchase or claim the Arctic island of Greenland, which has been part of the Danish Kingdom for 800 years.
“Dear President Trump, listen very carefully,” he began. “Greenland is an integrated part of our country. It is not for sale,” Vistisen said firmly.
Then, seizing on Trump’s often blunt rhetoric, Vistisen added: “To put it in words you might understand: Mr. Trump, f*ck off.”
The outburst drew a formal reprimand from European Parliament Vice President Nicolae Ștefănuță, who cautioned that such language violated parliamentary decorum but hinted at his own reservations about Trump’s approach.
"If the translation was correct, the term you used is not allowed in this House, and there will be consequences to the message you have used," Ștefănuță, who represents Romania, said.
“Regardless of what we think of Mr. Trump, it is not possible to use such language in this House of Democracy.”
The sharp rebuke comes amid Trump’s broader insistence about expanding US territory. In recent months, Trump has floated the idea of annexing Canada and buying Greenland outright, claiming it would strengthen North American unity and boost US economic dominance.
Trump’s comments have drawn ire from Canadian leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who no less indignantly — but more characteristically polite — called the suggestion “absurd and offensive.”
Greenland has also been a focal point for Trump’s expansionist ambitions. Despite repeated denials from both Greenlandic prime minister Múte Egede and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Trump has suggested that the US has a strategic interest in the island, citing its natural resources and geopolitical significance.
Greenland, which enjoys autonomy in domestic affairs but relies on Copenhagen for foreign policy, is home to the US Space Force’s Pituffik (formerly Thule) air base.
Trump has pointed to historical precedents for US territorial expansion, including the 1916 purchase of the Danish West Indies, now the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). The islands were sold to then president Woodrow Wilson’s administration for $25 million under a treaty ratified by King Christian X of Denmark.
However, critics argue that Trump’s ongoing verbal assault undermines international diplomacy and dismisses the sovereignty of other nations. Unlike the consensual sale of the USVI, both Denmark and Greenland have categorically rejected any discussion of ceding territory to the US. Not to mention embarrassed reactions from Canada.
The dispute has drawn mixed reactions across Europe and North America. While some European leaders, like Vistisen, have vocally condemned Trump’s statements, others have expressed concern about the broader implications for global alliances.
In Canada, Trump’s annexation remarks have fuelled calls for stronger national defence policies, with some politicians urging the Trudeau government to bolster Arctic sovereignty. Meanwhile, in the US, Trump’s supporters have praised his boldness, framing his remarks as part of a broader vision of America’s historical sense of Manifest Destiny.
As the tensions mount, the controversy underscores the complexities of 21st-century geopolitics and the risks of rhetoric that tests the limits of diplomacy.
Speaking to US news outlet MSNBC Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described Trump’s inflated rhetoric as a negotiation tactic with little basis in reality while telling him — politely — to pound sand.
“I know as a successful negotiator he likes to keep people off balance. The 51st state, it's not going to happen… not a snowball’s chance in hell," he said. “Canadians are incredibly proud of being Canadian, but people are now talking about that rather than the impact that 25 percent tariffs. No American wants to pay 25% more for electricity or oil and gas coming in from Canada.”