Classic British insults at risk of dying out as Gen Z haven't heard of 'plonker', 'numpty' and 'toe rag'

Lummox, bampot, blighter and ninny were the most at risk, with all being unknown to more than half of young Britons.

Around a third of young Britons had not heard of tosspot, toe rag, pillock, with slightly more being unaware of cad and drip.

The survey also revealed 72 per cent of Britons agree that we have a unique style when it comes to slights.

A staggering 81 per cent feel that insulting your loved ones is a very British trait.

However, half of Britons aged over 40 believe insults were of a gentler nature in years gone by.

One-in-five Britons revealed they would be offended if they were called a pillock or plonker.

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A whopping 68 per cent believe Britain has the best insults of any country in the world.

Lummox, which is an East Anglian term, means clumsy oaf.

Scottish slang Bampot describes an obnoxious person.

Members of Gen Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, appear to embrace new insults such as “basic”, “Karen” and “simp”.

Harriet Scott, CEO of Perspectus Global, said: “Language changes, evolves and moves on.

“Our research shows that calling someone a plonker or a prat is no longer a fashionable way to insult them.

“Interestingly, the research highlights the extent to which Brits feel some of the more traditional jibes, feel softer and less severe, than some of today's more controversial ones.

“It has been fascinating researching thousands of old insults such ‘mooncalf’ which used to mean a fool - or ‘Cozener’ meaning a trickster dating back to Shakespearean England.”