Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

love handle

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.75 in modern English

Syllables: love han-dle
IPA

17

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A protruding area of fat on the side of the body, above the hips.

Colloquial

Example Sentences

"The good news. Three weeks into the programme I am rediscovering bits of my body I had forgotten existed; biceps, triceps, hamstrings and those funny muscles on the sides of the abdomen called obliques, the toning of which is supposed to eliminate the love handle."

Etymology

First appears c. 1970 in the publication Current Slang. So called because it is supposed to be grabbed by a partner during sexual intercourse.

Usage

Colloquial

Inflected Forms

love handles (plural) lovehandle (alternative)

Phrases

love-handled

Frequently Paired Words

batwing

Synonyms

spare tire spare tyre

Questions

What does love handle mean?: A protruding area of fat on the side of the body, above the hips.
Where does love handle come from?: First appears c. 1970 in the publication Current Slang. So called because it is supposed to be grabbed by a partner during sexual intercourse.

How to pronounce love handle

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “love handle”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “love handle” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.