moaning Minnie

English

Etymology

Possibly from the French name Minié (for a soft lead bullet) or the German Minenwerfer, a type of trench mortar (WW I allusions), or simply because of the alliteration of the name with the participial adjective; see Martin, Gary (2022 November) “Moaning Minnie”, in Phrases.org.UK‎^[1], retrieved 29 November 2022.

Pronunciation

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Noun

moaning Minnie (plural moaning Minnies)

1. (slang) A person who moans; a peevish complainer.
   • 1985, Margaret Thatcher, remarks to Tyne Tees TV (11 September 1985) [2]

     Don't you think that's the way to persuade more companies to come to this region and get more jobs—because I want them—for the people who are unemployed? Not always standing there as moaning minnies. Now stop it!

2. (slang, historical) An air raid siren. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
3. (slang, historical) A noisy rocket artillery piece (after 1944, the German Nebelwerfer).

   Synonym: screaming meemie