XXXX

See also: 㸚

Translingual

Alternative forms

• (roman numeral): xxxx, XL, xl

Number

XXXX

1. A Roman numeral representing forty (40) in the (now non-standard) "additive" form; now replaced by the form XL.

See also

• 4X
• Previous: XXXIX (thirty-nine, 39)
• Next: XLI (forty-one, 41)

English

Etymology 1

From the (Australian) XXXX brand of lager, which was named after the practice of using X to indicate the strength of an alcoholic beverage, and which was advertised with the slogan "Australians couldn't give a XXXX for any other lager."

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɔːɹˈɛks/ (like "four X")
• Rhymes: -ɛks

Proper noun

XXXX

1. (Bowdlerisation) a fuck / damn.
   • 1985 September 6, in the Times of London, quoted in 2009 by Jesse Sheidlower in The F-Word, page 269:

     Allied does not give a XXXX for Elders.

   • 1988 June 10, in the Guardian, quoted in 2009 by Jesse Sheidlower in The F-Word, page 269:

     Quite a few of the party's MPs don't give a XXXX for the whole affair […] .

   • 1996, in the December (1995) / January (1996) Arena, volume 59, number 1, quoted in 2009 by Jesse Sheidlower in The F-Word, page 269:

     Most of the world couldn't give a XXXX about it, something that has long rankled with the marketing men […] .

Etymology 2

From X chromosome.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kwɔˈdrupəlˌɛks/, /ˌɛksɛksɛksˈɛks/, /fɔːɹˈɛks/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Proper noun

XXXX

1. Tetrasomy X, a rare chromosomal disorder affecting females, caused by the presence of four X chromosomes instead of two present in the usual human karyotype.

Etymology 3

From X (“motion picture "adult" rating”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌɛksɛksɛksˈɛks/
• Rhymes: -ɛks

Adjective

XXXX

1. X-rated, pornographic

Synonyms

• pornographic, X-rated, XXX; see also Thesaurus:pornographic