son-of-a-bitch
UK[ˌsʌn əv ə ˈbɪtʃ]US[ˌsʌn əv ə ˈbɪtʃ]
n
An offensive term for a contemptible or detestable person.
n
Used as an exclamation to express anger, annoyance, or surprise.
Etymology
The phrase 'son of a bitch' originated in the early 18th century as a literal insult, implying a person was the offspring of a female dog (bitch), a term of contempt for a woman. Its evolution follows a common pattern in English where literal, often vulgar, descriptors become fossilized into fixed expletives. Over time, the literal meaning receded, and it grammaticalized into a versatile noun for a despicable person and, importantly, an interjection expressing strong emotion. This transition from a specific literal insult to a generalized term of abuse and emotional exclamation demonstrates the process of semantic bleaching and pragmatic specialization in slang and profanity.
Analysis
This is a fixed, idiomatic compound phrase. It is not productively formed from separable morphemes in modern English for the purpose of this analysis. Its meaning is derived from the literal combination of words ('son', 'of', 'a', 'bitch') used as a single lexical unit.
Examples
That conniving son-of-a-bitch stole my idea and claimed it as his own.
Son-of-a-bitch! I just locked my keys in the car.
He can be a real son-of-a-bitch in business negotiations.