Is it a common term in American usage? I had it in my head that it's a Britishism.
For another data point: I also (as a US American) think of it as very much a Britishism. Certainly I've heard the term used, but either by Brits (or other Commonwealth folks with slang overlap) or by Americans in a consciously Here Is My Impression Of A Brit sort of context.
I've never been sure to what extent the insulting usage still carries the sexual meaning, or if the two have been somewhat divorced from each other in the minds of people who use it, the way many people seem to not actually think about anatomy when calling someone an asshole. But I would look to British folk to tell me about that if I wanted to actually investigate the question. I do wonder if perhaps your American flister has heard it used as an insult and doesn't realize, or doesn't fully realize, the misogynistic connotations? I don't know them in the slightest and have no idea, but I think it would be possible to miss that half, as a USAian.
no subject
For another data point: I also (as a US American) think of it as very much a Britishism. Certainly I've heard the term used, but either by Brits (or other Commonwealth folks with slang overlap) or by Americans in a consciously Here Is My Impression Of A Brit sort of context.
I've never been sure to what extent the insulting usage still carries the sexual meaning, or if the two have been somewhat divorced from each other in the minds of people who use it, the way many people seem to not actually think about anatomy when calling someone an asshole. But I would look to British folk to tell me about that if I wanted to actually investigate the question. I do wonder if perhaps your American flister has heard it used as an insult and doesn't realize, or doesn't fully realize, the misogynistic connotations? I don't know them in the slightest and have no idea, but I think it would be possible to miss that half, as a USAian.