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The Mulaney Test
The Mulaney Test is the informal name of the "worse word" scenario outlined in John Mulaney's hit 2012 standup special "New in Town." Mulaney describes a situation in which he is writing for an awards show and uses the word "midget" in a script. Mulaney is confronted by network personnel and told that he "can't put the word midget on TV" because "'Midget' is as bad as the 'n-word" to which Mulaney retorts "First off: no. No, it's not! "Do you know how I know it's not," I said to him, "is because we’re saying the word 'midget,' and we’re not even saying what the 'n-word' is!"
Finally, Mulaney offers The Mulaney Test succinctly: If you're comparing the badness of two words, and you won’t even say one of them? That's the worse word.
Finally, Mulaney offers The Mulaney Test succinctly: If you're comparing the badness of two words, and you won’t even say one of them? That's the worse word.
Z: Man, the boss said some wild shit earlier.
J: Like what?
Z: Well, he was talking about Indians and some other shit I can even say out loud.
J: Oh wow
Z: Yeah, I don't know which was worse
J: Well, per The Mulaney Test, the stuff you won't say out loud was worse.
J: Like what?
Z: Well, he was talking about Indians and some other shit I can even say out loud.
J: Oh wow
Z: Yeah, I don't know which was worse
J: Well, per The Mulaney Test, the stuff you won't say out loud was worse.
The Mulaney Test by PineapplePizza117 July 4, 2022
Related Words
The Mulva • The Full Mulvaney • The Mulaney Test • the • the game • the O • The Beatles • the boy • the shit • The Meaning Of Life
The Full Mulvaney
The Full Mulvaney by Johnny Donut November 5, 2019
More from Urban Dictionary
Soul digger
A man who dates women with the sole purpose of exploiting their time, energy, and labor while he sucks the joy and happiness from their lives.
"That guy's a soul digger. He'll expect you to work full time, but you'll be doing all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, and childcare while he plays video games or watches TV."
Soul digger by anonymous November 11, 2026
Word of the Day on November 11, 2026
pod person
A person pretending to be something they aren't, or an impostor. This is inferred because of the old alien movies where alien pods appear on earth and the "pod people" dispose of the humans and slowly reproduce the bodies, pretending to be humans.
The pod person was pretending to be my father, but I knew that he was an alien when he acted differently than my father ever would have.
pod person by Christopher M. May 9, 2005
Word of the Day on November 10, 2026
dead drop
A dead drop is a location used to secretly pass items between two people, without requiring them to meet.
Spies have been known to use dead drops, using various techniques to hide the items and to signal that the drop has been made. Drug dealers use this as well.
A common place is to duct tape the item to the underside of a toilet cover in a public restroom.
A signal is sometimes used as well to indicate there is something to pickup, like a pile of stones in a certain formation. After checking the drop the signal is removed.
Spies have been known to use dead drops, using various techniques to hide the items and to signal that the drop has been made. Drug dealers use this as well.
A common place is to duct tape the item to the underside of a toilet cover in a public restroom.
A signal is sometimes used as well to indicate there is something to pickup, like a pile of stones in a certain formation. After checking the drop the signal is removed.
"The dead drop is the restroom toilet at the Gulf station at the corner of Commercial Ave. and Georges Rd."
dead drop by rubberroom July 23, 2008
Word of the Day on November 9, 2026
No Surprises Wedding
A "No Surprises Wedding," or NSW, is a wedding invitation designation that tells attendees that there can be no unplanned announcements, engagements, events or speeches at the wedding - all actions must be pre-approved by the couple. Anyone who performs an unapproved "surprise" will be asked to leave the wedding early.
This designation comes from Reddit, where so many stories of bad wedding behavior indicated a need to communicate expectations for the wedding behavior of attendees.
This designation comes from Reddit, where so many stories of bad wedding behavior indicated a need to communicate expectations for the wedding behavior of attendees.
You are cordially invited to the nuptials of Brian and Tom on October 31 at noon.
Please note that this wedding is child-free (under 10) and a No Surprises Wedding (NSW). Reach out to wedding planner Sami Smith to request approvals or exceptions; please note that exceptions will be rare. Limited child care for under-10s will be available. All approvals will be noted and included in planning. Unapproved, or surprise exceptions, will result in guests being asked to leave.
Please note that this wedding is child-free (under 10) and a No Surprises Wedding (NSW). Reach out to wedding planner Sami Smith to request approvals or exceptions; please note that exceptions will be rare. Limited child care for under-10s will be available. All approvals will be noted and included in planning. Unapproved, or surprise exceptions, will result in guests being asked to leave.
No Surprises Wedding by dbdefenestrate August 27, 2023
Word of the Day on November 8, 2026
ulzzang
Ulzzang true definition is "best & "face" = best face in korean. They are basically people with above average looks, sometimes with the use of photoshop and haduri who post their pics online, some becoming internet celebrities.
ulzzang by `r i k kit t y February 26, 2008
Word of the Day on November 7, 2026
EBK
EBK stands for "Elite Ball Knowledge." 1 In internet slang, "ball knowledge" originally referred to a deep understanding of football/soccer or basketball, but it has evolved into a broader term for having a highly sophisticated, deep, or niche understanding of any specific topic (such as music, movies, or subcultures).