punk

Punk is a style of music that is fast and loud and played by bands like the Ramones and the Stooges. But it can be used as more than a name of a kind of music.

People who listen to punk music are often called "punks" and they usually try to dress differently than most people and do things to separate themselves from society, too. You can hear them say things like, "That's so punk!" when one of them steals something from a corporate store or when one of them quits his or her job by yelling and throwing things. Generally, to be rebellious and wild is to be punk.

What's funny though, is that in trying to be different, punks often all act and dress the same way--in spikes and mohawks. They say things like, "That's not punk!" when one of their friends doesn't act according to the customs of the group.

"Punk" can also be an insult when it's not referring to music. Your teacher might say, "You're nothing but a little punk!" if she catches you scratching "Slayer Rips" into your desk during class, even though Slayer is a metal band, not a punk band.

One can also say that someone "got punked" if that person is fooled or tricked by others. There is (or at least there used to be) a show on MTV called <b>Punked</b> in which jokes were played on celebrities.