Kettle, teapot; newbie, novice, greenhorn, absolute beginner. A classic, universally known colloquialism. While its literal meaning is a kitchen kettle, in slang it refers to a complete beginner or an incompetent person in a specific field (most famously in driving or computing, e.g., компьютер для чайников — “computers for dummies”). The term originates from mid-20th-century Soviet mountaineering slang, mocking novices who would pose for photos on mountaintops with one hand on their hip and the other leaning on a cane, resembling a kettle’s handle and spout.
crontab: Вспомнилась кстати одна категория юзеров-чайников, которые обязательно кликают на всё по нескольку раз, хотя одного достаточно.
same: это старкрафтеры. они не обязательно чайники.
crontab: I just remembered a category of newbie users who always click on everything multiple times, even though once is enough.
same: Those are StarCraft players. They’re not necessarily newbies.
(bash.org.ru, 06/2008)



