coxy
Definition
- Adjective:
- Conceited or self-important: "coxy" describes someone who displays an exaggerated sense of their own importance or abilities, often in a boastful or arrogant manner.
Usage Examples
- (He became conceited and self-satisfied.)
- (Her arrogant and self-important behaviour caused others to dislike her.)
Advanced Usage
- "to be coxy about something": to show excessive pride or smugness regarding a particular achievement or possession.
- She was coxy about her new car, showing it off to everyone. (She was boastful and self-satisfied about the car.)
Variants and Related Words
- Cocky (adj): a more common spelling variant of "coxy," meaning arrogantly self-confident.
- He is too cocky for his own good. (He is excessively self-assured.)
- Cocksy (adj): another spelling variant, with the same meaning.
- That cocksy young man needs to learn humility. (That conceited young man needs to be taught modesty.)
Synonyms
- Arrogant: having an exaggerated sense of one's own importance.
- Conceited: excessively proud of oneself.
- Smug: self-satisfied and complacent.
- Vain: excessively proud of one's appearance or achievements.
Related Idioms
- Too big for one's boots: behaving as if one is more important than one actually is.
- After his promotion, he became too big for his boots. (He became coxy or arrogant.)
- Full of oneself: excessively self-absorbed or self-satisfied.
- She is so full of herself since she got that award. (She is very coxy.)
Notes on Usage
- "Coxy" (and its variant "cocky") is informal and often carries a negative connotation, implying that the person’s self-confidence is unwarranted or excessive. It is rarely used in formal writing.