high-hat

The manager acted like a high-hat toward the new employees.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A snobbish or arrogant person: "high-hat" refers to an individual who behaves in a superior, condescending manner towards others.
   • A type of cymbal: In music, "high-hat" is a pair of small cymbals mounted on a stand, operated by a foot pedal, used in drum kits.

2. Adjective:

   • Snobbish or arrogant: Describing someone who acts in a superior or pretentious way.

3. Verb (transitive):

   • To treat someone with condescension: To behave arrogantly or dismissively towards another person.

4. Verb (intransitive):

   • To act in a snobbish manner: To display an attitude of superiority.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • He is such a high-hat; he never speaks to anyone he considers beneath him. (A snobbish person.)
  • The drummer adjusted the high-hat to get a crisper sound. (A musical cymbal.)

• Adjective:

  • Her high-hat attitude made her unpopular at the office. (Her arrogant behaviour.)

• Verb (transitive):

  • She high-hatted the new employee by ignoring his questions. (She treated him condescendingly.)

• Verb (intransitive):

  • Stop high-hatting and join the conversation like everyone else. (Stop acting superior.)

Advanced Usage

• "to play the high-hat": To behave in a snobbish or pretentious manner.

  • He loves to play the high-hat at social gatherings. (He enjoys acting superior.)

• "high-hat cymbal": A specific musical instrument, often shortened to "hi-hat" in modern usage.

  • The rhythm section relies on the high-hat for steady timing. (The cymbal provides a consistent beat.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hi-hat (n): A common spelling variation for the musical cymbal, especially in modern drum kits.

  • The hi-hat is a fundamental part of a drum set. (The cymbal pair.)

• High-hatted (adj): Treated with condescension (past participle).

  • He felt high-hatted by the manager's dismissive tone. (He was treated arrogantly.)

• High-hatting (n): The act of behaving snobbishly.

  • Her constant high-hatting alienated her colleagues. (Her arrogant behaviour.)

Synonyms

• Snob (n): A person who believes they are superior in taste, intelligence, or social status.
• Condescending (adj): Showing an attitude of superiority towards others.
• Patronize (v): To treat someone with apparent kindness that betrays a sense of superiority.

Phrasal Verbs

• High-hat over: To treat someone condescendingly due to perceived superiority.
  • He high-hats over anyone who doesn't share his expensive tastes. (He acts superior towards them.)

Related Idioms

• To look down one's nose at someone: To regard someone with contempt or superiority.

  • She looks down her nose at people from smaller towns, acting like a high-hat. (She behaves snobbishly.)

• To put on airs: To behave in a pretentious or superior manner.

  • He puts on airs and acts like a high-hat at every party. (He behaves arrogantly.)