Definition

1. Adjective:
   • (Of a voice or accent) Having an affectedly rich, deep, and often upper-class British quality: Describes a manner of speaking that is deliberately or artificially posh, mellow, and resonant, typically associated with a perceived high social status.
   • (Informal, especially British) Very good or desirable; choice: Used to describe something considered excellent, advantageous, or lucrative.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective (Voice):

  • He spoke in a plummy accent that made him sound like a 19th-century aristocrat.
  • The actor's plummy voice was perfect for the role of the king.

• Adjective (Desirable thing):

  • She landed a plummy job at the prestigious law firm right after graduation.
  • The CEO's son was given a plummy assignment with little responsibility.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• The term often carries a slight negative or mocking connotation when describing a voice, implying it is pretentious, overly refined, or not authentic.
• When used to describe a desirable thing (like a job or role), it is informal and suggests the position is not only good but also perhaps obtained through privilege or luck rather than sheer merit.

Variants and Related Words

• Plum (noun, informal): A highly desirable assignment, job, or role.
  • The promotion was a real plum.

Synonyms

• For voice: Poshy, affected, sonorous, mellifluous, aristocratic.
• For something desirable: Choice, prime, select, lucrative, cushy (informal).

Antonyms

• For voice: Guttural, coarse, common, rough.
• For something desirable: Undesirable, inferior, poor, menial.

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• A plummy role/part/job: A very good and sought-after role or position.
  • After years of small parts, he finally got a plummy role in a West End production.

Adjective

1. (of a voice) affectedly mellow and rich
   • the radio announcer's plummy voice
2. very desirable
   • a plummy leading role