pooh-pooh
/pu:'pu:/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To dismiss or reject something as being foolish, unimportant, or unworthy of serious consideration, often with an expression of scorn or contempt.
- To express contempt or derision for an idea, suggestion, or proposal.
Usage
The verb "pooh-pooh" is used to describe the act of contemptuously rejecting an idea. It often implies a haughty or dismissive attitude, suggesting the speaker believes the subject is beneath consideration. It is typically used with a direct object (the thing being dismissed).
Examples
- Verb:
- The senior manager pooh-poohed the intern's suggestion without even reading the proposal.
- Don't just pooh-pooh the idea; it might have some merit if you think about it.
- He pooh-poohed their concerns about safety, calling them alarmists.
Advanced Usage
- "to pooh-pooh something as [adjective/noun]": To dismiss something by labeling it a certain way.
- She pooh-poohed the theory as mere speculation.
- Critics pooh-poohed the film as childish fantasy.
Variants and Related Words
- Pooh-poohing (gerund/noun): The act of dismissing something contemptuously.
- His constant pooh-poohing of new ideas stifled innovation in the department.
Synonyms
- Dismiss: To decide that something or someone is not important or worthy of attention.
- Scorn: To feel or express contempt or derision for.
- Spurn: To reject with disdain or contempt.
- Deride: To express contempt for; ridicule.
Related Phrases
- Wave aside: To dismiss something as unimportant.
- He waved aside our objections, similar to how he would pooh-pooh them.
- Brush off: To dismiss or ignore someone or something casually.
- She brushed off the criticism, which was her way of pooh-poohing it.
Verb
- reject with contempt
- She spurned his advances
- express contempt about