toff
/tɔf/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: - An upper-class or wealthy person: "Toff" is an informal, often slightly humorous or critical term for a person who is perceived as belonging to the upper class or being very wealthy, typically characterized by stylish or expensive clothing and manners.
Usage
"Toff" is a slang noun used primarily in British English. It can be used neutrally, humorously, or with mild contempt to describe someone who appears or acts in a posh, aristocratic, or affluent manner. It is not typically used as a direct form of address.
Examples
Advanced Usage
- "Toffish" (adjective): Behaving or appearing like a toff; posh.
- He has a rather toffish way of pronouncing his words.
- The term can imply a degree of affectation or being out of touch with ordinary people.
- His toffish disdain for public transport was obvious.
Variants and Related Words
- Toffish (adj.): Resembling or characteristic of a toff.
- Toffy / Toffee-nosed (adj., informal): Snobbish, pretentiously superior.
- She's a bit too toffee-nosed for my liking.
Synonyms
- Aristocrat: A member of the aristocracy.
- Upper-crust person: (Informal) A person from the highest social class.
- Posh person: (Informal, chiefly British) A person who is elegant or stylish, especially from a high social class.
- Swell: (Old-fashioned slang) A fashionable or socially prominent person.
Antonyms
- Plebeian: A commoner; a person of low social rank.
- Prole: (Informal, often derogatory) Short for proletarian; a working-class person.
Idioms and Phrases
- "A bit of a toff": Used to describe someone who acts in a somewhat superior or aristocratic manner.
- Since he got that promotion, he's become a bit of a toff.
- "Toffs and toughs": A phrase sometimes used to contrast the upper and lower classes.
- The old divide between the toffs and the toughs is still visible in some parts of the city.
Noun
- informal term for an upper-class or wealthy person