Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Pretentiously self-important; pompous.
- adjective Given to frivolity or silliness.
from The Century Dictionary.
- An exclamation denoting surprise or disapprobation, with some degree of contempt: equivalent to pshaw.
- Elated; giddy; flighty; petulant; huffy: as, he is in hoity-toity spirits.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Thoughtless; giddy; flighty; also, haughty; patronizing; ; used also as an exclamation, denoting surprise or disapprobation, with some degree of contempt.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective
Pompous ,self-important andsnobbish .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective affectedly genteel
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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He's a troubled kid at a fancy, hoity-toity high school, says Mitchell.
Exclusive First Look: Grimm Takes on the Pied Piper -- Rats! 2011
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ADAM: Methinks we're going to meet lots of parents, including the hoity-toity British mother and father of Walden's new girlfriend.
Mega Buzz: New Loves on Big Bang Theory, House and Lots of Grey's Anatomy Tears 2011
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The rhetoric of prejudicial disdain is meted out, on the one hand against the “hoity-toity”, and on the other against the “hoi poloi” -- against the “snob” with complex tastes and the “pleb” with simple tastes.
Archive 2009-06-01 Hal Duncan 2009
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There are hoity-toity rich people just around the corner.
Uprising Margaret Peterson Haddix 2011
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There are hoity-toity rich people just around the corner.
Uprising Margaret Peterson Haddix 2011
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The rhetoric of prejudicial disdain is meted out, on the one hand against the “hoity-toity”, and on the other against the “hoi poloi” -- against the “snob” with complex tastes and the “pleb” with simple tastes.
There's No Prescribing Prescriptivism Hal Duncan 2009
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It has allowed Mrs. Palin to dismiss any criticism of her—no matter how straightforward—as yet more hostility from opponents, or as hoity-toity blather from inside-the-Beltway mopes.
The Problems With Palin Kimberley A. Strassel 2011
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The Dursley friends recieved the packet you sent by Parcel, and are all hoity-toity, and so could I, was I going to ride home with them.
Letter 270 2009
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These/You people (lawyers) are an elitist, hoity-toity club.
The Volokh Conspiracy » Miguel Estrada Writes in Support of Elena Kagan’s Confirmation 2010
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There are hoity-toity rich people just around the corner.
Uprising Margaret Peterson Haddix 2011
whichbe commented on the word hoity-toity
1. Pretentiously self-important; pompous.
2. Given to frivolity or silliness.
May 15, 2008
bilby commented on the word hoity-toity
"A hoity-toity wench: a giddy, thoughtless, romping girl."
- Francis Grose, 'The Vulgar Tongue'.
September 8, 2008
madmouth commented on the word hoity-toity
An invective against a 'proud puss' (e.g. "Hoity-toity, Miss Starr!" -L.M. Montgomery, 'Emily of New Moon')
April 10, 2009
sionnach commented on the word hoity-toity
Ooh! *Plans to try it out on Boris at the first available opportunity*
April 10, 2009