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sniffy

/'snifi/
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Definition:

"Sniffy" is an adjective that describes someone who behaves in a way that shows they think they are better than others. They might look down on people or things they believe are not good enough.

Simple Usage:

When someone is "sniffy," they may be very critical or dismissive about things that don’t meet their high standards. This can be about people's behavior, appearances, or even opinions.

Example:
  • "She was quite sniffy about the restaurant we chose, saying it was too casual for her taste."
Advanced Usage:

In a more advanced context, "sniffy" can describe a person who has an air of superiority, often judging others harshly. It can also refer to someone who is overly concerned with social status or etiquette.

Word Variants:
  • Sniff (verb): To breathe air in through the nose quickly, often to smell something.
  • Sniffiness (noun): The quality of being sniffy; an attitude of superiority.
Different Meanings:
  1. Sniffy can also refer to someone who is slightly sick, especially with a cold, indicated by a runny or blocked nose. For example, "He sounded sniffy because he had a cold."
Synonyms:
  • Haughty
  • Supercilious
  • Disdainful
  • Arrogant
  • Snobbish
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While there aren't specific idioms or phrasal verbs that include "sniffy," the concept of looking down on others can be reflected in phrases like: - "Putting on airs" (acting as if one is superior). - "Looking down one's nose" (to regard someone with contempt or disdain).

Summary:

In summary, "sniffy" describes someone who acts superior and dismissive towards others, often showing disdain for things they consider beneath them. You can use it to describe people in social situations or when someone is overly critical about something trivial.

Adjective
  1. having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
    • some economists are disdainful of their colleagues in other social disciplines
    • haughty aristocrats
    • his lordly manners were offensive
    • walked with a prideful swagger
    • very sniffy about breaches of etiquette
    • his mother eyed my clothes with a supercilious air
    • a more swaggering mood than usual- W.L.Shirer

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