hoity-toity

English

Etymology

From the archaic verb hoit (“to play the fool; to behave thoughtlessly and frivolously”).

Pronunciation
  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /ˌhɔɪ.tiˈtɔɪ.ti/
  • Rhymes: -ɔɪti

Adjective

hoity-toity (comparative hoity-toitier, superlative hoity-toitiest)

  1. Pompous, self-important and snobbish.
    • 2016, Liz Nugent, Lying In Wait, →ISBN, page 113:
      The other models were gas fun, though they were all a bit hoity-toity.
  2. (obsolete) Giddy; merry; noisy.

Derived terms

Translations

Interjection

hoity-toity

  1. (dated) Expressing surprise or disapprobation.
    • J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens: retold by May Byron for little people
      "Hoity-toity!" said the Chrysanthemum, "what is this? Who is it? Where is it?" So she had to come out from under the holly; and the young trees gathered round her, fussing and twittering, and asked each other what they had better do.
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