Definition of Hoity-toity

1. Adjective. Affectedly genteel.

Exact synonyms: Grandiose, Hifalutin, Highfalutin, Highfaluting, La-di-da
Similar to: Pretentious
Derivative terms: Grandiosity

Definition of Hoity-toity

1. Adjective. Pompous, self-important and snobbish. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Hoity-toity

hoisted
hoisted by one's own petard
hoisted on one's own petard
hoisted with one's own petard
hoister
hoisters
hoisting
hoistings
hoistman
hoistmen
hoists
hoistway
hoistways
hoit
hoity-toitily
hoity-toity (current term)
hojillion
hojillions
hok
hoke
hoked
hokes
hokey
hokey-pokey
hokey pokey
hokeyness
hokeynesses
hokeypokey
hokeypokeys
hoki

Literary usage of Hoity-toity

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. British Poets of the Nineteenth Century by Curtis Hidden Page (1910)
"»ame key Shakespeare unlocked hie heart ! ' "— " hoity-toity ! A street to explore, Your house the exception ! ..."

2. A Dictionary of English Etymology by Hensleigh Wedgwood (1862)
"Hence hoity-toity, and in a somewhat weaker sense hey-day, are frequently ... hoity-toity ! Well to be sure ! We have in this exclamation the origin of Fr. ..."

3. A Dictionary of Lowland Scotch: With an Introductory Chapter Onthe Poetry by Charles Mackay (1888)
"This word is derived from the Gaelic aite, joy, gladness, fun, and appears to be related to the English hoity-toity. for the designation of a person whose ..."

4. Golden Sheaves Gathered from the Fields of Ancient and Modern Literature by Horace A. Cleveland (1869)
"Then Hoity Toity sat down again, and looked rather sadly at -one little leaf left ... But Hoity Toity saw me looking at him as if I thought him a very fine ..."

5. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable: Giving the Derivation, Source, Or Origin of by Ebenezer Cobham Brewer (1898)
"hoity-toity. (1^ hoity-toity spirits means high spirits, extremely elated and flighty. Seiden, in his Table Tulk, says: "In Queen Elizabeth's time gravity ..."

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