highfalutin

high·fa·lu·tin or hi·fa·lu·tin  (hf-ltn) also high·fa·lu·ting (-ltn, -ltng)

adj. Informal

Pompous or pretentious: "highfalutin reasons for denying direct federal assistance to the unemployed" (Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.)

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[Origin unknown.]

Regional Note: H.L. Mencken, in his famous book The American Language, mentions highfalutin as an example of the many native U.S. words coined during the 19th-century period of vigorous growth. Although highfalutin is characteristic of American folk speech, it is not a true regionalism because it has always occurred in all regions of the country, with its use and popularity spurred by its appearance in print. The origin of highfalutin, like that of many folk expressions, is obscure. It has been suggested that the second element, -falutin, comes from the verb flutehence high-fluting, a comical indictment of people who think too highly of themselves.

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highfalutin, hifalutin [ˌhaɪfəˈluːtɪn], highfaluting

adj

Informal pompous or pretentious

[from high + -falutin, perhaps variant of fluting, from flute]

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

highfalutin - affectedly genteel hifalutin, highfaluting, hoity-toity, la-di-da, grandiose pretentious - making claim to or creating an appearance of (often undeserved) importance or distinction; "a pretentious country house"; "a pretentious fraud"; "a pretentious scholarly edition"

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highfalutin

adjective (Informal) pompous, lofty, high-flown, pretentious, grandiose, swanky (informal), florid, bombastic, supercilious, high-sounding, arty-farty (informal), magniloquent This isn't highfalutin art.

Translations

highfalutin highfaluting [ˈhaɪfəˈluːtɪn] ADJ → presuntuoso, pomposo

highfalutin [ˌhaɪfəˈluːtɪn] adj → affecté(e)
high fashion n → haute couture f
high-fashion [ˌhaɪˈfæə^ən] modif [clothes, label] → haute couture inv
high fibre diet (British) high-fibre diet (British) high fiber diet (US) high-fiber diet (US) n (= régime) → régime m riche en fibres (= food eaten) → alimentation f riche en fibres
high finance n → la haute finance
high five high-five [ˌhaɪˈfaɪv] n → high five m
to give sb a high five → faire un high five avec qn, échanger un high five avec qn, taper dans les mains de qn
high-flier high-flyer, high flier, high flyer [ˌhaɪˈflaɪə^r] n (gifted) → jeune loup m; (successful) corporate high-fliers → cadres de haut vol, cadres de haute volée
high-flown [ˌhaɪˈfləʊn] adj [style, discourse] → ampoulé(e)
high-flyer high flyer [ˌhaɪˈflaɪə^r] = high-flier
high-flying [ˌhaɪˈflaɪɪŋ] adj [businessman, lawyer, executive] → de haute volée, de haut vol; [aim, ambition] → extravagant
high-frequency [ˌhaɪˈfriːkw^ənsi] modif → à haute fréquence
high gear n (US) → cinquième f, cinquième vitesse f
high-grade [ˌhaɪˈgreɪd] modif → de qualité supérieure
high-handed [ˌhaɪˈhændɪd] adj → cavalier/ière
He wants to be seen as less bossy and high-handed → Il voudrait être perçu comme une personne moins autoritaire et cavalière.
high-heeled [ˌhaɪˈhiːld] adj [shoes, boots] → à hauts talons
high-heeled shoes → chaussures à hauts talons
high heels npl → hauts talons mpl
high horse n
to be on one's high horse → monter sur ses grands chevaux
high-impact [ˌhaɪˈɪmpækt] adj (= strong) [material] → résistant(e) aux impacts
high-income [ˌhaɪˈɪnkəm] modif [earner, taxpayer, family] → à hauts revenus; [fund, bond] → à haut rendement
high-interest [ˌhaɪˈɪntrəst] adj [loan, mortgage] → à intérêt élevé; [account] → fortement rémunéré(e)
a high-interest bank account → un compte bancaire fortement rémunéré

highfalutin [ˌhaɪfəˈluːtɪn] adj (fam) → pomposo/a