high·fa·lu·tin or hi·fa·lu·tin (h  f -l t n) also high·fa·lu·ting (-ltn, -lt ng)adj. Informal Pompous or pretentious: "highfalutin reasons for denying direct federal assistance to the unemployed" (Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.) [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 flute  hence high-fluting, a comical indictment of people who think too highly of themselves. |
highfalutin, hifalutin [ˌhaɪfəˈluːtɪn], highfaluting
adj
Informal pompous or pretentious
[from high + -falutin, perhaps variant of fluting, from flute]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Adj. | 1. | highfalutin - affectedly genteel 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" |
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 [ˌhaɪfəˈluːtɪn] adj → affecté(e)
high fashion n → haute couture f
high-fashion [ˌhaɪˈfæəən] 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 [ˌhaɪˈflaɪər] 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 [ˌhaɪˈflaɪər] = high-flier
high-flying [ˌhaɪˈflaɪɪŋ] adj [businessman, lawyer, executive] → de haute volée, de haut vol; [aim, ambition] → extravagant
high-frequency [ˌhaɪˈfriːkwənsi] 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
high fashion n → haute couture f
high-fashion [ˌhaɪˈfæəən] 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 [ˌhaɪˈflaɪər] 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 [ˌhaɪˈflaɪər] = high-flier
high-flying [ˌhaɪˈflaɪɪŋ] adj [businessman, lawyer, executive] → de haute volée, de haut vol; [aim, ambition] → extravagant
high-frequency [ˌhaɪˈfriːkwənsi] 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
highfalutin [ˌhaɪfəˈluːtɪn] adj (fam) → pomposo/a
highfalutin [ˌhaɪfəˈluːtɪn] adj (fam) → pomposo/a
How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
| ?Page tools | ||
|---|---|---|
|