hoity-toity

[ hoi-tee-toi-tee ]

adjective

1. assuming airs; pretentious; highfalutin; haughty:

   He thinks he's better than we are because he went to one of those hoity-toity private schools.

2. giddy; flighty.

noun

1. giddy behavior.

hoity-toity

/ ˌhɔɪtɪˈtɔɪtɪ /

adjective

1. informal.
   arrogant or haughty

   we have had enough of her hoity-toity manner

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoity-toity¹

First recorded in 1660–70; reduplicated and altered rhyming compound based on hoit “to romp, riot, play the fool” (now obsolete)

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoity-toity¹

C17: rhyming compound based on C16 hoit to romp, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

They don’t appreciate the hoity-toity who look down on everyone else.

From Seattle Times

“It’s kind of hoity-toity,” said RJ Adams, an independent photographer from East New York.

From New York Times

For Nuez, the Federal Way snowboarder who has enjoyed Crystal Mountain, the Ikon Pass price hike reinforces the mountain’s reputation as catering to “a more hoity-toity crowd.”

From Seattle Times

“That’s how I went up to my hoity-toity apartment before closing.”

From New York Times

Rebelling against his hoity-toity, culture-vulture mother — who eventually shows up in the regal person of Cherry Jones — he prefers jazz piano and high-stakes poker to Henry James.

From New York Times