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