pooh-pooh

C2+ Topic:Communication
US /ˌpuːˈpuː/ UK /ˌpuːˈpuː/
verb Freq #83226

Meanings

  1. 1
    verb

    to dismiss an idea, concern, or suggestion as foolish or unimportant, often contemptuously

    The committee should not pooh-pooh the residents' safety concerns.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 verb · to dismiss an idea,... dismissdisparagescoff atbrush off
More belittle
Opposites
endorserespecttake seriously
Word family
Forms pooh-poohed
Related forms poohscoffderide

Etymology

From a reduplication of the interjection pooh, a sound expressing impatience, disbelief, or contempt. Repeating the sound produced a verb for dismissing something with the same attitude.

Topics

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