gaudy
gb/ɡˈɔdi/ us/ɡˈɔdi/
B2
English
hivalkodó, ünnepi kollégiumi vacsora
B2
1
hivalkodó
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] is gaudy; gaudy [noun]
The living room was filled with gaudy gold furniture and bright purple curtains.
A nappali tele volt hivalkodó arany bútorokkal és élénklila függönyökkel.
He showed up in a gaudy jacket covered in sequins.
Egy flitterekkel kirakott, hivalkodó zakóban jelent meg.
The restaurant’s sign is so gaudy that it’s hard to read.
Learner examples
Her shoes are gaudy and very bright.
A cipője hivalkodó és nagyon élénk színű.
I don’t like gaudy decorations.
Nem szeretem a hivalkodó díszítéseket.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use gaudy to mean simply "beautiful" or "colorful"; it usually carries a negative judgment (too much, not tasteful).
Meaning
too brightly colored and showy
Collocations
gaudy colors
|gaudy outfit
|gaudy dress
|gaudy jewelry
|gaudy decorations
|gaudy makeup
|gaudy lights
|gaudy costume
|gaudy pattern
|gaudy display
Synonyms
garish (Often suggests harsh, unpleasant bright colors.)
|
flashy (Emphasizes showing off and attracting attention.)
|
tacky (More informal; stresses bad taste.)
|
loud (Common in fashion; means visually striking in an excessive way.)
Antonyms
tasteful (Pleasing and refined rather than showy.)
|
understated (Intentionally simple and not attention-seeking.)
|
subtle (Not obvious or glaring in appearance.)
Themes
appearance
|clothing
|art_design
Definition
Too bright and too decorative, in a way many people think is ugly.
Very brightly colored or highly decorated in a way that is intended to attract attention but is usually considered tasteless.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
a gaudy at [college]; the annual gaudy
She returned to her college for the annual gaudy.
Visszatért a kollégiumába az éves ünnepi kollégiumi vacsorára.
The gaudy included a formal dinner and speeches in the hall.
A rendezvényhez ünnepélyes vacsora és beszédek is tartoztak a nagyteremben.
Many alumni travel back to Cambridge for their gaudy.
Learner examples
He went back to college for a gaudy.
Visszament a kollégiumba egy ünnepi kollégiumi vacsorára.
Common mistake:
This noun is mainly British and university-specific; it is not the same meaning as the adjective gaudy.
Meaning
college reunion dinner or celebration
Collocations
an annual gaudy
|a college gaudy
|an alumni gaudy
|a gaudy dinner
|the reunion gaudy
Synonyms
reunion dinner (More general term; not specific to Oxford/Cambridge.)
|
alumni dinner (Highlights that former students attend.)
Antonyms
everyday meal (Not a formal or special college occasion.)
Themes
education
|social_life
|uk_culture
Definition
A special dinner/party at an Oxford or Cambridge college, often for old students.
A formal social event or dinner at a college, especially at Oxford or Cambridge, often for alumni returning to visit.
Grammar
Dictionary form
gaudy
IPA
GB/ɡˈɔdi/
US/ɡˈɔdi/
Syllables & stress
gaudy (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (gaudy)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: gaudy
- Comparative: gaudier
- Superlative: gaudiest
Word family
Forms
gaudier
adjective
gaudiest
adjective
Core family
gaudily
adverb
gaudiness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
plain
adjective A2
tasteful
adjective
Expressions
as gaudy as a peacock
1/ˈæz ɡˈɔdi ˈæz ə pˈikˌɑk/
idiom
informal
extremely showy and colorful
Very colorful and showy.
Examples
- At the party he was as gaudy as a peacock in that shiny suit.
- The room looked as gaudy as a peacock after they added the glittery wallpaper.
Learner examples
- His shirt is as gaudy as a peacock.
gaudy up
1/ɡˈɔdi ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
informal
make something more showy
To add too much decoration and make it look too bright.
Examples
- They gaudied up the living room with neon cushions and shiny ornaments.
- The ad team tried to gaudy up the poster, but it ended up looking cheap.
Learner examples
- Don’t gaudy up the cake with too many colors.