prissy
gb/pɹˈɪsi/ us/pɹˈɪsi/
C1
English
kényeskedő, finomkodó
C1
INFORMAL
1
kényeskedő
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is prissy (about [something])
He can be a little prissy about table manners.
Kicsit kényeskedő tud lenni az asztali illemmel kapcsolatban.
She thought her coworkers were prissy for complaining about the dress code.
Úgy gondolta, a munkatársai csak kényeskednek azzal, hogy panaszkodnak az öltözködési szabályokra.
Don’t be so prissy—it's just a bit of mud on your shoes.
Learner examples
My sister is prissy about her clothes.
A húgom nagyon kényeskedik a ruháival kapcsolatban.
He is too prissy to eat with his hands.
Túl finnyás ahhoz, hogy kézzel egyen.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with "precise"; "prissy" describes a person’s attitude, not accuracy.
Meaning
too proper and easily offended
Collocations
a prissy girl
|a prissy boy
|a prissy child
|prissy manners
|prissy behavior
|prissy attitude
|prissy and proper
|a bit prissy
|too prissy
|prissy about cleanliness
Synonyms
prim (more focused on being proper and reserved.)
|
prudish (more focused on being easily shocked, especially about sex.)
|
fussy (more general; can be about small details, not just propriety.)
|
stuck-up (more about seeming superior or snobbish.)
Antonyms
easygoing (not easily bothered by rules or small issues.)
|
relaxed (not tense or overly concerned with propriety.)
|
down-to-earth (practical and unpretentious.)
Themes
personality
|social_norms
|emotions
Definition
Too careful about manners or rules in an annoying way.
Too concerned with correct manners, appearance, or what is considered proper, in a way that seems fussy or self-righteous; often used disapprovingly.
C1
INFORMAL
2
finomkodó
B2
Usage pattern:
a prissy [outfit/style/look]
The bow and lace made the outfit feel a bit prissy.
A masni és a csipke kissé finomkodóvá tette az összeállítást.
He avoided anything too prissy and chose a plain black jacket instead.
Került mindent, ami túl finomkodó, és inkább egy egyszerű fekete zakót választott.
The room was bright and cute without looking prissy.
Learner examples
That dress looks prissy to me.
Nekem az a ruha túl finomkodónak tűnik.
I want a simple style, not a prissy one.
Egyszerű stílust szeretnék, nem valami finomkodót.
Meaning
overly neat, dainty style
Collocations
a prissy outfit
|a prissy dress
|a prissy look
|prissy clothes
|a prissy hairstyle
|a prissy blouse
|a prissy pastel palette
|prissy details
|prissy lace
|prissy floral prints
Synonyms
dainty (often positive; emphasizes small and delicate, not necessarily annoying.)
|
frilly (focuses on lots of decorative details like ruffles.)
|
prim (more about proper, restrained style rather than decoration.)
Antonyms
casual (not dressed up or fussy.)
|
rugged (tough, practical, not delicate.)
|
unfussy (simple and not overly detailed.)
Themes
clothing
|appearance
|fashion
Definition
Too neat and delicate in style.
Having an overly neat, delicate, or fussy look that seems affected or overly careful.
Grammar
Dictionary form
prissy
IPA
GB/pɹˈɪsi/
US/pɹˈɪsi/
Syllables & stress
prissy (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (prissy)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: prissy
- Comparative: prissier
- Superlative: prissiest
Word family
Forms
prissier
adjective
prissiest
adjective
Core family
prissiness
noun
prissily
adverb
Related words
priss
noun
Expressions
be prissy about
1/bˈi pɹˈɪsi əbˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
informal
be fussy about rules/details
To worry too much about doing something the “proper” way.
Examples
- He gets prissy about people taking their shoes off in the house.
- She’s prissy about grammar in text messages.
- Don’t be prissy about the seating plan—people can move chairs.
Learner examples
- My dad is prissy about cleanliness.
- Don’t be prissy about the rules.