ruddy
gb/ɹˈʌdi/ us/ɹˈʌdi/
B2
English
~ 8100
pirospozsgás, fránya, vöröses, rőt
B2
1
pirospozsgás
B2
Usage pattern:
a ruddy [face/cheeks/complexion]
After a week of hiking in the mountains, she came back with a ruddy face and bright eyes.
Egy hét hegyi túrázás után pirospozsgás arccal és csillogó szemmel tért vissza.
The farmer’s ruddy cheeks showed he spent long days working outdoors.
A gazda pirospozsgás arca arról árulkodott, hogy hosszú napokat töltött kinti munkával.
His ruddy complexion made him look younger than he really was.
Children with ruddy faces ran laughing through the snow.
Learner examples
The cold wind gave him a ruddy face.
A hideg széltől pirospozsgás lett az arca.
She has ruddy cheeks in the winter.
Télen pirospozsgás az arca.
The man’s ruddy skin makes him look very healthy.
My grandfather is small but strong, with a ruddy face.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "ruddy" with "bloody". "Ruddy" here describes color, while "bloody" usually does not describe color in modern English; it is mainly a strong or rude emphasis word in British English.
Meaning
having a healthy red face
Collocations
ruddy cheeks
|ruddy complexion
|ruddy face
|ruddy glow
Synonyms
rosy (Often suggests a soft, pleasant pink-red color and a generally healthy or happy look.)
Antonyms
pale (Describes skin with very little color, often suggesting sickness, tiredness, or fear.)
Themes
appearance
|health
|descriptions
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
(About the face or skin) looking healthy and a bit red, often from the sun, cold air, or exercise.
(Of a person’s face or skin) having a healthy, fresh red color, often from good health, outdoor activity, or cold weather.
C1
INFORMAL
2
fránya
B2
Usage pattern:
a ruddy [thing/situation/problem]
I can’t get this ruddy printer to work.
Nem bírom működésre bírni ezt a fránya nyomtatót.
That ruddy alarm clock went off at 4 a.m. again.
Már megint megszólalt az a fránya ébresztőóra hajnali négykor.
Turn that ruddy music down, I’m trying to sleep.
I’ve lost my keys again—what a ruddy nightmare.
Learner examples
This ruddy phone stops working every day.
Ez a fránya telefon mindennap elromlik.
I hate this ruddy cold weather.
Utálom ezt a fránya hideg időt.
That ruddy dog is barking all night.
I can’t find my wallet in this ruddy bag.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "ruddy" is always rude. It is mildly impolite and often humorous or old-fashioned, especially in British English, but usually softer than strong swear words. It comes before adjectives or nouns ("this ruddy car"), not after them.
Meaning
mild swear word for emphasis
Collocations
ruddy mess
|ruddy nuisance
|ruddy shame
|ruddy hell
Synonyms
bloody (Stronger and ruder in modern British English; used in very similar positions but with harsher tone.)
Antonyms
hardly (Used to reduce or weaken a statement, the opposite of adding strong emphasis.)
Themes
emotions
|speech
|informal
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Used (especially in British English) like a soft swear word to make what you say stronger, often when you are angry or annoyed.
Used as a mild swear word, especially in British English, to emphasize a statement or to show annoyance, often as a softer alternative to "bloody."
C2
LITERARY
3
Usage pattern:
a ruddy [sky/light/color]
The sun sank, leaving a ruddy glow over the sea.
A nap lebukott, és vöröses derengést hagyott a tenger fölött.
A ruddy light filled the room as the fire burned low.
Ahogy a tűz már csak parázslott, vöröses fény töltötte be a szobát.
The fox’s ruddy-brown fur blended with the autumn leaves.
Smoke rose into the ruddy evening sky above the city.
Learner examples
The sky was a ruddy red at sunset.
Naplementekor vöröses színű volt az ég.
A ruddy light came from the fire.
Vöröses fény áradt a tűzből.
The animal had ruddy-brown fur.
The small town was quiet under a ruddy evening sky.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this word in everyday speech. In modern English, "ruddy" for general color sounds literary or old-fashioned; in normal conversation people usually say "red" or "reddish" instead.
Meaning
having a red or reddish color
Collocations
ruddy sky
|ruddy light
|ruddy sunset
|ruddy-brown fur
Synonyms
reddish (Neutral and more common in everyday speech; simply means somewhat red without any literary feel.)
Antonyms
colorless (Lacking strong color; the opposite of clearly red or reddish.)
Themes
nature
|colors
|descriptions
|weather
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Having a red or almost red color, often used for light, the sky, or things in stories or formal writing.
Having a red or reddish color, especially when describing light, the sky, or surfaces; often used in literary or descriptive writing.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ruddy
IPA
GB/ɹˈʌdi/
US/ɹˈʌdi/
Syllables & stress
ruddy (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (ruddy)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: ruddy
- Comparative: ruddier
- Superlative: ruddiest
Word family
Forms
ruddier
adjective
ruddiest
adjective
Core family
ruddiness
noun
Advanced or less common
ruddily
adverb
Expressions
ruddy hell
1/ɹˈʌdi hˈɛl/
fixed phrase
informal
exclamation of annoyance or surprise
An informal British exclamation you say when you are very annoyed, angry, or surprised, using "ruddy" as a soft swear word.
Examples
- Ruddy hell, I’ve missed the last train home!
- Ruddy hell, that car nearly hit us.
- Ruddy hell, why is this computer so slow today?