Scoff
verb
To make fun of someone, usually because you think they are not good enough, or their ideas are silly.
They all scoffed at her idea to start a home-based business.
Often appears as...
- scoff at the idea
- scoff at the suggestion
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To eat something quickly and eagerly.
He scoffed down the entire pizza in just a few minutes.
Often appears as...
- scoff down food
- scoff at mealtime
Usage tips
Informal
verb
To make fun of someone, usually because you think they are not good enough, or their ideas are silly.
They all scoffed at her idea to start a home-based business.
Often appears as...
- scoff at the idea
- scoff at the suggestion
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To eat something quickly and eagerly.
He scoffed down the entire pizza in just a few minutes.
Often appears as...
- scoff down food
- scoff at mealtime
Usage tips
Informal
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Tone
Using 'scoff' can show disapproval or scorn towards someone's ideas or actions.
My colleagues scoffed at the proposal, doubting its practicality.
Pro Tip 2/3Subtle Belittling
'Scoff' implies thinking someone or something is inferior or not worthy of serious consideration.
He scoffed at the concept, calling it a child's fantasy.
Pro Tip 3/3Conversational
'Scoff' is more common in spoken English and can sound too casual in formal writing.
During lunch, they scoffed at the rumor, finding it ridiculous.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Tone
Using 'scoff' can show disapproval or scorn towards someone's ideas or actions.
My colleagues scoffed at the proposal, doubting its practicality.
Pro Tip 2/3Subtle Belittling
'Scoff' implies thinking someone or something is inferior or not worthy of serious consideration.
He scoffed at the concept, calling it a child's fantasy.
Pro Tip 3/3Conversational
'Scoff' is more common in spoken English and can sound too casual in formal writing.
During lunch, they scoffed at the rumor, finding it ridiculous.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Tone
Using 'scoff' can show disapproval or scorn towards someone's ideas or actions.
My colleagues scoffed at the proposal, doubting its practicality.
Pro Tip 2/3Subtle Belittling
'Scoff' implies thinking someone or something is inferior or not worthy of serious consideration.
He scoffed at the concept, calling it a child's fantasy.
Pro Tip 3/3Conversational
'Scoff' is more common in spoken English and can sound too casual in formal writing.
During lunch, they scoffed at the rumor, finding it ridiculous.
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Video examples
Einstein's miracle year...
the soon-to-be 26-year-old Albert Einstein faced life as a failed academic. Most physicists of the time would have scoffed at the idea that this minor civil servant could have much to contribute to science. Yet within the following year, Einstein would publish not one, not two, not three,
Video examples
The rise and fall of the...
which may have contributed to their fearlessness in battle. Some of them fought naked, scoffing at their enemies’ armor. The greatest trophy a Celtic warrior could possess was the severed head of a foe. They preserved these heads in jars of cedar oil
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 42 PIPE...
said anything because obviously I scoffed at myself once it was light again who knows I've also had very I've done a few sleep baths and I think it's more an instinct of wild animals than it is anything else slipped out in the bush we obviously
Video examples
What adults can learn...
instead of just scoffing at this heresy that kid when to get published or saying wait until you're older my parents were really supportive many publishers were not quite so encouraging one large children's publisher ironically saying
Video examples
What adults can learn...
and I wanted to get published. Instead of just scoffing at this heresy that a kid wanted to get published, or saying wait until you're older, my parents were really supportive. Many publishers were not quite so encouraging.
Video examples
I am here to confuse you...
you know I have a weakness for them but I discovered lots of women and male scholars who help nurture my feminism and more changes this time about headscarves and hymens because I removed my head scoffs it no
Video examples
Elon Musk: A future...
you said, "2020, I think we will do half a million a year." Yeah, we did almost exactly a half million. You did almost exactly half a million. You were scoffed in 2014 because no one since Henry Ford,
Video examples
Kangaroo Birth PIPE...
hear that that's the sound of a dominant male kangaroo scoffing the result of this mating will produce an embryo that will grow a few days and then become dormant until the embryo we observed is
Video examples
Working Kangaroo Mom PIPE...
hear that that's the sound of a dominant male kangaroo scoffing the result of this mating will produce an embryo that will grow a few days and then become dormant until the embryo we observed is
Video examples
How the world's first...
the first of its kind in the world, had the city in an uproar. Digging a hole under the city and putting a railroad in it seemed the stuff of dreams. Pub drinkers scoffed at the idea
Video examples
Einstein's miracle year...
the soon-to-be 26-year-old Albert Einstein faced life as a failed academic. Most physicists of the time would have scoffed at the idea that this minor civil servant could have much to contribute to science. Yet within the following year, Einstein would publish not one, not two, not three,
Video examples
The rise and fall of the...
which may have contributed to their fearlessness in battle. Some of them fought naked, scoffing at their enemies’ armor. The greatest trophy a Celtic warrior could possess was the severed head of a foe. They preserved these heads in jars of cedar oil
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 42 PIPE...
said anything because obviously I scoffed at myself once it was light again who knows I've also had very I've done a few sleep baths and I think it's more an instinct of wild animals than it is anything else slipped out in the bush we obviously
Video examples
What adults can learn...
instead of just scoffing at this heresy that kid when to get published or saying wait until you're older my parents were really supportive many publishers were not quite so encouraging one large children's publisher ironically saying
Video examples
What adults can learn...
and I wanted to get published. Instead of just scoffing at this heresy that a kid wanted to get published, or saying wait until you're older, my parents were really supportive. Many publishers were not quite so encouraging.
Video examples
I am here to confuse you...
you know I have a weakness for them but I discovered lots of women and male scholars who help nurture my feminism and more changes this time about headscarves and hymens because I removed my head scoffs it no
Video examples
Elon Musk: A future...
you said, "2020, I think we will do half a million a year." Yeah, we did almost exactly a half million. You did almost exactly half a million. You were scoffed in 2014 because no one since Henry Ford,
Video examples
Kangaroo Birth PIPE...
hear that that's the sound of a dominant male kangaroo scoffing the result of this mating will produce an embryo that will grow a few days and then become dormant until the embryo we observed is
Video examples
Working Kangaroo Mom PIPE...
hear that that's the sound of a dominant male kangaroo scoffing the result of this mating will produce an embryo that will grow a few days and then become dormant until the embryo we observed is
Video examples
How the world's first...
the first of its kind in the world, had the city in an uproar. Digging a hole under the city and putting a railroad in it seemed the stuff of dreams. Pub drinkers scoffed at the idea
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
June Whitfield
English Actress
I've never had a particularly sweet tooth. In fact, during the war, I used to swap my sweet ration coupons with my father - and he'd give me his clothing coupons in return. Looking good was more important to me than scoffing sweets.
Quote examples
Nate Ruess
American Musician
If you look at a lot of the songs I've been involved in, there's always been this retro vibe. I started getting worried that I wasn't moving forward very much, nor was I even in tune with the music today. I almost scoffed at it.
Quote examples
Thomas Hooker
American Celebrity
Nay, men are so far from musing of their sins, that they disdain this practise, and scoff at it: what say they, if all were of your mind; what should become of us? Shall we be always poring on our corruptions?
Quote examples
Peter Andre
English Musician
I train for about an hour five days a week and feel I'm in the best shape I've ever been. I can eat what I want and that includes scoffing half a big bar of Cadbury's a day.
Quote examples
Anthony Joshua
British Athlete
For me to have a cheeky little biscuit, it's not going to hurt. But I need to control those indulgences. I can't just be scoffing cakes and biscuits five nights a week.
Quote examples
Naseeruddin Shah
Indian Actor
I don't scoff at the desire to make good movies. I scoff at the quality at poseurs masquerading as masters of the medium.
Quote examples
Janine di Giovanni
American Journalist
It's always disappointing to come across phony do-gooders. And it's easy to scoff at celebrities working in war zones.
Quote examples
R. L. Stine
American Writer
I do like a lot of things that a lot of adults would scoff at. 'SpongeBob SquarePants,' 'Looney Tunes.
Quote examples
Jim Cornette
American Author
Wrestling has gotten so show-biz, it's to the point where people scoff at it.
Quote examples
Jackie Shroff
Indian Actor
My father said that I will be an actor, but I scoffed at him.
Quote examples
June Whitfield
English Actress
I've never had a particularly sweet tooth. In fact, during the war, I used to swap my sweet ration coupons with my father - and he'd give me his clothing coupons in return. Looking good was more important to me than scoffing sweets.
Quote examples
Nate Ruess
American Musician
If you look at a lot of the songs I've been involved in, there's always been this retro vibe. I started getting worried that I wasn't moving forward very much, nor was I even in tune with the music today. I almost scoffed at it.
Quote examples
Thomas Hooker
American Celebrity
Nay, men are so far from musing of their sins, that they disdain this practise, and scoff at it: what say they, if all were of your mind; what should become of us? Shall we be always poring on our corruptions?
Quote examples
Peter Andre
English Musician
I train for about an hour five days a week and feel I'm in the best shape I've ever been. I can eat what I want and that includes scoffing half a big bar of Cadbury's a day.
Quote examples
Anthony Joshua
British Athlete
For me to have a cheeky little biscuit, it's not going to hurt. But I need to control those indulgences. I can't just be scoffing cakes and biscuits five nights a week.
Quote examples
Naseeruddin Shah
Indian Actor
I don't scoff at the desire to make good movies. I scoff at the quality at poseurs masquerading as masters of the medium.
Quote examples
Janine di Giovanni
American Journalist
It's always disappointing to come across phony do-gooders. And it's easy to scoff at celebrities working in war zones.
Quote examples
R. L. Stine
American Writer
I do like a lot of things that a lot of adults would scoff at. 'SpongeBob SquarePants,' 'Looney Tunes.
Quote examples
Jim Cornette
American Author
Wrestling has gotten so show-biz, it's to the point where people scoff at it.
Quote examples
Jackie Shroff
Indian Actor
My father said that I will be an actor, but I scoffed at him.
Example 1 of 10
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