scoff
Translation
to mock, to jeer, to eat greedily
Examples
He scoffed at my suggestion.
He scoffed at my suggestion.
She scoffed the whole pizza in minutes.
She scoffed the whole pizza in minutes.
Grammar Patterns
((to scoff)) ((at sb./sth.)) to speak about sb./sth. in a scornful, mocking way They scoffed at his old-fashioned ideas.
((to scoff)) ((sth.)) to eat sth. quickly and greedily He scoffed his breakfast and ran for the bus.
Similar Words
Synonyms: (mock) mock, jeer, sneer; (eat) devour, gobble
Etymology
Origin uncertain, possibly from a Scandinavian source. The 'eat greedily' sense is more recent slang.
Memory Tips
Two distinct meanings: 1. To 'scoff at' an idea is to dismiss it with contempt. 2. To 'scoff' down a meal is to eat it very fast.