cavalier
Translation
cavalier, offhand, dismissive
Examples
He has a cavalier attitude towards safety.
He has a cavalier attitude toward safety.
She dismissed my concerns with a cavalier wave.
She dismissed my concerns with a cavalier wave.
Grammar Patterns
((a cavalier + noun)) showing a lack of proper concern He has a cavalier attitude toward safety.
Similar Words
Synonyms: offhand, dismissive, arrogant; Antonyms: conscientious, cautious
Etymology
From Italian 'cavaliere' (horseman), linked to the haughty attitude of the 'Cavaliers' (Royalists) in the English Civil War.
Memory Tips
Picture a knight on a horse (a cavalier) looking down on people with a haughty, 'cavalier' attitude.