Can I use 'lolly' in American English?

It's understood but sounds foreign. Use 'lollipop' or 'popsicle' instead.

Does 'lolly' always mean money?

No, the primary meaning is a type of sweet/candy. The money sense is informal and mainly British.

What's the difference between a lolly and an ice lolly?

A 'lolly' can be any sweet on a stick. An 'ice lolly' is specifically frozen flavored ice on a stick.

Is 'lolly' formal or informal?

It is exclusively informal and colloquial.

How do you pronounce “lolly”?

Lolly: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɒl.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɑːl.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

lolly: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

UK/ˈlɒl.i/US/ˈlɑːl.i/

Informal, colloquial

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “lolly” mean?

A piece of confectionery on a stick.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A piece of confectionery on a stick; a lollipop.

In UK/Australian/New Zealand informal usage: 1) Money (especially in the phrase 'lots of lolly'). 2) Any sweet or candy.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

In British English, 'lolly' commonly means a lollipop or ice lolly (ice pop). In Australian/NZ English, it can refer broadly to any sweet. The 'money' sense is primarily British. In American English, 'lolly' is understood but rarely used; 'lollipop' or 'popsicle' are standard.

Connotations

British: Playful, childish, nostalgic. Australian/NZ: Very common for sweets. American: Sounds quaint or foreign.

Frequency

High frequency in UK/AU/NZ informal contexts, especially with children. Very low frequency in US English.

Grammar

How to Use “lolly” in a Sentence

[have/get/buy] a lolly[suck/lick] a lolly[earn/spend] lolly

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

ice lollylots of lolly

medium

buy a lollysuck a lollyfrozen lolly

weak

red lollybig lollycheap lolly

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not used.

Academic

Not used.

Everyday

Common in family/child contexts and informal money talk.

Technical

Not used.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “lolly”

Strong

sucker (US)popsicle (US, for ice lolly)

Neutral

lollipopsweet (UK)candy (US)ice pop

Weak

treat confection

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “lolly”

savory snackbitter pill

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “lolly”

Using 'lolly' formally in writing.
Using it in the US without expecting confusion.
Thinking it only means lollipop, not money.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: It's understood but sounds foreign. Use 'lollipop' or 'popsicle' instead.
: No, the primary meaning is a type of sweet/candy. The money sense is informal and mainly British.
: A 'lolly' can be any sweet on a stick. An 'ice lolly' is specifically frozen flavored ice on a stick.
: It is exclusively informal and colloquial.
: A piece of confectionery on a stick.
: Lolly: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɒl.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɑːl.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“earn/spend a bit of lolly”
“on the lolly (AU/NZ slang: on drugs)”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a LOLling child holding a LOLlipop – LOL + Y = LOLLY.

Conceptual Metaphor

SWEETNESS IS PLEASURE (for candy), MONEY IS A COMMODITY (for cash).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

On a hot day, British children often enjoy a refreshing .

Multiple Choice

In which variety of English does 'lolly' most commonly mean 'money'?