piffle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, somewhat old-fashioned
Quick answer
What does “piffle” mean?
Trivial nonsense or foolish talk.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Trivial nonsense or foolish talk.
Language or ideas considered trivial, worthless, or lacking substance; to speak in a trivial or foolish manner.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in British English, though understood in American English.
Connotations
In both dialects, it suggests triviality and foolishness. In British English, it can sound slightly quaint or upper-class.
Frequency
Rare in contemporary American speech, occasionally found in British media and older speakers.
Grammar
How to Use “piffle” in a Sentence
To piffle on (about something)Utterly pifflingWhat piffle!Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “piffle” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He's been piffling on about the weather for half an hour.
- Don't just piffle, get to the point!
American English
- The guest piffled through the entire interview without saying anything substantive.
- She dismissed his excuse as piffling.
adverb
British English
- The budget was pifflingly small for such a large project.
- He answered pifflingly.
American English
- The donation was pifflingly insignificant.
- She waved her hand pifflingly.
adjective
British English
- It was a piffling amount of money, not worth arguing over.
- He raised a few piffling objections.
American English
- The committee's report was filled with piffling details.
- They offered a piffling apology.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used; would be considered flippant and unprofessional.
Academic
Not used in formal writing; could appear in informal critique of weak arguments.
Everyday
Used informally to dismiss trivial talk, e.g., 'That's piffle!'
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “piffle”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “piffle”
- Confusing 'piffle' (nonsense) with 'piffle' (verb) meaning to speak nonsense. Using it in formal contexts.
- Incorrect: 'His scientific paper was full of piffle.' (Too informal for this context).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's mildly dismissive but not vulgar or highly offensive. It's polite sarcasm.
Yes, less common, but 'to piffle' means to talk nonsense, and 'piffling' is an adjective meaning trivial.
It's considered somewhat old-fashioned but is still understood and used, primarily in British English, for humorous or sarcastic effect.
'Piffle' is more specific, implying trivial, silly, or insubstantial nonsense, often with a quaint, British flavour. 'Nonsense' is a broader, more general term.
Trivial nonsense or foolish talk.
Piffle is usually informal, somewhat old-fashioned in register.
Piffle: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpɪf.əl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpɪf.əl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Piffle and nonsense!”
- “Stop piffling!”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PIFFLE sounds like a puff of air – insubstantial and easily blown away, just like trivial talk.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORTHLESS IDEAS ARE INSIGNIFICANT OBJECTS / WASTE (trash, rubbish).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'piffle' be MOST appropriate?