scoff
B2Informal, sometimes colloquial.
Definition
Meaning
to speak about or treat something with scornful disrespect or to eat something quickly and greedily.
To show contempt through derision; to mock. In its second sense, to consume food hastily.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Has two distinct and unrelated meanings: 1) verbal mockery (common), 2) to eat voraciously (informal, rarer). The mocking sense often implies a target considered foolish or unworthy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The 'eating' sense is more common in British English. The mocking sense is dominant in American English.
Connotations
Mocking: universally negative. Eating: neutral to slightly humorous/impolite in BE; can sound dated or specifically British in AE.
Frequency
The mocking verb is moderately frequent in both. 'Scoff' (food) is low-frequency in AE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] scoff at [Object (idea/suggestion)][Subject] scoff [Object (food/drink)]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to scoff at the idea”
- “to scoff something down”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possible in discussions of dismissing proposals: 'Investors scoffed at the initial pitch.'
Academic
Used in literary/historical analysis to describe characters' attitudes.
Everyday
Common for describing mocking reactions or informal eating.
Technical
Not used in technical registers.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He scoffed at the notion of a tea shortage.
- The teenagers scoffed all the biscuits before the meeting.
American English
- Critics scoffed at the company's unrealistic timeline.
- He managed to scoff the entire burger in three bites.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard)
American English
- (Not standard)
adjective
British English
- (Not standard)
American English
- (Not standard)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- They scoffed at my old-fashioned phone.
- Don't scoff at her drawing!
- Many people scoffed at the idea of electric cars twenty years ago.
- He scoffed the last piece of cake when no one was looking.
- The proposal was met with scoffing laughter from the experienced committee.
- We scoffed down a quick lunch before rushing back to the conference.
- His theory, initially scoffed at by peers, later garnered a Nobel nomination.
- The entire platoon scoffed the meagre rations in moments, their hunger overriding all decorum.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SCOFFlaw (someone who scoffs at the law) sneering at a rulebook while quickly SCOFFing down a doughnut.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISRESPECT IS SPITTING OUT WORDS / CONSUMPTION IS CONQUEST.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'скуфья' (headdress).
- The 'eating' sense is not directly translated by 'насмехаться'. Use 'уплетать', 'жрать' (colloquial).
- Mocking sense is close to 'насмехаться', 'высмеивать'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'scoff' for physical grabbing instead of verbal mocking.
- Using the 'eating' sense in formal American contexts.
- Incorrect preposition: 'scoff on the idea' instead of 'scoff AT the idea'.
Practice
Quiz
In British English, which sentence is the most natural use of 'scoff'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is generally informal. The mocking sense is common in speech and journalism; the eating sense is casual.
Yes, but it's less common. As a noun, it means an expression of scorn (e.g., 'a scoff of disbelief').
They are very close synonyms. 'Scoff' often implies a more vocal, dismissive, or contemptuous tone, sometimes with laughter.
They have different etymologies. The 'mock' sense comes from Dutch 'schoff', related to 'scofflaw'. The 'eat' sense possibly comes from a dialect variant of 'scaff' meaning 'food'.