Toff

Toff (noun / UK Slang)

(Also heard as: Toffs, Toffee-nosed, Posh toff)

Definition:

Toff is British slang for a wealthy, upper-class person, often someone who went to an expensive private school and speaks in a very refined accent. It is usually said with a hint of mockery or envy. “Toffs” is the plural, and “toffee-nosed” describes someone who acts snobby.

Where Toff Comes From:

The word dates from the mid-1800s and may come from “tuft”, a gold tassel worn on the caps of rich Oxford and Cambridge students, or from “toffee”, in the sense of someone with a sweet, polished manner. The exact origin is unclear. It has long been a part of British class humour.

How People Actually Use Toff:

People use it to poke fun at the upper classes, as in “he is a proper toff, he owns a pheasant shoot”. It appears in politics, where politicians with elite backgrounds are sometimes called toffs. Some wealthy people have even adopted the word jokingly for themselves.

Is Toff an Insult?

It can be, depending on tone. It is often a playful dig, but it can express real resentment about class differences.

Examples in the Wild:

• “Look at the toffs in their Barbour jackets.”

  Meaning: Those are wealthy, upper-class people.

• “He talks like a toff but he is skint.”

  Meaning: He sounds posh but has no money.

• “The race day was full of toffs.”

  Meaning: Lots of wealthy people attended.

Similar Slang:

Posh, Bougie, Skint, Moolah, Wonga, Muppet

🛍 Shop on eBay › (affiliate)