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fartsy

fartsy

5 9.9
Trying to seem artistic in a showy, overdone way
  • adjective
  • /ˈfɑrtsi/
  • Offensive
translation icon : artistoide
  • It seems to me that too many people are trying to find some artsy-fartsy reason to love this movie.
  • artsy-fartsy
  • fartsy thing

Because you get a bit bit artsy, fartsy, you do it, you get a bit museumy.

Examples

  • I don't like it because it's so artsy-fartsy.

  • I appreciate all the artsy-fartsy effort, but it's not my cup of tea.

    Blog text (20)
  • A little artsy-fartsy, if you ask me.

  • Your pictures are kind of artsy-fartsy; I love it.

    Blog text (22)
  • You think you're some kind of artsy-fartsy type?

  • I don't like the artsy-fartsy thing.

  • Vampira is drinking with a bunch of artsy-fartsy types.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • I don't wanna embarrass you in front of all your new artsy-fartsy theater major friends.

  • She's a little artsy-fartsy.

  • The movie was full of fartsy scenes that seemed designed to impress, rather than to tell a good story.

Synonyms

pretentious
vsfartsy
  • Offensive
74 7.3

Trying to seem more important or clever than you really are

is focused specifically on artistic affectation in a showy way
flashy
vsfartsy
69 4.1

Very bright or showy in a way that attracts attention

is more about affected artistic pose than crude or vulgar display
tacky
vsfartsy
  • Informal
68 4.3

Showy in a cheap way that looks bad

is more about affected artistic display than low-quality vulgarity
flamboyant
vsfartsy
35 6.5

Being very bright and showy to attract attention

is less about bold flair and more about artful pretension
tawdry
vsfartsy
24 7.8

A thing that looks showy but is cheap and low quality

focuses more on pretended artistic importance than on cheapness
garish
vsfartsy
16 6.7

Very bright and showy in a way that hurts the eyes

is less about visual ugliness and more about affected artistic manner
ostentatious
vsfartsy
11 7.7

To show off very expensive things to attract attention

is more narrowly about artful pretence rather than general attention seeking
campy
vsfartsy
8 8.6

Exaggerated and theatrical on purpose to be funny in a silly way

is more about pretending artistic seriousness rather than playful theatricality
showy
vsfartsy
8 3.2

Bright or fancy in a way that draws attention

focuses more on affected artistic show than general attention seeking
splashy
vsfartsy
7 4.9

Very bright and showy to get attention but not in good taste

is more specifically about pretending artistic importance rather than simple flash
brassy
vsfartsy
  • Offensive
5 7.2

Bold and showy in a way people may find rude

is more about posing as artistic than brazen social rudeness
artsy
vsfartsy
  • Informal
4 7.5

Trying to look like an artist but seeming fake or forced

is more exaggeratedly showy and deliberately pretentious in art display
frou-frou
vsfartsy
  • Archaic
1 9.6

Having a very showy, overly decorated style

is more focused on pretentious artistic attitude than decorative excess
arty-farty
vsfartsy
  • Offensive
1 8.9

Trying to seem artistic in a way that feels false or silly

is about exaggerated showiness rather than sincere artistic concern
too arty
vsfartsy
  • Informal
1 7.9

Very showy and trying to seem clever so many people do not like it

is more about posing and theatrical pretence than mere excess
froufrou
vsfartsy
  • Archaic
1 8.8

Having too many decorations like lace or ribbons

expresses exaggerated artistic affect rather than merely ornamental excess
artsy-craftsy
vsfartsy
  • Informal
8.2

Trying to look artistic in a homemade arts and crafts style that looks a bit silly

leans more to stylish affectation and exaggerated artistic posing
arty-crafty
vsfartsy
  • Offensive
9.0

Something that looks artistic in a fake, too clever way to impress people

is more directly showy and exaggerated in artistic presentation
mannerist
vsfartsy
8.9

Having exaggerated gestures and an unnatural style

is more about artistic pretence shown loudly rather than manner alone
screamy
vsfartsy
8.0

Very bright or loud in style to attract attention

leans more to artful pretence and showy affect rather than sheer noise

Antonyms

156 3.2

Truly felt and not fake, for example a smile or apology

3 3.9

Not changed or harmed by something and not showing strong feeling

How Pretentious

affected
7.5
fartsy
  • Offensive
5 9.9
pretentious
  • Offensive
74 7.3
artsy
  • Informal
10 4.3

Surface Forms

fartsy positive

Morphology

fartsy = artsy (semi-transparent) = art + sy

The word is a colloquial alteration of 'artsy' (itself 'art' + '-sy'); the relation to 'artsy' is clear but the initial consonant change is slangy and adds pejorative tone, so meaning is only partly predictable.

Etymology

The word fartsy comes from the playful phrase artsy-fartsy, where artsy comes from art meaning 'creative work' and the extra 'fartsy' was added as a silly rhyme to make fun of people who try too hard to seem artistic. So fartsy describes something that tries too hard to be artistic and looks showy.