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jellybean

jellybean

1 9.9
A young man who cares more about his looks than serious things
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɛliˌbin/
  • Offensive
translation icon : pijo (ESP)
  • The group laughed at the jellybean who always wore the latest styles but rarely joined serious conversations.

Examples

  • That guy is such a jellybean with his flashy clothes.

  • He was called a jellybean because he cared more about his clothes than his studies.

  • In the 1920s, a jellybean was known for spending hours perfecting his look.

  • I can't believe he spends so much time on his looks; he's a total jellybean.

  • He was such a jellybean, always focused on his looks instead of his personality.

  • At the party, I noticed that many jellybeans were more interested in their outfits than in the conversation.

  • The new intern was a total jellybean, spending hours perfecting his hairstyle before meetings.

Synonyms

dude
vsjellybean
  • Archaic
112 7.5

A man who cares a lot about how he looks and dresses

is more about empty fashion and appearance over real qualities
preppy
vsjellybean
  • US
6 7.7

A young person who dresses neatly in traditional private school clothes

is more about flashy superficial fashion rather than neat traditional style
flyboy
vsjellybean
  • Slang
3 8.4

A young man who dresses and acts in a showy, attention-seeking way

is more about empty fashion rather than real substance

Antonyms

188 4.3

The main idea of something said or written

How Fashionable

jellybean
  • Offensive
1 9.9
well-dressed
29 2.4
fashionable
85 2.6
dresser
11 3.9

Surface Forms

jellybean singular
jellybeans plural

Morphology

jellybean = jelly + bean (opaque) = jelly + bean

Formally a clear compound of 'jelly' + 'bean' (the candy), though this is the literal base rather than the figurative meaning.

Etymology

Jellybean became slang in the 1920s for a stylish young man who looked good but had little real depth. Think of jelly as 'sweet' on the outside and bean as small and soft — the image is of someone all style and no substance, which is why a jellybean meant a man more concerned with appearance than ideas.