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to pooh-pooh

to pooh-pooh

5 9.5
To treat an idea or opinion as unimportant and not worth taking seriously
  • verb
  • /ˈpuːˌpuː/
translation icon : desestimar
  • Gus had once offered to buy her an electric sharpener, but Beth had pooh-poohed the suggestion.
  • pooh-pooh the idea
  • pooh-pooh the notion
  • pooh-pooh the claim

A friend of mine, he was, he was Pooh poohing stocks.

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Examples

  • Luke's mother had always pooh-poohed any importance to her going out with some eligible gentleman or other.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • I told my wife about it, but she pooh-poohed me.

  • Think twice before you pooh-pooh it

  • But government officials have pooh-poohed her proposal.

  • Israeli officials also pooh-poohed the idea.

    Academic text (1990)
  • And don't be so quick to pooh-pooh this win.

    Blog text (30)
  • Jacobson's experience is not to be pooh-poohed.

    Blog text (30)
  • When first proposed, many biochemists pooh-poohed the idea of modifying DNA for use as a drug.

    Academic text (1993)
  • My boyfriend is half-Indian, and I'd always pooh-poohed his concerns about being racially profiled while traveling, but no more.

    Blog text (14)
  • When I suggested a new approach, my colleagues quickly pooh-poohed the idea as impractical.

Synonyms

to dismiss
vsto pooh-pooh
332 3.0

To refuse to accept an idea or claim

adds a mocking or contemptuous tone to that rejection
to turn down
vsto pooh-pooh
312 2.9

Refuse an offer, invitation, or request

is not just refusal but shows contempt or mockery toward the thing
to discount
vsto pooh-pooh
75 4.2

To treat something as unimportant and ignore it

is similar but often adds mockery or scorn to ignoring
to dismiss as
vsto pooh-pooh
59 4.6

To say someone or something is not worth taking seriously without careful thought

is a general rejection focused more on worth than label
to scorn
vsto pooh-pooh
51 5.5

To show dislike and no respect for someone or something

is dismissive but can be more mocking than deep contempt
to spurn
vsto pooh-pooh
26 7.7

To refuse a person or an offer in a rude way

is less forceful and more dismissive than a harsh refusal
to disdain
vsto pooh-pooh
15 6.4

To treat a person or thing as not worthy of respect

is more about briefly dismissing rather than sustained contempt
to pooh
vsto pooh-pooh
  • Informal
9 9.8

To show mild dislike by making a short sound or gesture

is stronger and more contemptuous than a light dismissive reaction
to wave away
vsto pooh-pooh
4 5.3

Treat a question or problem as not important

is usually more mocking or contemptuous than a simple rejection
to sweep aside
vsto pooh-pooh
3 4.7

To ignore an opinion or worry as unimportant

is similar but can carry more obvious mockery or scorn
to rubbish
vsto pooh-pooh
  • UK
2 7.4

To say bad things about someone or something and call it useless

is more about brushing off rather than heavy criticism
to wave off
vsto pooh-pooh
  • Informal
2 5.9

Treat something as unimportant and ignore it

is more likely to show open mockery or scorn when used
to pass off
vsto pooh-pooh
2 4.1

To treat criticism or an insult as not important

is more active mockery or rejection rather than simple downplaying
to laugh out of court
vsto pooh-pooh
  • Informal
1 9.0

To reject something as silly and not take it seriously in places like a court or meeting

is less formal and often more mocking than dismissing as absurd
to freeze off
vsto pooh-pooh
  • Informal
1 8.5

Treat someone in a cold way and ignore them to show dislike

is a quicker verbal dismissal rather than a personal social snub
to wave aside
vsto pooh-pooh
1 6.1

To treat something as not important and ignore it

is similar but often expressed verbally rather than by gesture
to call it a crock
vsto pooh-pooh
  • Informal
9.5

To say that an idea is nonsense or not true

is a more general dismissive action rather than just naming it false

Antonyms

1.1

To think carefully before making a decision

367 3.8

To admit that something is true or real

How Dismissive

to scorn
51 5.5
to deride
26 7.8
to scoff
57 6.5
to pooh-pooh
5 9.5
to dismiss
332 3.0

Surface Forms

pooh-pooh infinitive
pooh-poohed past participle
pooh-poohing present participle
pooh-poohs third person singular

Etymology

The word pooh-pooh comes from the small exclamation pooh, a sound people use to show 'disgust' or 'scorn', and repeating it turned the sound into a verb that means to 'dismiss' an idea as unimportant. So, to pooh-pooh something today is to reject it lightly or treat it as not worth serious thought.