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Hobbledehoy: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Hobbledehoy noun. A clumsy, awkward young man or adolescent boy.
How to say it
HOB-ul-dee-hoy/ˈhɒb(ə)ldɪhɔɪ/
4 syllables, stressed on the first (HOB).
Hobbledehoy in a sentence
At fifteen he was a gangling hobbledehoy, all elbows and embarrassment.
Trollope's hobbledehoy hero trips over furniture and words alike.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- stripling
- gawk
- lout
Where hobbledehoy comes from
First recorded in the 16th century; its origin is unknown.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Trollope's _____ hero trips over furniture and words alike.
- hobbledehoy
- jape
- scaramouch
Show the answer
hobbledehoy: Trollope's hobbledehoy hero trips over furniture and words alike.