arch
As an adjective, 'arch' describes a style of communication or a look that is playfully mischievous, knowing, or ironic. It implies that the person is teasing or shares a secret understanding that others might not possess.
Beispiele
3 von 5She gave him an arch look when he pretended not to know who had sent the flowers.
She gave him a knowing, playful look when he pretended not to know who had sent the flowers.
The professor's arch comments about the curriculum suggested he found the new rules slightly absurd.
The professor's ironic comments about the curriculum suggested he found the new rules slightly absurd.
Stop being so arch and just tell me the gossip already!
Stop being so mysterious and playful and just tell me the gossip already!
Gegenteile
Wortfamilie
Merkhilfe
Visualize someone raising their eyebrow into the shape of an 'arch' while they tell you a playful secret or a sarcastic joke.
Schnelles Quiz
When I asked if she knew about the surprise party, she just gave me an ______ smile and walked away.
Richtig!
Die richtige Antwort ist: arch
Beispiele
She gave him an arch look when he pretended not to know who had sent the flowers.
everydayShe gave him a knowing, playful look when he pretended not to know who had sent the flowers.
The professor's arch comments about the curriculum suggested he found the new rules slightly absurd.
formalThe professor's ironic comments about the curriculum suggested he found the new rules slightly absurd.
Stop being so arch and just tell me the gossip already!
informalStop being so mysterious and playful and just tell me the gossip already!
The novelist employs an arch narrative voice to critique the vanity of the upper classes.
academicThe novelist employs a sophisticated and ironic narrative voice to critique the vanity of the upper classes.
The marketing director made an arch remark about the competitor's surprisingly high prices.
businessThe marketing director made a sly, knowing remark about the competitor's surprisingly high prices.
Gegenteile
Wortfamilie
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
with an arch expression
having a playful or teasing look on one's face
arch-nemesis
a principal or chief enemy (different sense of 'arch')
arch-villain
a main or most powerful villain
Wird oft verwechselt mit
The noun refers to a curved physical structure; the adjective refers to a mischievous personality trait.
'Arched' describes something physically curved into a shape, while 'arch' describes a tone or attitude.
Nutzungshinweise
This adjective is primarily used in literary contexts or sophisticated social descriptions. It almost always describes a facial expression, a tone of voice, or a specific remark that suggests the person knows more than they are saying.
Häufige Fehler
Learners often mistakenly use 'arch' as an adjective to describe physical shapes (e.g., 'an arch window'), when they should use 'arched'.
Merkhilfe
Visualize someone raising their eyebrow into the shape of an 'arch' while they tell you a playful secret or a sarcastic joke.
Wortherkunft
Derived from the Greek 'arkhos' (meaning chief or principal), it evolved from 'arch-rogue' (a chief rogue) to describing the playful, sly characteristics associated with such a person.
Grammatikmuster
Kultureller Kontext
The term is frequently encountered in 19th and 20th-century British literature, such as the works of Jane Austen or Oscar Wilde, to denote subtle social wit.
Schnelles Quiz
When I asked if she knew about the surprise party, she just gave me an ______ smile and walked away.
Richtig!
Die richtige Antwort ist: arch
Ähnliche Regeln
Verwandte Redewendungen
Verwandtes Vokabular
Ähnliche Wörter
proceed
C1The noun form, typically used in the plural 'proceeds,' refers to the total amount of money received from a particular event, sale, or activity. It is a formal term used in academic, legal, and business contexts to describe the result of a financial transaction or fundraising effort.
individual
C1Relating to a single person or thing as distinct from a group. It describes something that is intended for, or used by, one person rather than a collective entity.
appropriately
B2To perform an action in a manner that is suitable, right, or proper for a particular situation, person, or occasion. It implies following specific social norms, professional standards, or logical requirements.
region
B2A region is an area of land that has common features, such as geography, climate, or culture, which distinguish it from other areas. It can refer to a large part of a country or the world and is often used in administrative or scientific contexts to organize space.
resource
B2A stock or supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively. In academic and informational contexts, it refers to a source of information or expertise used to support research or learning.
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
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