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.
Exemples
3 sur 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!
Antonymes
Famille de mots
Astuce mémo
Visualize someone raising their eyebrow into the shape of an 'arch' while they tell you a playful secret or a sarcastic joke.
Quiz rapide
When I asked if she knew about the surprise party, she just gave me an ______ smile and walked away.
Correct !
La bonne réponse est : arch
Exemples
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.
Antonymes
Famille de mots
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
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
Souvent confondu avec
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.
Notes d'usage
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.
Erreurs courantes
Learners often mistakenly use 'arch' as an adjective to describe physical shapes (e.g., 'an arch window'), when they should use 'arched'.
Astuce mémo
Visualize someone raising their eyebrow into the shape of an 'arch' while they tell you a playful secret or a sarcastic joke.
Origine du mot
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.
Modèles grammaticaux
Contexte culturel
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.
Quiz rapide
When I asked if she knew about the surprise party, she just gave me an ______ smile and walked away.
Correct !
La bonne réponse est : arch
Grammaire lie
Expressions liées
Vocabulaire associé
Mots lis
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.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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