dowdy
/ˈdaʊdi/ (bre, ipa) · [dˈaʊdi] /ˈdaʊdi/ (ame, ipa) · [dˈaʊdi] /ˈdau̇-dē How to pronounce dowdy (audio)/ (ame, mw)
dowdy — adjective
- dowdypositive
- dowdiercomparative
- dowdiestsuperlative
1. describing clothes or a person whose appearance looks plain, dated, and lacking
describing clothes or a person whose appearance looks plain, dated, and lacking style
Nora refused to wear the dowdy brown suit to the wedding.
dowdy + clothing noun
James thought the heavy curtains made the cafe look dowdy and dim.
make something look dowdy
Astrid replaced the dowdy hat with a bright scarf before class.
Imran worried the long beige coat looked dowdy at the interview.
- frumpy
very close in meaning, often with a stronger idea of awkward shape
- unfashionable
broader and more neutral, without the strong criticism
- shabby
focuses more on worn or poor condition than on style
文法句型
dowdy clothes
look dowdy
make someone look dowdy
用法筆記
Most often used critically about clothes, hairstyles, rooms, or someone's overall appearance.
dowdy — noun
1. an insulting word for a woman who dresses in a dull, old-fashioned, and unattrac
an insulting word for a woman who dresses in a dull, old-fashioned, and unattractive way
The magazine mocked Antonia as a dowdy after the awards ceremony.
pattern: mock someone as a dowdy
Zayd said the play turned the proud queen into a tired dowdy.
pattern: turn into a dowdy
Elise hated the film's joke that every librarian was a dowdy.
Rachid described the villain's aunt as a dowdy in worn gloves.
- fashionista
a woman strongly associated with style and fashion
文法句型
call someone a dowdy
turn into a dowdy
mock someone as a dowdy
用法筆記
Old-fashioned and insulting. It appears more in stories or criticism than in polite everyday speech.
常見錯誤
2. a deep fruit dessert baked in a dish with pastry or crust on top
a deep fruit dessert baked in a dish with pastry or crust on top
Sari baked an apple dowdy with cinnamon for the church supper.
collocation: apple dowdy
At the fair, Eitan chose warm peach dowdy instead of cherry pie.
dessert choice at a fair
Nia served the dowdy in deep bowls with cold cream.
The menu promised pear dowdy once the autumn apples were gone.
- pandowdy
the fuller traditional name for this dessert
- fruit cobbler
similar fruit dessert, but cobbler usually has a different topping style
文法句型
apple dowdy
peach dowdy
serve dowdy warm
用法筆記
Usually found in traditional American dessert names such as 'apple dowdy' or 'peach dowdy'. This sense is rare and belongs mostly to recipes or old-fashioned food writing.