frightfully
frightfully — adverb
1. a word used before adjectives or adverbs to make their meaning stronger, similar
a word used before adjectives or adverbs to make their meaning stronger, similar to 'very' or 'extremely'. It is commonly used in informal British English and often gives a slightly old-fashioned or upper-class tone to what someone says.
Lord Winthorpe looked frightfully uncomfortable in his stiff collar at the ceremony.
frightfully + adjective after linking verb
A plate of frightfully expensive oysters sat untouched on the buffet table.
Aunt Beatrice found the novel frightfully dull and put it down after three pages.
The butler whispered that the guests were being frightfully difficult about the seating plan.
- very
neutral, cross-register default — the most common intensifier in English
- terribly
similar British informal intensifier with the same 'awful' etymology, slightly more common in modern speech
- awfully
very close in tone and register to 'frightfully', also British informal and mildly old-fashioned
- dreadfully
stronger and more emotional than 'frightfully'; implies real distress or disappointment
文法句型
frightfully + adjective
frightfully + adverb
用法筆記
This sense is primarily British and informal. Frequent use can sound dated or posh — modern British speakers often prefer 'really', 'very', or 'absolutely' in everyday speech. It typically appears with adjectives describing personal feelings, social situations, or judgements (sorry, good, nice, boring, expensive, awkward, difficult).