nob

IPA/nɒb/
IPA/nɑːb/

nob — noun

  • nobsingular
  • nobsplural

1. someone who belongs to a high social class, especially because their family has

1.名詞C1
釋義

someone who belongs to a high social class, especially because their family has been wealthy and powerful for several generations — often used humorously or disapprovingly when talking about the attitudes or lifestyle of wealthy people.

例句

The local nobs complained about the new housing estate being built near their golf club.

plural + the + noun: the local nobs

My grandfather used to work as a butler for some real nobs in a country estate.

for some real nobs — emphasising genuine upper-class status

同義詞
  • aristocrat

    more formal and narrower — refers specifically to people with hereditary titles, not just wealth

  • toff

    equally informal British slang; focuses more on stylish or fashionable upper-class appearance

  • blue blood

    metaphorical term that emphasises noble birth rather than money

  • upper-cruster

    American informal equivalent, much less common in the UK

反義詞
  • commoner

    neutral term for someone without aristocratic rank

  • pleb

    informal British term for an ordinary person, often used dismissively

文法句型

the nobs (as group)

用法筆記

Commonly used in the plural (the nobs, some nobs). Singular usage is rarer and often paired with a determiner like a real nob or a proper nob. The word carries a mildly critical or mocking tone — it is not a neutral description of wealth.

常見錯誤

❌He is a nob for buying that car' (using 'nob' to mean 'snob').
✅He is a nob for being born into that wealthy family
💡'nob' refers to social class, not to a person's attitude or taste.
❌The nobs were at the meeting' (in formal/business writing).
✅The management team attended the meeting
💡'nobs' is too informal for serious or professional contexts.