Words / B1

SKOF/skɒf/

Scoff has two useful senses. In informal UK, to scoff food is to eat it quickly and hungrily: scoff the biscuits. To scoff at an idea is to mock it as silly (more formal). At B1 the eating sense is the everyday one. Collocation: scoff down a sandwich.

Meaning

To eat something quickly and hungrily (UK informal); also to laugh at an idea.

Examples

• “The kids scoffed the biscuits before I could make tea.”
• “He scoffed his breakfast and ran for the bus.”
• “Do not scoff at her plan until you have heard it.”

Good to know

scoff (UK informal) = eat greedily. Also: scoff at = mock. Close (eat): wolf down.

New