Words / C1

SURL-ee/ˈsɜːli/

Surly means bad-tempered, unfriendly, and rude: a surly foyer, a surly cohort. Rude (already in the dictionary) is everyday; a mood in the lobby is still an incident file.

Meaning

Bad-tempered, unfriendly, and rude (from rude, already in the dictionary).

Examples

• “A surly foyer is an incident file, not “banter”.”
• “Rude is already in this course. Churlish is the close twin. Banter is talk. A log is a file. Write the incident; then keep the banter if the clause still sits on a fact.”

Good to know

Bad-tempered and unfriendly. Everyday: rude (already in the dictionary). Banter ≠ an incident file.

Near in meaning

churlish, bad-tempered, uncivil

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