phrase

• An affectation of superiority.

  More example sentences

  • ‘young master Tristan, with his fancy education and his airs and graces’
  • ‘You've taken on a few airs and graces lately, haven't you Tim?’
  • ‘He was at Man United but there's no airs and graces about Teddy.’
  • ‘Despite being raised the daughter of a brigadier, and despite stints at both the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, there are no airs and graces to Juliet Stevenson.’
  • ‘Brighton, for all its airs and graces, is a very provincial town, and I like it that way.’
  • ‘He had no airs and graces and he was always interested in what you were saying.’
  • ‘At each prison, however, he has been accused of adopting unsuitable airs and graces, demanding - and receiving - what is perceived to be special treatment.’
  • ‘Demanding divas could take lessons from her easygoing nature; she may take her profession seriously but she harbours no personal airs and graces whatsoever.’
  • ‘There were no airs and graces about Hedley, he was a very gentle fella and it was an honour to have known him.’
  • ‘But despite mingling with the stars, he has few airs and graces and regularly returns home to Lancaster to help in the family restaurant.’
  • ‘They don't try to put on airs and graces - they just say what they mean which is good.’

  Synonyms

  affectations, pretension, pretentiousness, affectedness, posing, posturing, pretence