harumph

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Onomatopoeic.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /həˈɹʌm(p)f/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Hyphenation: ha‧rumph

Interjection

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harumph

  1. An expression of disdain, disbelief, protest, refusal or dismissal.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:bullshit, Thesaurus:bah
    Harumph! She is welcome to try, but I'm not going to bother helping.
    • 1982, Patrick F. McManus, They Shoot Canoes, Don't They?:
      "Harumph! Well, now, perhaps I spoke too soon, McManus."

Noun

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harumph (plural harumphs)

  1. An expression of disdain, disbelief, protest, or dismissal; a huff, grunt, or snort.
    I didn't get a harumph out of that guy.
    Give the governor a harumph.

Verb

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harumph (third-person singular simple present harumphs, present participle harumphing, simple past and past participle harumphed)

  1. To dislike, protest, or dismiss.
    • 2009 August 25, Paula Cocozza, “The rules of back-garden etiquette”, in The Guardian[1]:
      Is it wrong to harumph when the scent of spitting fat drifts towards your washing line?
    • 2012 June 3, Hugh Muir, “Hideously diverse Britain: standing up for the Romanians”, in The Guardian[2]:
      "An open invitation for beggars," harumphed Migrationwatch. Ever the humanitarians.

Translations

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