trifle with something
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trifle with — phrasal verb [transitive] Word forms trifle with : present tense I/you/we/they trifle with he/she/it trifles with present participle trifling with past tense trifled with past participle trifled with 1) trifle with something to deal with… … English dictionary
trifle with — PLAY WITH, amuse oneself with, toy with, dally with, flirt with, play fast and loose with; informal mess about with; dated sport with. → trifle * * * trifle with [phrasal verb] trifle with (someone or something) : to treat or deal with (someone… … Useful english dictionary
trifle — trifle, toy, dally, flirt, coquet can all mean to deal with a person or thing without seriousness, earnestness, close attention, or purpose. Trifle, the most comprehensive term of the group, may be used interchangeably with any of the others,… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
trifle — [trī′fəl] n. [ME < OFr trufle, mockery, dim. of truffe, deception] 1. something of little value or importance; trivial thing, idea, etc.; paltry matter 2. a small amount of money 3. a small amount or degree; bit 4. esp. in England, a dessert… … English World dictionary
trifle — tri|fle1 [ traıfl ] noun 1. ) count OLD FASHIONED something that is not very important: a mere trifle 2. ) count or uncount a sweet food eaten especially in the U.K., made from cake covered with fruit or GELATIN, cold CUSTARD, and sometimes cream … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
trifle — I. noun Etymology: Middle English trufle, trifle, from Anglo French trufle, triffle fraud, trick, nonsense Date: 14th century 1. something of little value, substance, or importance 2. a dessert typically consisting of plain or sponge cake often… … New Collegiate Dictionary
trifle — tri|fle1 [ˈtraıfəl] n [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: trufe, trufle deceiving, making fun ] 1.) a trifle formal slightly a trifle eccentric/odd/unexpected etc 2.) old fashioned something unimportant or not valuable ▪ … Dictionary of contemporary English
trifle — [[t]tra͟ɪf(ə)l[/t]] trifles, trifling, trifled 1) PHRASE: PHR adj/adv/prep (vagueness) You can use a trifle to mean slightly or to a small extent, especially in order make something you say seem less extreme. As a photographer, he d found both… … English dictionary
trifle — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. bagatelle, nothing, triviality; gewgaw, trinket, knickknack, gimcrack; particle, bit, morsel, trace. See littleness, unimportance. v. i. toy, play, dally, fool. See neglect. II (Roget s IV) n. 1. [A… … English dictionary for students
trifle — I UK [ˈtraɪf(ə)l] / US noun Word forms trifle : singular trifle plural trifles 1) [countable/uncountable] a sweet food eaten especially in the UK, made from cake covered with fruit or jelly, cold custard, and sometimes cream 2) [countable] old… … English dictionary
