duff
duff — adjective
1. of very poor quality or not working correctly — for example, a duff mobile phone
of very poor quality or not working correctly — for example, a duff mobile phone that freezes every few minutes, or a duff performance that the audience walks out of.
Jiwoo's new phone was duff and kept switching off for no reason.
be + duff for defective items
The battery in Mert's torch was duff and ran out after just one hour.
Élise complained that the sound system at the concert was completely duff.
Nobody enjoyed that film because the picture quality was duff and blurry.
文法句型
be + duff
duff + noun
用法筆記
This sense is almost exclusively British informal. 'Duff' is more common in speech than in writing and is not used in formal or academic contexts.
常見錯誤
duff — noun
1. a person's bottom or backside — used in informal conversation, often in a mildly
a person's bottom or backside — used in informal conversation, often in a mildly humorous or blunt way to refer to the part of the body you sit on.
Reema slipped on the wet floor and landed square on her duff.
land square on + possessive + duff
The little boy fell backwards and sat on his duff with a surprised look.
After riding the horse all afternoon, Marco's duff was sore and aching.
Baraka told the children to stop sitting on their duffs and help with the cooking.
文法句型
possessive + duff
用法筆記
Less vulgar than 'arse' (UK) or 'ass' (US) but still informal. Avoid in polite or formal situations. 'Duff' is more common in northern British English dialects.
常見錯誤
2. used in the fixed phrase 'get off your duff' — a direct, informal way of urging
used in the fixed phrase 'get off your duff' — a direct, informal way of urging someone who is idle to get up and do something useful.
Nellie's father told her to get off her duff and wash the dishes.
get off + possessive + duff + and + action verb
If you want to pass, get off your duff and start studying.
The coach shouted at the players to get off their duffs and run faster.
Stop complaining and get off your duff — there is work waiting for you.
- get moving
neutral, no slang — works in any register
- get cracking
British informal, similar tone to 'get off your duff'
- pull yourself together
suggests overcoming laziness, slightly more serious
- laze around
the opposite action
文法句型
get off + possessive + duff
get + object + off + possessive + duff
用法筆記
Always occurs in the fixed expression 'get off your duff' or 'get off one's duff.' The verb 'get' can be conjugated (got off, will get off). A more colourful alternative to 'stop being lazy' or 'get moving.'
常見錯誤
3. pregnant — used only in the fixed informal phrase 'up the duff,' which is consid
pregnant — used only in the fixed informal phrase 'up the duff,' which is considered slightly vulgar or very casual.
Ava's sister announced she was up the duff with her first child, due in April.
be + up the duff with + baby
The couple were overjoyed when they found out Reema was up the duff.
In the sitcom, the main character discovers she is up the duff completely by surprise.
Lisa laughed and joked that all the cats in the neighbourhood were up the duff.
- pregnant
neutral, no slang — appropriate everywhere
- expecting
polite, common in conversation
- with child
old-fashioned or literary
文法句型
be + up the duff
get + up the duff
end up + up the duff
用法筆記
Only used in the fixed expression 'up the duff.' The phrase is mild slang — it would be inappropriate in a medical or formal setting. The neutral alternative is 'pregnant'; the polite alternative is 'expecting a baby.'
常見錯誤
duff — verb
1. to steal livestock by falsifying ownership marks (such as brands), and also, mor
to steal livestock by falsifying ownership marks (such as brands), and also, more broadly, to take merchandise and disguise its appearance so that it can be sold as legitimate goods.
The thief was caught trying to duff sheep by painting over the farmer's brand.
duff + animal + by + method
Cattle rustlers used to duff animals and sell them at the next market town.
The gang duffed the stolen cars by giving them new paint and fake licence plates.
Anong read about a rancher who was jailed for duffing his neighbour's prize cattle.
文法句型
duff + noun (livestock/goods)
用法筆記
This is a very rare, specialised sense. Most English speakers will never encounter or use it except in historical novels, rural crime stories, or Australian bush-ballads. 'Rustle' is the common modern word for stealing livestock.