patronising

Describes a tone or attitude that treats someone with apparent kindness but betrays a feeling of superiority.

• 🇩🇪Beschreibt einen Ton oder eine Haltung, bei der jemand mit gespielter Freundlichkeit behandelt wird, während zugleich ein Überlegenheitsgefühl zum Ausdruck kommt; oft herablassend oder gönnerhaft.

1. Condescending attitude B2 formal

   Treating someone as if they are less intelligent or less important, often with a show of kindness that feels superior.

   • His patronising tone made everyone feel uncomfortable.
   • She gave a patronising smile when I asked a simple question.
   • I hate it when people explain things in a patronising way.

   🇩🇪Herablassend

   Synonyme: condescendingdisdainfuldismissivehaughtyloftypompoussnobbishsupercilioussuperior

   Antonyme: deferentialegalitarianhumblerespectful

• more patronising comparative form
• most patronising superlative form

A verb meaning to treat someone with an apparent kindness that betrays a feeling of superiority, or to be a regular customer of a shop, restaurant, or business.

• 🇩🇪Verb, das bedeutet, jemanden von oben herab oder mit herablassender Freundlichkeit zu behandeln, oder Stammkunde eines Geschäfts, Restaurants oder Unternehmens zu sein.

1. Treat condescendingly B2 formal

   To treat someone with an apparent kindness that betrays a feeling of superiority.

   • He tends to patronise his younger colleagues during meetings.
   • She felt patronised when the waiter explained the menu in a slow, simple way.
   • Don't patronise me; I understand the situation perfectly well.

   🇩🇪Herablassend behandeln

   Synonyme: belittlecondescenddemeandisdaindisparagelook down onslight

   Antonyme: esteemhonorrespectvenerate

2. Be a regular customer B2 formal

   To be a frequent or regular customer of a particular shop, restaurant, or business.

   • We have patronised this local bakery for over a decade.
   • Many tourists patronise the small boutiques in the old town.
   • She prefers to patronise independent bookshops rather than large chains.

   🇩🇪Stammkunde sein

   Synonyme: frequentshop atsupportvisit

3. Sponsor or support C1 formal

   To give financial or other support to a person, organization, or cause.

   • The wealthy family patronised several local artists.
   • The foundation patronises educational programs in rural areas.
   • He used his fortune to patronise scientific research.

   🇩🇪Sponsern

   Synonyme: backchampionendowfinancefundpromotesponsorsubsidizesupportunderwrite

   Antonyme: boycottdiscourageopposeshun

• patronised past participle
• patronised past simple
• patronising present participle
• patronises third person singular