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AIBU unreasonable to hate the word posh?

(172 Posts)
kittylester Thu 10-Nov-22 11:02:35

It's wrong to say everyone else in Britain uses it as an insult. I certainly don't.

I use the word in the same way as Lucca.

Chardy Thu 10-Nov-22 10:30:29

I googled posh

Posh synonyms adjective
elegant or stylishly luxurious. smart stylish upmarket fancy high-class
fashionable chic luxurious luxury deluxe exclusive select sumptuous opulent lavish grand rich elegant ornate ostentatious showy high-toned upscale classy swanky snazzy plush plushy ritzy
flash la-di-da fancy-pants swish swank
tony larney swagger swell sprauncy

adverb INFORMAL•BRITISH
in a refined or upper-class way.
"he may talk posh, but there is nothing fancy about Basil"

noun INFORMAL•BRITISH
the quality of being elegant, stylish, or upper class.
"we finally bought a colour TV, which seemed the height of posh"

verb INFORMAL•BRITISH
smarten someone or something up.
"we will be getting all poshed up for the company summer ball"

OK can't say I think of posh like that

What does being a posh mean?
adjective. If you describe a person as posh, you mean thatthey belong to or behave as if they belong to the upper classes. [mainly British, informal] I wouldn't have thought she had such posh friends. Synonyms: upper-class, high-class, top-drawer, plummy

Is the word posh offensive?
Many foreigners think posh is a compliment, but only posh people view it as such—and even then not always.Everyone else in Britain uses it as an insult. To be called posh outside of the houses of the posh is to be called spoiled, entitled, or pretentious. The British monitor class carefully

Personally I relate posh to pretentious

annodomini Thu 10-Nov-22 10:29:57

If I say something's 'posh' (and, forgive me, I do use it) I generally mean it's a bit beyond my reach, or in some way, superior. Old habits die hard, and I'm sure my friends and family will know what I mean.

Elegran Thu 10-Nov-22 10:26:49

Lucca

chocolatepudding

Port out, starboard home. Something to do with sailing?

Indian raj days. If you had money you had a cabin on the port side to go there but starboard to come “home”.

Or when crossing the Atlantic to the States. Cabins on the port side had sunshine while travelling west, starboard cabins travelling east. The other side(s) got no sunshine.

eazybee Thu 10-Nov-22 10:24:25

I dislike it as it usually signifies disapproval, delivered with a faint sneer: a posh voice, neighbourhood, school etc, although I do like Barbara Good's posh frocks.

Baggs Thu 10-Nov-22 10:21:15

I think it is unreasonable. But that's just me thinking that hating an inoffensive word with a passion, as the OP described, is a waste of energy. I actually can't think of any word that I hate with a passion, though there are some that I don't use because people find them offensive.

GrannyGravy13 Thu 10-Nov-22 10:15:12

Sago

GrannyGravy13

I think it is used as a more diplomatic way of saying expensive with regards food or hotels.

When used to refer to people I was brought up with the phrase posh is as posh does people are just people, we are all different.

Is anything expensive posh?
Is common the opposite of posh?
If so imagine if we used the word common the way we do posh!

Common is used a fair bit on GN sago usually aimed at people with tattoos or wearing the wrong clothes for their body shape.

I haven’t got a problem with people using posh when referring to people/lifestyles

I have got a problem with people using common when referring to people/lifestyles

Kittye Thu 10-Nov-22 10:10:16

I’d use the word to describe expensive but not in a derogatory way.
I am “common” I think. 😊

Aveline Thu 10-Nov-22 10:00:31

I am very posh.

Lucca Thu 10-Nov-22 09:55:19

Thinking about it I don’t use the word except jokingly as in “ best wear a posh frock”

Sago Thu 10-Nov-22 09:40:30

GrannyGravy13

I think it is used as a more diplomatic way of saying expensive with regards food or hotels.

When used to refer to people I was brought up with the phrase posh is as posh does people are just people, we are all different.

Is anything expensive posh?
Is common the opposite of posh?
If so imagine if we used the word common the way we do posh!

GrannyGravy13 Thu 10-Nov-22 09:28:38

I think it is used as a more diplomatic way of saying expensive with regards food or hotels.

When used to refer to people I was brought up with the phrase posh is as posh does people are just people, we are all different.

Joseanne Thu 10-Nov-22 09:27:10

Sago

A good example is a friend saying to me “ why did you send your children to a posh school”.
Is this derogatory ?
Why not ask why I opted out of the state system or do you feel a public school education is better?
I was told I had a posh voice, did this mean I spoke nicely or am I up myself?
It’s such a horrible word.

Don't get me started about schools. They aren't posh, they are schools with a difference, just that!
I think you understand me Sago. grin

Sarah74 Thu 10-Nov-22 09:25:17

I rest my case!

Joseanne Thu 10-Nov-22 09:24:02

Sassy is often used to describe high quality wines on labels Sarah! 🍷 🥂
grin

Lucca Thu 10-Nov-22 09:23:39

chocolatepudding

Port out, starboard home. Something to do with sailing?

Indian raj days. If you had money you had a cabin on the port side to go there but starboard to come “home”.

Sago Thu 10-Nov-22 09:22:19

A good example is a friend saying to me “ why did you send your children to a posh school”.
Is this derogatory ?
Why not ask why I opted out of the state system or do you feel a public school education is better?
I was told I had a posh voice, did this mean I spoke nicely or am I up myself?
It’s such a horrible word.

Sarah74 Thu 10-Nov-22 09:21:04

Ooh, no, I don’t think of it as sassy - more, rather superior and smug

Joseanne Thu 10-Nov-22 09:19:41

Oh dear, I use posh alot. Not about people, but about décor, fashion and foods. I think I mean chic, classy, elegant - that sort of thing - along with being a bit sassy.

Nannagarra Thu 10-Nov-22 09:14:03

Why do you hate the word?

chocolatepudding Thu 10-Nov-22 09:13:25

Port out, starboard home. Something to do with sailing?

Sago Thu 10-Nov-22 09:09:17

Is it just me?
I hate the word with a passion.
Posh hotel, posh restaurant, posh neighbours…..
What does it even mean?