Spiff

/spɪf/ · adjective

Meaning

(archaic or regional, Yorkshire) Neat, smartly dressed, attractive..

Definitions by Sense

1. (archaic or regional, Yorkshire) Neat, smartly dressed, attractive.
2. (uncountable) Attractiveness or charm in dress, appearance, or manner.
3. (countable, archaic, slang) A well-dressed man; a swell.
4. (countable, commerce, slang) A bonus or other remuneration, given for reaching a sales goal or promoting the goods of a particular manufacturer. Originally from textile retailing, a percentage given for selling off surplus or out-of-fashion stock, of which the sales person could offer part as a discount to a customer.
5. (countable, colloquial, Jamaica) Alternative form of spliff (“hand-rolled marijuana cigarette”).
6. (transitive, informal) (usually with up or out) To make spiffy (attractive, polished, or up-to-date)
7. (transitive, commerce, slang) To reward (a salesperson) with a spiff or bonus.
8. (transitive, commerce, slang) To attach a spiff or bonus to the selling of (a product)

Example Sentences

“Hah spiff he is to dāay!—he mud be bown tul a wedding!” “He’s spiff eniff for’t!”

Thah is spiff i’ thy new coit.

Without a diploma, he relies on spiff alone to climb the corporate ladder.

The strongly-recommended piece of cloth was, in the conventional language of the drapery trade, a “spiff” in other words, a remnant of an old stock which had been lying by unsold for three or four years, perhaps longer, and had faded through keeping, like other beautiful things, thereby decreasing in value.

The premium takes the form of a commission on goods sold. In some places it is a small premium, or in trade parlance a “spiff” on certain articles, and on others on the amount of sales.

She rolled a spiff for us as she spoke, sifting the ganja between her fingers […]

Oh, but we flatter ourselves that we are spiffed out; at all events, we've got our best dresses on.

This ensemble may be properly spiffed with a bolo tie, and topped off with a. . .

Synonyms for spiff

Antonyms for spiff

Related Words

Word Forms

• more spiff
• most spiff
• spiffs
• spiffing
• spiffed

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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