dinkies
dinkies
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "dinkies" is /ˈdɪŋkiz/.
dink-: /ˈdɪŋk/ - The "d" is a voiced alveolar plosive, followed by the "i" sound, which is a near-close near-front unrounded vowel. The "nk" is a velar nasal /ŋ/ followed by a voiceless velar plosive /k/.
-ies: /iz/ - The "i" sound is a lax vowel, and the "es" is a voiced alveolar fricative /z/.
Word Form Variations
Singular: dinky
Plural: dinkies
Adverb: dinkily
Adjective: dinky
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Dinky: Small, tiny, and often charming or cute in a childlike way.
Synonyms: diminutive, petite, wee, itsy-bitsy
Antonyms: enormous, massive, gigantic, colossal
Dinky: Small and insignificant; not serious or important.
Synonyms: trivial, piddling, measly, paltry
Antonyms: monumental, momentous, significant, substantial
Noun
Dinky: (Plural: dinkies) A small, often cute, object or thing.
Synonyms: trinket, bauble, knickknack, figurine
Antonyms: behemoth, monolith, juggernaut
DINKs or Dinkies: (Acronym) A term for couples who are "double income, no kids."
Synonyms: N/A (this is a specific acronym)
Antonyms: N/A (not applicable)
Examples of Use
Adjective: "He lived in a dinky apartment just above the noisy cafe."
Adjective: "They decorated their new office with several dinky toy cars as a nod to their childhood."
Noun: "The children were collecting dinkies, little trinkets they'd found in the yard."
Noun (Acronym): "The marketing campaign was specifically targeted at DINKs, with advertisements for luxury cruises and sports cars."
10 Famous Quotes Using Dinkies
"I've been in this game so long I’ve seen some of these young guys playing these dinkies and I'm still out here hustling every day." (Charles Barkley)
"If I'd just tried for them dinky singles I could've batted around .600." (Babe Ruth)
“They do not do it by placing a dinky little advertisement.” (Hansard archive, UK Parliament, 1988)
"The thermal imagery makes Travis Scott's enormous blunt look like a dinky party horn." (Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, May 2024)
"We are taking money from families and giving it to the dinkies: down the kids and up the dinkies.” (Hansard archive, UK Parliament, 1993)
"You had a pretty good life there, even though you were working in a dinky little grocery store." (From the film Fargo, 1996)
"While we were in Vienna, we went to this wonderful cafe and had the dinkiest little cakes you ever saw." (Original quote)
"He has described his early comics as just these dinky revenge cartoons in response to having been picked on a lot growing up." (Source unavailable)
"It is fair to say the only Porsche I could have afforded would have been a dinky toy." (Source unavailable)
"My hand hurt like hell from using a dinky computer mouse hours at a time." (Matt Jancer, Wired, April 2020)
Etymology
The word "dinky" has a Scottish origin. It comes from the Scottish word "dink," which means "neat," "trim," or "finely dressed." The first known use of "dinky" was in the late 1700s, and its initial meaning was similar to its Scottish root—describing something as dainty and attractive.
Over time, the meaning of "dinky" shifted. The idea of something being "trim" or "dainty" evolved to mean "small," and then eventually, "small and insignificant" or "unimpressive." This is why today, when someone calls something "dinky," it can have either a positive or a negative tone, depending on the context. A "dinky" car could be seen as cute and charming, or it could be a complaint that it's too small and flimsy.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Dinkies
A dinky little car: This is a very common phrase, highlighting a car that is small and often not very powerful.
A dinky apartment: This phrase describes an apartment that is cramped, small, and possibly a bit shabby.
Dinkum oil (Australian slang): While not using "dinky" directly, "dinkum oil" means the absolute truth or the real thing. "Dinky-di" is a related term meaning genuine or true, also from Australia.
The dinky toy: This refers to a brand of small die-cast toy cars that were very popular, especially in the UK. The name of the toy line itself made the word "dinky" famous, and now it is often used in reference to any small toy car.
To take a dinky pass: In sports like football, this refers to a short, often insignificant pass, highlighting a lack of ambition or power.
A dinky-di Aussie: An original phrase to describe someone who is authentically Australian, using the slang term "dinky-di" for a similar effect.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of dinkies from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
