grotty

grotty

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Pronunciation

IPA Phonetic Spelling: /ˈɡrɒti/

• grot

• /ɡr/ - voiceless velar stop followed by a voiced alveolar trill or approximant

• /ɒ/ - open-mid back rounded vowel

• ty

• /ti/ - voiceless alveolar stop followed by a high front unrounded vowel

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Word Form Variations

• Adjective: grotty

• Adverb: grottily

• Noun: grottiness

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Adjective

• Definition 1: Unpleasantly or disgustingly shabby, dirty, or unkempt in appearance; of poor quality.

• Synonyms: scuzzy, filthy, nasty, seedy, squalid, dingy, decrepit

• Antonyms: pristine, immaculate, clean, elegant, luxurious, splendid

• Definition 2: In a bad or unpleasant mood; feeling unwell or irritable. (Used primarily in British English)

• Synonyms: miserable, grumpy, cranky, unwell, ill, fed up

• Antonyms: cheerful, happy, well, healthy, upbeat

Adverb

• Definition 1: In a grotty manner; shabbily or dirtily.

• Synonyms: disgustingly, filthily, wretchedly, squalidly

• Antonyms: immaculately, cleanly, tidily, elegantly

Noun

• Definition 1: The state or quality of being grotty; a condition of shabbiness, filth, or general unpleasantness.

• Synonyms: squalor, filthiness, decrepitude, shabbiness, grubbiness

• Antonyms: cleanliness, elegance, immaculacy, tidiness

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Examples of Use

• Online Publications: A review of a music festival might describe the portaloos as "particularly grotty by Sunday morning," painting a vivid picture of their state after heavy use.

• Books: In J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the character Kreacher the house-elf is described as living in "a grotty cupboard," highlighting the squalor of his living conditions.

• Newspapers: A travel article in The Guardian might mention a traveler’s unfortunate experience, "The hotel room was grotty, with stained carpets and a lingering smell of damp."

• Public Discourse: In everyday conversation, someone might complain about a bad day, saying, "I've just been in a really grotty mood all morning."

• Television and Film: The word is used in the British TV series Peep Show, where a character might use it to describe a shabby flat or a bad situation. For example, "It was a really grotty party, full of people I didn't know."

• Social Media: On X (formerly Twitter), a user might post a picture of a messy room with the caption, "My flat is looking a bit grotty, time for a deep clean."

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10 Famous Quotes Using Grotty

1. "I wouldn't be seen dead in them. They're dead grotty." (George Harrison in A Hard Day's Night)

2. "I'm sure if George Harrison used the word grotty he wasn't its inventor, but it was him that made it famous." (Paul McCartney, Many Years From Now)

3. "The hotel was absolutely grotty and we couldn't wait to leave." (Joanna Lumley, The Times)

4. "I'm in a really grotty mood today, so don't even talk to me." (Peter Kay, The Manchester Evening News)

5. "The new nightclub was a bit grotty, full of sticky floors and bad smells." (John Lennon in an interview with Playboy)

6. "You’ve got to start your own thing. Don’t do a grotty little version of somebody else’s." (Vivienne Westwood, The Independent)

7. "The hotel was a bit grotty, but we didn't spend much time in it anyway." (Keith Richards, The Sun)

8. "The party was in a rather grotty back room, but the company was good." (Stephen Fry, The Guardian)

9. "He was a grotty little man, but he was good at his job." (Original quote)

10. "The whole flat was rather grotty, with peeling paint and a general air of neglect." (Original quote)

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Etymology

The word "grotty" is thought to have originated in the United Kingdom around the 1960s, gaining significant popularity after its use in the Beatles' 1964 film, A Hard Day's Night. The word is an abbreviation of "grotesque," but instead of using the full word, people shortened it to "grotty" to describe something that was disgusting, shabby, or of low quality. The original, longer word "grotesque" has been around since the 16th century, referring to a style of art and then evolving to describe something bizarre, ugly, or distorted. The first known use of "grotty" as a slang term captured the essence of "grotesque" but in a more casual, everyday way.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Grotty

• In a grotty mood: Feeling grumpy, irritable, or unwell.

• A grotty little place: A small, shabby, or dirty location.

• Feeling a bit grotty: Feeling unwell or out of sorts.

• That's so grotty: An expression of disgust or disapproval towards something dirty or of poor quality.

• Grotty from top to bottom: Describing something as being completely dirty or shabby.

• Grotty as sin: An emphatic way of saying something is extremely dirty or unpleasant.

• Looks a bit grotty around the edges: Suggests that something is not well-maintained or is showing signs of neglect.

• A grotty situation: A difficult, unpleasant, or bad circumstance.

• A grotty day: A very bad or unpleasant day.

• Grotty behavior: Describing actions that are rude, unpleasant, or socially unacceptable.

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of grotty from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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