pi-jaw
English
Etymology
From pi (“pious, sanctimonious”) + jaw.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈpʌɪdʒɔː/
Noun
pi-jaw (uncountable)
- (slang, archaic) Patronising or lecturing talk, especially from an adult to a child. [from 19th c.]
- 1924, Ford Madox Ford, Some Do Not…, Penguin 2012 (Parade's End), p. 33:
- ‘I'll admit for the moment that you aren't giving me pi-jaw.’
- 1991, Stephen Fry, The Liar, p. 37:
- Adrian thought it worth while to try out his new slang. ‘I say, you fellows, here's a rum go. Old Biffo was jolly odd this morning. He gave me a lot of pi-jaw about slacking and then invited me to tea. No rotting! He did really.’
- 1924, Ford Madox Ford, Some Do Not…, Penguin 2012 (Parade's End), p. 33: