Word
tony
Phoneticstony
US/ˈtoʊni/
UK/tˈəʊni/
Definitions
01stylish and expensive
adj. very stylish, fashionable, and expensive in a way that shows high social status.
adj. characterised by an upscale, stylish, or high-toned quality. Informal in register and primarily used in North American contexts.
“They stayed at a tony hotel in the center of the city where the rooms cost a fortune.”
“The developer transformed the old warehouse district into a tony neighborhood filled with high-end boutiques and exclusive art galleries.”
Informal · American English
Usage
Usually placed before the noun it describes.
Teaching tip
This is a common word in American lifestyle journalism and real estate writing to describe wealthy areas or venues.
02theatre award
n. a famous award given every year for the best plays and musicals in the United States.
n. Any of the annual awards presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League for excellence in live Broadway theatre.
“The new musical won a Tony for best costume design last night.”
“After decades of performing in small regional theatres, the actress finally received a Tony for her leading role in the revival of the classic drama.”
American English
Usage
Always capitalized as it is a proper noun.
Teaching tip
Explain to students that this is the theatre equivalent of an Oscar (film) or a Grammy (music).
Synonyms
Etymology
Clipping of Anthony /Antony. The statuettes awarded by the American Theatre Wing are formally known as “Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre”; they are named for Antoinette Perry (1888–1946), an actress, director, producer and co-founder of the American Theatre Wing, who was nicknamed Tony.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
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englishreference.com/q/tony