riffraff

[ˈrɪfraf]

riffraff Definition

• 1. disreputable or undesirable people
• 2. waste or debris

Using riffraff: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "riffraff" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The club was full of riffraff and troublemakers.

• Example

  She refused to associate with the riffraff of the town.

• Example

  The beach was littered with riffraff and garbage.

• Example

  The hotel staff cleared away the riffraff from the lobby.

riffraff Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for riffraff

• rabble
• scum
• trash
• dregs
• outcasts

Antonyms for riffraff

• elite
• aristocracy

Idioms Using riffraff

• sort out the riffraff

  to separate the desirable from the undesirable elements of a group

  Example

  The admissions committee had to sort out the riffraff from the qualified applicants.

• lower the riffraff

  to reduce the quality or standards of something by allowing disreputable or undesirable elements to be included

  Example

  The school's decision to lower the riffraff by admitting unqualified students was widely criticized.

• mix with the riffraff

  to associate with disreputable or undesirable people

  Example

  She was warned not to mix with the riffraff at the party, but she ignored the advice.

Phrases with riffraff

• kick out the riffraff

  to remove or expel disreputable or undesirable people from a place

  Example

  The new management decided to kick out the riffraff and attract a more upscale clientele.

• riffraff element

  a group of people who are considered disreputable or undesirable

  Example

  The police were called in to deal with the riffraff element that had gathered outside the concert venue.

• riffraffy

  having the characteristics or qualities of riffraff

  Example

  The bar had a riffraffy atmosphere, with loud music and rowdy patrons.

Origins of riffraff

from Old French 'rif et raf', meaning 'every last scrap'

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Summary: riffraff in Brief

'Riffraff' [ˈrɪfraf] refers to disreputable or undesirable people, as well as waste or debris. It can be used to describe people or things, such as 'The beach was littered with riffraff and garbage.' The term also appears in idioms like 'sort out the riffraff,' which means to separate the desirable from the undesirable elements of a group.