Meldrew

British

/ ˈmɛldruː /

noun

informal a person, esp a middle-aged or elderly man, who is habitually peevish, pessimistic, and cynical; curmudgeon

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Meldrewish adjective

Etymology

Origin of Meldrew

C20: named after Victor Meldrew , curmudgeonly hero of the 1990s BBC television situation comedy One Foot in the Grave , written by David Renwick

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Mantle played Jean Warboys, the annoying friend of Victor Meldrew's wife, Margaret, in the BBC series.

From BBC

But after years of disappointing albums plagued with turgid stadium pop, it was just exciting to hear Eminem sound so fired up again – he makes for a very convincing Victor Meldrew.

From The Guardian

Mental health and lifestyle blogger Vix Meldrew, who counts herself as a big Kardashian fan, says the campaign is simply "a case of ignorance" towards the illness.

From BBC

The 80-year-old, best known for his role as Victor Meldrew in the BBC's One Foot In The Grave, had been due to reprise the role in a one-man show.

From BBC

Actor Richard Wilson will revive one of the UK's best-loved TV characters, One Foot in the Grave's cantankerous protagonist Victor Meldrew, for a one-man show.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023