ladylike

Everyday

1. Ladylike describes behaviour that people used to think was polite, quiet and proper for a woman or girl, such as sitting neatly and speaking softly. tree →
2. (often old-fashioned or critical) Saying something is "not ladylike" was used to stop girls running, shouting or getting dirty. tree →

In the lessons

Met in older stories and in lessons on fairness and gender. It tells the reader what some people expected of girls; modern lessons point out these rules were unfair, and that good manners are for everyone. Phrases: «not very ladylike», «ladylike behaviour», «sit in a ladylike way».

Examples

• Great-Aunt Edith said climbing trees wasn't ladylike. tree →
• She gave a very unladylike burp and laughed. tree →
• The girls in the old book were taught to be ladylike. tree →
• Maddie didn't care about being ladylike; she wanted to win. tree →
• Her grandmother had ladylike manners and a soft voice. tree →
• "That's not ladylike!" "Neither is it gentlemanly – it's just rude!" tree →

Note

Adjective, not an adverb, even though it ends in -like. Opposite: unladylike. The male word is gentlemanly. Trap: «ladylike» is often a judgement about girls; kindness and good manners matter the same for boys and girls.