trifle

Everyday

1. A cold dessert made of layers of sponge cake, fruit or jelly, custard and cream, popular in the UK, Ireland, Australia and NZ. tree →
2. Something small and unimportant. tree →
3. (in «a trifle») A little, slightly: «a trifle tired». tree →
4. (in «trifle with») To treat someone or something without enough respect or seriousness. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life trifle is a party and Christmas dessert in many British, Irish, Australian and NZ homes. In stories, «a trifle» as an adverb sounds old-fashioned or polite: «a trifle cold». «Not to be trifled with» warns that someone or something is serious or dangerous. Phrases: «a trifle», «not to be trifled with», «strawberry trifle».

Examples

• Grandma made a big trifle for the party. tree →
• The trifle had layers of jelly, custard and cream. tree →
• Don't worry about such trifles. tree →
• The soup was a trifle too salty. tree →
• The old king was not a man to be trifled with. tree →
• It cost only a trifle, so I bought it. tree →
• (informal) That's a trifle unfair, isn't it? tree →
• But the dwarfs were not to be trifled with. tree →

Note

As a dessert, it can be countable («two trifles») or uncountable («some trifle»). Adjective: «trifling» (unimportant). «A trifle» meaning «slightly» is formal or old-fashioned; children usually say «a bit».

In Jewish tradition

In everyday life trifle is a party and Christmas dessert in many British, Irish, Australian and NZ homes. In stories, «a trifle» as an adverb sounds old-fashioned or polite: «a trifle cold». «Not to be trifled with» warns that someone or something is serious or dangerous. Phrases: «a trifle», «not to be trifled with», «strawberry trifle».

Examples

• ()f the Sefer Yetzirah II little need be said ; it abounds in trifles, contradictions and repetitions. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

As a dessert, it can be countable («two trifles») or uncountable («some trifle»). Adjective: «trifling» (unimportant). «A trifle» meaning «slightly» is formal or old-fashioned; children usually say «a bit».