arty-farty

alternative artsy-fartsy · alternative artyfarty

1. derogatoryinformalPretentiously artistic; self-important or self-indulgent, especially when describing an artistic project.

   I've had enough of this arty-farty modern sculpture!

   1 more example

   The rather disappointing—although unsurprising—message of the Economist article was that tattoos are no longer the edgy insignia of the free spirited but the arty-farty must-have accessory of the middle classes.

   2008 June 9, Shirley Dent, “Written on the body: literary tattoos”, in The Guardian

plural arty-farties · alternative artsy-fartsy · alternative artyfarty

1. Someone who is arty-farty.

   'Probably some rich arty-farty built it for his kids,' said Barney casually.

   2015, Jen Storer, The Fourteenth Summer of Angus Jack

   2 more examples

   The Mersey Sound, an anthology featuring the works of poets Roger McGough, Brian Patten and Adrian Henri, became a best-seller in 1967 and encouraged thousands of working-class teenagers to read poetry; prior to its publication they probably thought poems were for middle-class arty-farties.

   2009, Tommy Smith, Anfield Iron, page 85

   Gave parties for all the campus arty-farties to come and drink up my booze and patronize me. . . . I could have had you that first night I brought you here.

   2013, Marge Piercy, Braided Lives: A Novel, page 217