condescend to

condescend to (do something)

To do something that one feels is unworthy or demeaning. Now that Jim thinks he's a big movie star, I doubt he'll condescend to talk to us common folk. Wow, you'll condescend to help me with this? Gee, thanks. I'm a mail clerk now—why would I condescend to do janitorial work anymore?

See also: condescend, to

condescend to (someone)

To act as though others are less important or inferior to oneself. Jim has been condescending to us ever since he found out he got cast in that movie. Can you please stop condescending to me? Contrary to what you may think, I'm not an idiot. If you keep condescending to the people on your staff like that, no one is going to want to work with you.

See also: condescend, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

condescend to someone

to talk down to someone; to treat people as if they were below oneself; to patronize someone. Please do not condescend to me. There is no need to condescend to the children. They are just small, not stupid.

See also: condescend, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.