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.

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 • Feb. 20, 2020

See, suddenly even I’m channelling the harrumphing pessimism of Victor Meldrew or Alf Garnett.

From The Guardian • Feb. 17, 2016

Anyone else got any cherished Victor Meldrew moments - 'I don't believe it' - from following English sport?

From The Guardian • Dec. 8, 2012

As it is, with or without his sideburns, Wiggo is fast turning into a champion curmudgeon – the Victor Meldrew of international cycling.

From The Guardian • Nov. 18, 2012

Before he was Victor Meldrew, Richard Wilson was Mr Clockerty, the band's devious, penny-pinching manager.

From The Guardian • Jul. 9, 2010

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