fffrrrrrr.

n.  a noise granting one’s exit of a nursery.

<I understood.  If I was to leave the nursery it would only be after a performance of the noise: fffrrrrrr.  —Edward Carey, Observatory Mansions: A Novel.>

ffft.

adj.  “belly-up,” finished, financially ruined.

<The House of Beragon ... is ffft.  ...  Alas it is no more.  Pop goes the weasel.  —James M. Cain, Mildred Pierce.>

interj.  “all is lost.”

<Effective works of fantasy are distinguished by their often relentless accuracy of detail, by their exactness of imagination, but the coherence and integrity of their imagined worlds—by, precisely, their paradoxical truthfulness. ... If the fantasist’s truth fails us—ffft.  —Ursula K. Le Guin, Dancing at the Edge of the World: Thoughts on Words, Women, Places.>

interj.  a haughty “who cares?” as in the play The Lady from the Sea by Henrik Johan Ibsen.


interj.  a response to tasting bourbon for the first time.

<Willie said, “I’ve never had bourbon before,” wiggling his heavy body forward in his chair so that he could hold his glass up to the candle-light and study the amber drink.  He had a fat face, thin lips, a lot of tiny teeth, and an indolent grin.  He sniffed at his glass, then tipped some of the liquid onto his tongue and said, “Ffft.”  —Rosemary Mahone, Whoredom in Kimmage: The Private Lives of Irish Women.>

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