How do you use "Riff-raff" in a sentence?

Keeping out the riff-raff. Don't want that riff-raff in here. Called us riff-raff!

Riff-raff

Q: What does "Riff-raff" mean?

Undesirable people; rabble People considered socially unacceptable or of low moral character. A dismissive term for those seen as beneath one's social level.

Slang Term BritishAmerican ★★★★☆ Common Casual

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Meaning: Undesirable people; rabble

不受欢迎的人、乌合之众

Gente indeseable; gentuza

好ましくない人々、烏合の衆

바람직하지 않은 사람들, 하층민

People considered socially unacceptable or of low moral character. A dismissive term for those seen as beneath one's social level.

被认为在社会上不可接受或道德品质低下的人。对被视为低于自己社会阶层的人的轻蔑称呼。

Personas consideradas socialmente inaceptables o de baja moral. Un término despectivo para quienes se consideran por debajo del nivel social propio.

社会的に受け入れられない、または道徳的に低いと見なされる人々。自分の社会的レベルより下だと見なされる人に対する軽蔑的な言葉。

사회적으로 용납될 수 없거나 도덕적으로 천한 사람들. 자신의 사회적 수준 이하로 여겨지는 이들에 대한 경멸적 표현.

Examples

Keeping out the riff-raff.
把那些乌合之众挡在外面
manteniendo fuera a la gentuza
ならず者を締め出している
잡놈들을 들이지 않고 있다.
Don't want that riff-raff in here.
不想让那些乌合之众进来
no quiero a esa gentuza aquí
あんなならず者をここに入れたくない
저런 잡놈들은 여기 들이고 싶지 않아.
Called us riff-raff!
叫我们乌合之众！
¡nos llamó gentuza!
私たちをならず者呼ばわりした！
우리를 잡놈이라고 불렀어!

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: dismissive, snobbish

Tone: dismissive, insulting

✓ Do Say

Keep out the riff-raff
把乌合之众挡在外面
mantener fuera a la gentuza
ならず者を締め出す
잡놈들을 들이지 마

✗ Don't Say

Very insulting if directed at people
直接对人说非常侮辱人
Muy insultante si se dirige a personas
人に向かって言うと非常に侮辱的
사람들에게 직접 쓰면 매우 모욕적임

Common Mistakes

Using about actual people—offensive

Origin & History

From Old French 'rif et raf' (one and all, every scrap), originally meaning everyone without distinction, later becoming pejorative for undesirable people.

Etymology: Old French rif et raf (one and all)

First recorded: 15th century, pejorative later

Cultural Context

Era: 15th century onwards

Generation: All generations

Social background: Dismissive of lower classes

Pop culture: British class language

Regional notes: Universal English.

Variations

Riff-raffRiffraff