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toc

fake, tacky, cheap-looking

adjective TOK Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Appearance

Origin: Onomatopoeic, imitating a hollow knocking sound suggesting low quality

Also means

knock-knock (sound)

Usage Note

Toc as an adjective is informal and invariable — it doesn't change for gender or number. It describes something that looks cheap or imitation, as in des bijoux toc. As a noun or interjection it can represent a knocking sound, and the phrase toc toc mimics knocking on a door.

Examples

"Ces bagues en plastique, c'est vraiment toc."

Natural Translation

Those plastic rings are really tacky.

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