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noun

nibs

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Nibs (noun) means an important, or self-important, person — often used sarcastically as "his nibs". Example: “Here comes his nibs, expecting everyone to stop and greet him.”

noun
1
An important, or self-important, person — often used sarcastically as "his nibs".
"Here comes his nibs, expecting everyone to stop and greet him."
"Vera, you are a gleam of brilliant modernity in our dim old cave of antiques — and their nibs, our ancestors." Peter waved disrespectfully to the portrait" — Robert Nichols, The Secret (1919)
"You may also know that, during intermission, Paul and Linda were summoned to a room behind the royal box for a private chat with her nibs." — , OFFSTAGE (1983)
2
In card games, a jack turned face-up by the dealer, usually scoring extra points (as in cribbage).
"He scored two points for nibs after cutting a jack."

How to use nibs

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMostly seen in the mocking phrase "his nibs" for someone acting self-important, or as cribbage jargon.

Common pairings
his nibs her nibs
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Word forms

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Fill the gap

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Here comes his _____, expecting everyone to stop and greet him.

nob

Related words

Rhymes for nibs

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Frequently asked questions

What does “nibs” mean?
The word “nibs” means an important, or self-important, person — often used sarcastically as "his nibs". In plain terms, mostly seen in the mocking phrase "his nibs" for someone acting self-important, or as cribbage jargon.
How do you use “nibs” in a sentence?
Here is “nibs” used in a sentence: “Here comes his nibs, expecting everyone to stop and greet him.”
What part of speech is “nibs”?
“Nibs” is a noun.
How many meanings does “nibs” have?
“Nibs” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an important, or self-important, person — often used sarcastically as "his nibs".

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