awfully polite

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "awfully polite" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is excessively or surprisingly polite, often in a sarcastic or ironic manner. Example: "She was so awfully polite that it made me wonder if she was hiding something."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The English can be so awfully polite.

The New York Times - Sports

"Did you see that awfully polite man, Mummy?" asked one of the girls when they had reached the street.

The New Yorker

Founding father of the British blues boom he might have been, but Alexis Korner's take on the blues seems awfully polite in the context of what was to very quickly follow – especially given the presence of Charlie Watts on drums.

The Guardian - Music

"Speculation" is an awfully polite word for the storm of absurdity that swirled around the nascent pairing.

Huffington Post

While locals feel understandably "hoodwinked," the local council told The Guardian that it "has no control in planning terms of the nature of the museum," which is an awfully polite way of saying "we're shit out of luck".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

It follows some of the design language used in some of Pantech's other phones, which is my polite way of saying that it's awfully squarish.

TechCrunch

Awfully wrong".

The New York Times - Magazine

Awfully quick.

The New Yorker

Awfully good.

The New York Times - Sports

It was awfully high, but awfully lonesome.

The New Yorker

That sounds awfully convenient.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "awfully polite" to subtly convey a sense of skepticism or irony. It implies the person's politeness is so extreme it might be insincere or hiding something.

Common error

Avoid using "awfully polite" in formal or professional settings where a neutral or sincere tone is expected. The phrase's subtle sarcasm can be misinterpreted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "awfully polite" functions as an intensifier (awfully) modifying an adjective (polite). It describes the degree or extent of politeness, implying a high level of courtesy that may be perceived as unusual or exaggerated. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is a usable expression in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "awfully polite" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, primarily functioning as an intensifier to describe an extreme degree of politeness. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. However, its usage often carries a subtle sense of irony or skepticism, suggesting the politeness may be excessive or disingenuous. As the examples Ludwig provides demonstrate, it's most commonly found in news and media contexts, but should be used cautiously in formal settings where its tone could be misinterpreted. Consider alternatives like "excessively courteous" or "remarkably polite" if a more neutral tone is desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessively courteous

Focuses on the extreme degree of politeness, removing the adverb "awfully".

remarkably courteous

Emphasizes the noteworthy nature of the politeness, using "remarkably" instead of "awfully".

overly gracious

Highlights the excessive nature of the graciousness, suggesting it might be insincere or exaggerated.

exceptionally well-mannered

Emphasizes good manners in an outstanding way, using a more formal tone.

almost too polite

Directly suggests the politeness might be excessive to the point of being questionable.

incredibly civil

Highlights the high degree of civility, using "incredibly" for emphasis.

frightfully civil

Uses "frightfully" to intensify the civility, suggesting it is remarkably high.

ostentatiously polite

Emphasizes that the politeness is displayed in a showy way, possibly to impress others.

studiously polite

Suggests the politeness is carefully and deliberately practiced, perhaps to create a certain impression.

stunningly courteous

Highlights the surprising and impressive nature of the courteousness.

FAQs

What does "awfully polite" mean?

"Awfully polite" means extremely or excessively polite, often with an implication of insincerity or irony. It suggests the person's politeness is so pronounced it might be questionable.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "awfully polite"?

It's appropriate to use "awfully polite" in informal contexts where you want to subtly express skepticism or irony about someone's excessive politeness. Avoid using it in formal or professional settings where sincerity is expected.

What can I say instead of "awfully polite"?

You can use alternatives like "excessively courteous", "remarkably courteous", or "overly gracious" depending on the context.

What is the tone of "awfully polite"?

The tone of "awfully polite" is often slightly sarcastic or ironic. It suggests that the person's politeness is so extreme that it might be insincere or hiding something.