Meaning & use
unfriendly and aloof
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
Behaving in a cold, distant way that does not invite friendship or closeness.
Grammar: Used as a compound adjective after a linking verb or before a noun: he seemed unfriendly and aloof; an unfriendly and aloof manner.
Patterns
- seem unfriendly and aloof
- be unfriendly and aloof toward someone
The new manager seemed unfriendly and aloof at first, but he was just shy.
She came across as unfriendly and aloof, so few people approached her.
His unfriendly and aloof attitude made teamwork difficult.
Common combinations
- seem unfriendly and aloof
- He seemed unfriendly and aloof until you got to know him.
- unfriendly and aloof toward
- The staff were unfriendly and aloof toward customers.
- come across as unfriendly and aloof
- She comes across as unfriendly and aloof in meetings.
- unfriendly and aloof manner
- His unfriendly and aloof manner kept people at a distance.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cold
- Focuses on lack of emotion; 'unfriendly and aloof' adds the idea of keeping a distance.
- distant
- Similar but can also mean physically far away; 'aloof' is more about emotional distance.
- standoffish
- Informal and means not friendly; 'aloof' often suggests a calm, superior distance.
Opposites
Word family
- aloofness noun
- The quality of being distant and unfriendly.
- unfriendliness noun
- The state of being unfriendly.
Commonly confused: unfriendly and aloof or aloof?
unfriendly and aloof vs aloof
This word alone can be neutral or even positive, suggesting independence. Combined with 'unfriendly', it clearly criticizes coldness.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'unfriendly and aloof' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase works as a pair of adjectives after 'was'. Option B uses them like adverbs before a verb. Option C mixes an adjective with a noun. Option D uses the phrase as a noun subject, which is wrong.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “unfriendly and aloof”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.