boffo
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /bˈɒfəʊ/
US
- /ˈbɔfoʊ/
Description
- Huge success
- spectacular hit
- runaway hit
- major commercial or audience success
"Boffo" isn't a word you'll hear every day—it describes something that is an enormous success, especially in entertainment. Think of a movie that breaks box office records or a play that receives standing ovations night after night. That's boffo! If someone says a show or performance was boffo, they mean it landed with a huge audience response and broad appeal. You might say a comedian had a boffo night at the club or that a new video game became a boffo hit with players. It implies not just success, but spectacular success.
The word "boffo" describes something that's an overwhelming and spectacular success—particularly in entertainment, though it can be used more broadly. It is an old piece of show-business slang for standout success: when a production, act, campaign, or product is called boffo, it usually means audiences and critics responded strongly.
Over time, it became an adjective describing anything that generates an especially strong positive reaction. It's stronger than simply saying something is "successful"; it implies a resounding triumph. A boffo performance isn't just well-received; it's often both wildly popular and commercially impactful.
You might read, "The new Broadway show opened to boffo reviews," meaning it was praised heavily and audiences were flocking to see it. Or perhaps, "Their latest marketing campaign was a boffo success, increasing sales by 30%." While often used in entertainment contexts, you can apply "boffo" to any situation where something achieves an exceptionally high level of impact, achievement, or popularity. It's a lively, slightly old-fashioned word that adds a touch of flair when describing truly remarkable success.
Examples
- 1
Theater reviews
The show opened to boffo reviews from the local papers.
- 2
Box office
The sequel had a boffo opening weekend and stayed at number one for a month.
- 3
Business success
The cafe did boffo business after a travel blogger featured it.
Phrase
do boffo business
be very successful financially
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- boffoadjective