subs. (old).—1. Snuff: also SNISH.
2. (common).—The nose: see SNEEZER.
TO SNEEZE AT, verb. phr. (common).—To despise; to scorn: usually in phrase ‘not to be SNEEZED AT’ = worth having or considering.
1820. COMBE, Dr. Syntax, ii. 5.
| A buxom, tall and comely dame, | |
| Who wish’d, ’twas said, to change her name, | |
| And if I could her thoughts divine, | |
| Would NOT, perhaps, HAVE SNEEZ’D AT mine. |
1823. BADCOCK (‘Jon Bee’), Dictionary of the Turf, etc., s.v. SNEEZE. A handsome girl with a few thousands tacked to her arse is NOT TO BE SNEEZED AT.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends, ‘Barney Maguire’s Account of the Coronation.’
| And if any bould traitour, or infarior craythur, | |
| SNEEZES AT THAT, I’d like to see the man! |
1855. HALIBURTON (‘Sam Slick’), Nature and Human Nature, II. i. My knowledge of horse-flesh AIN’T TO BE SNEEZED AT.
1857. A. H. ELTON, Below the Surface, xxvii. My professional reputation is NOT TO BE SNEEZED AT.
