atasadj.
/ɑːˈtas/, /ɑːˈtɑːs/, U.S. /ˌɑˈtæs/, /ˌɑˈtɑs/, Singapore and Malaysian English /ˌɑˈtɑs/ Singapore English.
Sophisticated, highbrow, classy. Sometimes also with negative connotations: arrogant, snobbish, condescending.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > fashionableness > [adjective] > smart
gallantc1420
galliard1513
fine1526
trickly1580
pink1598
genteel1601
sparkful1605
sparkish1657
jaunty1662
spankinga1666
shanty1685
trig1725
smartish1738
distinguished1748
nobby1788
dashing1801
vaudy1805
swell1810
distingué1813
dashy1822
nutty1823
chic1832
slicked1836
flash1838
rakish1840
spiffy1853
smart1860
sassy1861
classy1870
spiffing1872
toffish1873
tony1877
swish1879
hep1899
toffy1901
hip1904
toppy1905
in1906
floozy1911
swank1913
jazz1917
ritzy1919
smooth1920
snappy1925
snazzy1931
groovy1937
what ho1937
gussy1940
criss1954
high camp1954
sprauncy1957
James Bondish1966
James Bond1967
schmick1972
designer1978
atas1993
as fine as fivepence-
1993 Business Times (Singapore) 14 Aug. (Time Off section) el9/4 Once the classiest and most ‘atas’ place in town, Oz has now lowered its slights [sic] slightly.
2005 Straits Times (Singapore) (Nexis) 4 Sept. Now we are close friends. I don't have to call her ‘Miss Zhang’ or anything. She's not the least bit atas.
2006 Straits Times (Singapore) (Nexis) 12 Apr. It will be a lot of fun and will brand the Siff [sc. Singapore International Film Festival] as a celebration of film-making, and not just atas..films that only atas people can go and see.
2014 M. Bhide in C. L.-L. Tan Singapore Noir 105 She is becoming atas, Eddie. Soon she'll think you aren't good enough for her.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, December 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1993