also mean *young* men who could be described as puppies.

I also think it has to do with thinking themselves high in fashion, not only with regards to clothes (or toothpicks) but also in what was fashionable regarding other things, like *cottages*, discussing politics (or any other topic considered intelligent), current affairs, books etc.

The problem they have is the inability to realise where to show off their knowledge and where not (especially not in toothpicks)