Is it possible to be suave but not debonair and vice versa?
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I have always (with the exception of a certain brand of hair products) heard the word "suave" combined with "debonair" - never standalone (and vice versa). In the past it has been applied to men like Cary Grant ("Cary Grant is suave and debonair"); in modern times, two obvious candidates for such a description are Pierce Brosnan and, say, Ndamukong Suh. But I wonder: is it possible to be "suave" but not debonair? Debonair but not suave? If so, please give some examples. e.g., is Ted Nugent suave but not debonair? Is Barack Obama debonair but not suave? Would it, in fact -- since these two adjectives seem inseparably linked -- actually be a "backhanded compliment" to call someone "suave" OR "debonair" (not both)? IOW, would calling someone suave be tantamount to saying they are decidedly NOT debonair? Similarly, would calling someone debonair be tantamount to saying they are decidedly NOT suave?
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I have always (with the exception of a certain brand of hair products) heard the word "suave" combined with "debonair" - never standalone (and vice versa). In the past it has been applied to men like Cary Grant ("Cary Grant is suave and debonair"); in modern times, two obvious candidates for such a description are Pierce Brosnan and, say, Ndamukong Suh. But I wonder: is it possible to be "suave" but not debonair? Debonair but not suave? If so, please give some examples. e.g., is Ted Nugent suave but not debonair? Is Barack Obama debonair but not suave? Would it, in fact -- since these two adjectives seem inseparably linked -- actually be a "backhanded compliment" to call someone "suave" OR "debonair" (not both)? IOW, would calling someone suave be tantamount to saying they are decidedly NOT debonair? Similarly, would calling someone debonair be tantamount to saying they are decidedly NOT suave?
The Google definition,of suave, doe not mention debonair, except as a synonym:
suave
swɑːv/Submit
adjective
(especially of a man) charming, confident, and elegant.
"all the waiters were suave and deferential"
synonyms: charming, sophisticated, debonair, urbane, worldly, worldly-wise, polished, refined, poised, self-possessed, dignified, civilized, gentlemanly, gallant; MoreSo..."Cary Grant is suave and suave" basically. English! Tch! Who'd use it? :laugh:
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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I have always (with the exception of a certain brand of hair products) heard the word "suave" combined with "debonair" - never standalone (and vice versa). In the past it has been applied to men like Cary Grant ("Cary Grant is suave and debonair"); in modern times, two obvious candidates for such a description are Pierce Brosnan and, say, Ndamukong Suh. But I wonder: is it possible to be "suave" but not debonair? Debonair but not suave? If so, please give some examples. e.g., is Ted Nugent suave but not debonair? Is Barack Obama debonair but not suave? Would it, in fact -- since these two adjectives seem inseparably linked -- actually be a "backhanded compliment" to call someone "suave" OR "debonair" (not both)? IOW, would calling someone suave be tantamount to saying they are decidedly NOT debonair? Similarly, would calling someone debonair be tantamount to saying they are decidedly NOT suave?
B. Clay Shannon wrote:
I have always (with the exception of a certain brand of hair products) heard the word "suave" combined with "debonair" - never standalone (and vice versa).
PARKLIFE!
B. Clay Shannon wrote:
In the past it has been applied to men like Cary Grant ("Cary Grant is suave and debonair"); in modern times, two obvious candidates for such a description are Pierce Brosnan and, say, Ndamukong Suh.
PARKLIFE!
B. Clay Shannon wrote:
But I wonder: is it possible to be "suave" but not debonair? Debonair but not suave? If so, please give some examples. e.g., is Ted Nugent suave but not debonair? Is Barack Obama debonair but not suave?
PARKLIFE!
B. Clay Shannon wrote:
Would it, in fact -- since these two adjectives seem inseparably linked -- actually be a "backhanded compliment" to call someone "suave" OR "debonair" (not both)? IOW, would calling someone suave be tantamount to saying they are decidedly NOT debonair? Similarly, would calling someone debonair be tantamount to saying they are decidedly NOT suave?
Alllllllll the people, so many people and they all go hand in hand, round and round through their PARKLIFE.
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B. Clay Shannon wrote:
say, Ndamukong Suh.
I tried to but it sounded like I was speaking with a wasp in my mouth.
You might try my approach: I pronounce his name "Donkey-Kong Sioux" Then again, I am a Green Bay Packers fan, and he once stomped on one of "my guys" (the infamous "DonkeyKong Stomp" incident involving a cat from the town where I work (Salinas), also the hometown of the late great John Steinbeck). I, myself, am in danger of being termed neither suave nor debonair.
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The Google definition,of suave, doe not mention debonair, except as a synonym:
suave
swɑːv/Submit
adjective
(especially of a man) charming, confident, and elegant.
"all the waiters were suave and deferential"
synonyms: charming, sophisticated, debonair, urbane, worldly, worldly-wise, polished, refined, poised, self-possessed, dignified, civilized, gentlemanly, gallant; MoreSo..."Cary Grant is suave and suave" basically. English! Tch! Who'd use it? :laugh:
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
For a laugh I thought I'd put suave and debonair through an English to Welsh translator: Suave a debonair! Obviously not too much demand for the words in the valleys. Isn't it rare for the Welsh to be shorter than the English?
Life is like a s**t sandwich; the more bread you have, the less s**t you eat.
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For a laugh I thought I'd put suave and debonair through an English to Welsh translator: Suave a debonair! Obviously not too much demand for the words in the valleys. Isn't it rare for the Welsh to be shorter than the English?
Life is like a s**t sandwich; the more bread you have, the less s**t you eat.
PhilLenoir wrote:
Isn't it rare for the Welsh to be shorter than the English?
No, you have to remember that Welsh is just English spelled by a six year old, possibly with a bad cold:
Hospital: Ysboty (Pronounced eh-spotty)
School: Ysgol (Pronounced eh-scool)
Taxi: Tacsi
Microwave oven: Popty Ping
Carrots: Moron (We aren't big on veg.)
Nothing: Dim
Dough: Toes:laugh:
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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You might try my approach: I pronounce his name "Donkey-Kong Sioux" Then again, I am a Green Bay Packers fan, and he once stomped on one of "my guys" (the infamous "DonkeyKong Stomp" incident involving a cat from the town where I work (Salinas), also the hometown of the late great John Steinbeck). I, myself, am in danger of being termed neither suave nor debonair.
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I have always (with the exception of a certain brand of hair products) heard the word "suave" combined with "debonair" - never standalone (and vice versa). In the past it has been applied to men like Cary Grant ("Cary Grant is suave and debonair"); in modern times, two obvious candidates for such a description are Pierce Brosnan and, say, Ndamukong Suh. But I wonder: is it possible to be "suave" but not debonair? Debonair but not suave? If so, please give some examples. e.g., is Ted Nugent suave but not debonair? Is Barack Obama debonair but not suave? Would it, in fact -- since these two adjectives seem inseparably linked -- actually be a "backhanded compliment" to call someone "suave" OR "debonair" (not both)? IOW, would calling someone suave be tantamount to saying they are decidedly NOT debonair? Similarly, would calling someone debonair be tantamount to saying they are decidedly NOT suave?
I am unable to answer these questions for fear of losing my man card. Sorry. By the way, O is a communist and Nugent is a psycho retard.
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I am unable to answer these questions for fear of losing my man card. Sorry. By the way, O is a communist and Nugent is a psycho retard.
I tend to agree with your assessment of Nugent, although I really like some of his music (especially his eponymous offering from the 70s). I can separate the [mad]man from the music.
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I have always (with the exception of a certain brand of hair products) heard the word "suave" combined with "debonair" - never standalone (and vice versa). In the past it has been applied to men like Cary Grant ("Cary Grant is suave and debonair"); in modern times, two obvious candidates for such a description are Pierce Brosnan and, say, Ndamukong Suh. But I wonder: is it possible to be "suave" but not debonair? Debonair but not suave? If so, please give some examples. e.g., is Ted Nugent suave but not debonair? Is Barack Obama debonair but not suave? Would it, in fact -- since these two adjectives seem inseparably linked -- actually be a "backhanded compliment" to call someone "suave" OR "debonair" (not both)? IOW, would calling someone suave be tantamount to saying they are decidedly NOT debonair? Similarly, would calling someone debonair be tantamount to saying they are decidedly NOT suave?
They're not synonyms. i.e. I'm happy to drink soave, but dubonnet is for girls.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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I tend to agree with your assessment of Nugent, although I really like some of his music (especially his eponymous offering from the 70s). I can separate the [mad]man from the music.
Yeah, there has to be a separation from the music, I agree.
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I am unable to answer these questions for fear of losing my man card. Sorry. By the way, O is a communist and Nugent is a psycho retard.
As for Obama, I see him as George Bush with a better tan.
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I am unable to answer these questions for fear of losing my man card. Sorry. By the way, O is a communist and Nugent is a psycho retard.
I liked Nugent in his Damn Yankees[^] phase. He certainly knows how to write a hook.
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I have always (with the exception of a certain brand of hair products) heard the word "suave" combined with "debonair" - never standalone (and vice versa). In the past it has been applied to men like Cary Grant ("Cary Grant is suave and debonair"); in modern times, two obvious candidates for such a description are Pierce Brosnan and, say, Ndamukong Suh. But I wonder: is it possible to be "suave" but not debonair? Debonair but not suave? If so, please give some examples. e.g., is Ted Nugent suave but not debonair? Is Barack Obama debonair but not suave? Would it, in fact -- since these two adjectives seem inseparably linked -- actually be a "backhanded compliment" to call someone "suave" OR "debonair" (not both)? IOW, would calling someone suave be tantamount to saying they are decidedly NOT debonair? Similarly, would calling someone debonair be tantamount to saying they are decidedly NOT suave?
Serious question...the answer is, of course, "Yes" because a "No" would be an exercise in absolutism, putting upon me the onus of proving impossibility. OK...Enough with the mealy-mouthing that happens on political fora. With all due consideration given to my brethren and cistern (ooops) forum-mates who did the etymological thing, here's my take from the idiomatic. I can see if someone is debonair. It's a matter of dress and carriage. OTOH, it isn't until I interact with someone that I know if they are suave. Just my thoughts
cat fud heer
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As for Obama, I see him as George Bush with a better tan.
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These are really challenging questions. What a time to be alive !
~RaGE();
I think words like 'destiny' are a way of trying to find order where none exists. - Christian Graus Entropy isn't what it used to.
Rage wrote:
These are really challenging questions.
Yes, yes. They move The Discussion forward and make you think about the important issues in the world. My, oh my. Suave or debonair. :zzz:
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As for Obama, I see him as George Bush with a better tan.
B. Clay Shannon wrote:
As for Obama, I see him as George Bush with a better tan.
Yes, that's true. That's why he was re-elected in 2008, because there were so many people, like yourself, who loved W and wanted more of him in 2008. So since there was no difference they went ahead and re-elected him in 2008 but with a different name. They are both Presidents. They are both male. They both wear suits. They both live in America. They both eat food for their meals. So many similarities and no one would've noticed without your astute political savvy calling attention to this sameness. Oh, now there is a word: Savvy!
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Serious question...the answer is, of course, "Yes" because a "No" would be an exercise in absolutism, putting upon me the onus of proving impossibility. OK...Enough with the mealy-mouthing that happens on political fora. With all due consideration given to my brethren and cistern (ooops) forum-mates who did the etymological thing, here's my take from the idiomatic. I can see if someone is debonair. It's a matter of dress and carriage. OTOH, it isn't until I interact with someone that I know if they are suave. Just my thoughts
cat fud heer
BiggerDon wrote:
I can see if someone is debonair. It's a matter of dress and carriage.
So James Bond is debonair, but not suave? (I mean come on! Shaken?!)
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B. Clay Shannon wrote:
As for Obama, I see him as George Bush with a better tan.
Yes, that's true. That's why he was re-elected in 2008, because there were so many people, like yourself, who loved W and wanted more of him in 2008. So since there was no difference they went ahead and re-elected him in 2008 but with a different name. They are both Presidents. They are both male. They both wear suits. They both live in America. They both eat food for their meals. So many similarities and no one would've noticed without your astute political savvy calling attention to this sameness. Oh, now there is a word: Savvy!
Why would you assume I was a fan of "W"? I am not; I am apolitical. The "red" and "blue" they are described as is, to me, more like gray and silver.
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BiggerDon wrote:
I can see if someone is debonair. It's a matter of dress and carriage.
So James Bond is debonair, but not suave? (I mean come on! Shaken?!)
Au contraire! One can be both, and James Bond is the classic example of that. I've known people who are debonair and not suave. They dress well, carry themselves with confidence and aplomb, but when they open their yaps they're immediately irritating someone. There's a seven letter word that starts with "a" and looks like an asterisk that describes them. Then there are the people who are suave without being debonair. They really don't care about what other people think of them but are great at getting other people to like them. "Charming and disarming" comes to mind. They can also be those asterisk-types but you don't hate them for it.
cat fud heer
