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  3. Is it possible to be suave but not debonair and vice versa?

Is it possible to be suave but not debonair and vice versa?

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  • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

    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; More

    So..."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...

    P Offline
    P Offline
    PhilLenoir
    wrote on last edited by
    #12

    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.

    OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
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    • P PhilLenoir

      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.

      OriginalGriffO Offline
      OriginalGriffO Offline
      OriginalGriff
      wrote on last edited by
      #13

      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...

      "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
      "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

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      • B B Clay Shannon

        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.

        L Offline
        L Offline
        Lost User
        wrote on last edited by
        #14

        Had never heard of him.....but I just googled and as it happens I'm getting into NFL at the moment so I will keep an eye out for him.

        1 Reply Last reply
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        • B B Clay Shannon

          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?

          S Offline
          S Offline
          Slacker007
          wrote on last edited by
          #15

          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.

          B P 3 Replies Last reply
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          • B B Clay Shannon

            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?

            M Offline
            M Offline
            Mark_Wallace
            wrote on last edited by
            #16

            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!

            1 Reply Last reply
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            • S Slacker007

              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.

              B Offline
              B Offline
              B Clay Shannon
              wrote on last edited by
              #17

              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.

              S 1 Reply Last reply
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              • B B Clay Shannon

                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.

                S Offline
                S Offline
                Slacker007
                wrote on last edited by
                #18

                Yeah, there has to be a separation from the music, I agree.

                1 Reply Last reply
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                • S Slacker007

                  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.

                  B Offline
                  B Offline
                  B Clay Shannon
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #19

                  As for Obama, I see him as George Bush with a better tan.

                  B N 2 Replies Last reply
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                  • S Slacker007

                    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.

                    P Offline
                    P Offline
                    Pete OHanlon
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #20

                    I liked Nugent in his Damn Yankees[^] phase. He certainly knows how to write a hook.

                    1 Reply Last reply
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                    • B B Clay Shannon

                      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 Offline
                      B Offline
                      BiggerDon
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #21

                      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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                      • B B Clay Shannon

                        As for Obama, I see him as George Bush with a better tan.

                        B Offline
                        B Offline
                        BiggerDon
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #22

                        I noticed that when I looked at what the political cartoonists did: same ears, more shading.

                        cat fud heer

                        1 Reply Last reply
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                        • R Rage

                          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.

                          N Offline
                          N Offline
                          newton saber
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #23

                          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:

                          1 Reply Last reply
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                          • B B Clay Shannon

                            As for Obama, I see him as George Bush with a better tan.

                            N Offline
                            N Offline
                            newton saber
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #24

                            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!

                            B 1 Reply Last reply
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                            • B BiggerDon

                              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

                              P Offline
                              P Offline
                              PIEBALDconsult
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #25

                              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?!)

                              B 1 Reply Last reply
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                              • N newton saber

                                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!

                                B Offline
                                B Offline
                                B Clay Shannon
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #26

                                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.

                                N 1 Reply Last reply
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                                • P PIEBALDconsult

                                  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?!)

                                  B Offline
                                  B Offline
                                  BiggerDon
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #27

                                  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

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                                  • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                                    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...

                                    P Offline
                                    P Offline
                                    PhilLenoir
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #28

                                    I like Popty Ping - almost onomatopoeic. My Welsh is severely limited, I can't think of much more than Croeso Y Cymru and iechyd da Maybe it's just place names: Llanthony - one of my favourite spots (with Double Dragon on draught) in it's full Welsh splendour is Llan-dewi-nant-honddu. If you've never been and you're in the region of the Brecon Beacons I commend it to you, good food and beer and a lovely setting.

                                    Life is like a s**t sandwich; the more bread you have, the less s**t you eat.

                                    OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • P PhilLenoir

                                      I like Popty Ping - almost onomatopoeic. My Welsh is severely limited, I can't think of much more than Croeso Y Cymru and iechyd da Maybe it's just place names: Llanthony - one of my favourite spots (with Double Dragon on draught) in it's full Welsh splendour is Llan-dewi-nant-honddu. If you've never been and you're in the region of the Brecon Beacons I commend it to you, good food and beer and a lovely setting.

                                      Life is like a s**t sandwich; the more bread you have, the less s**t you eat.

                                      OriginalGriffO Offline
                                      OriginalGriffO Offline
                                      OriginalGriff
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #29

                                      I've been there a few times - it's at the other end of the Brecons from me, and I used to pass nearby on my way to Hay on Wye to swap my mother with my elder brother. It's a beautiful area - if a little close to England for my taste! :laugh:

                                      Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...

                                      "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                                      "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

                                      P 1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                                        I've been there a few times - it's at the other end of the Brecons from me, and I used to pass nearby on my way to Hay on Wye to swap my mother with my elder brother. It's a beautiful area - if a little close to England for my taste! :laugh:

                                        Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...

                                        P Offline
                                        P Offline
                                        PhilLenoir
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #30

                                        Quote:

                                        a little close to England

                                        One of its many benefits!:) When we had shops in Bristol, we could go there for a day trip (possibly including dropping in to Hay for some books.) The walk up to Offa's Dyke is spectacular, especially when the Hawthorn's in bloom. We stayed one night in the Priory a few years back on a visiting our old haunts trip back to the UK. We did clock up a few miles on that trip!

                                        Life is like a s**t sandwich; the more bread you have, the less s**t you eat.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
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                                        • B B Clay Shannon

                                          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.

                                          N Offline
                                          N Offline
                                          newton saber
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #31

                                          B. Clay Shannon wrote:

                                          Why would you assume I was a fan of "W"

                                          Oh, I didn't know you voted for Obama. That's fine. But I don't think that voting is apolitical. But, if it is, then that is okay too. Voting and not voting, they are the same in an asymmetrical world where not-equal is equal to equal. It's only in the symmetrical world where things which are different, but seem the same.

                                          B 1 Reply Last reply
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