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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Really, I can't think of a less appropriate venue to ask this question. What do code monkeys know about "suave" or "debonair"?
"Buddha! Zeus! God! One of you guys, DO something!" --Professor Farnsworth
Good point; I must have been in your cups when I asked it.
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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 think everyone is ignoring the preface of the question. I've never in my life heard the two combined into one sentence. Always seperate. So using the two together to me would would be equivalent to making fun of someone for thinking he is suave or debonair. :doh:
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I think everyone is ignoring the preface of the question. I've never in my life heard the two combined into one sentence. Always seperate. So using the two together to me would would be equivalent to making fun of someone for thinking he is suave or debonair. :doh: