What is a "subdued" manner or voice?

[sky753]

Hello Everyone,

The longman online dictionary defines "subdued":a person that is subdued is unusually quiet and possibly unhappy. However, I can't imagine a subdued person ,manner, or voice is really like.

So can you give me some examples or explanations?


Regards

Sky

[weiming]

[CAUTION: I am not a teacher:take the advice and or corrections offered in this post at your own risk.
If you doubt the information, please get a qualified opinion from one of the teachers on these forums.]


"Subdue", the verb can mean to force into submission, or to cow. You can surely imagine a person who has been boasting about their knowledge on some field being exposed as wrong by a higher authority, their reaction, and how they would act and speak.

A-"Everyone knows the spotted owl is a native of the plains."
B-"Are you sure?"
A-"Certainly, how could it be otherwise?"
C-(ornithologist)"Actually, they are not."
A-"(in a subdued voice) Well...I was certain I had read it somewhere."

[sky753]

Originally Posted by weiming

[CAUTION: I am not a teacher:take the advice and or corrections offered in this post at your own risk.
If you doubt the information, please get a qualified opinion from one of the teachers on these forums.]


"Subdue", the verb can mean to force into submission, or to cow. You can surely imagine a person who has been boasting about their knowledge on some field being exposed as wrong by a higher authority, their reaction, and how they would act and speak.

A-"Everyone knows the spotted owl is a native of the plains."
B-"Are you sure?"
A-"Certainly, how could it be otherwise?"
C-(ornithologist)"Actually, they are not."
A-"(in a subdued voice) Well...I was certain I had read it somewhere."

Thanks a lot! I have sensed one of the meaning of subdued through your dialogue! Can you give me a dialogue describing a subdued person?

Thanks and Best Regards

Sky

[weiming]

[CAUTION: I am not a teacher:take the advice and or corrections offered in this post at your own risk.
If you doubt the information, please get a qualified opinion from one of the teachers on these forums.]

I don't know that I could, subued, besides meaning cowed or slightly ashamed can also just mean relaxed and quiet, like someone who leads a subdued lifestyle.

You can imagine someone like Sherlock homes retiring from the excitement of Baker street for the more "subdued" life in the country (where even there, there were mysteries to be solved!).

[sky753]

Originally Posted by weiming

[CAUTION: I am not a teacher:take the advice and or corrections offered in this post at your own risk.
If you doubt the information, please get a qualified opinion from one of the teachers on these forums.]

I don't know that I could, subued, besides meaning cowed or slightly ashamed can also just mean relaxed and quiet, like someone who leads a subdued lifestyle.

You can imagine someone like Sherlock homes retiring from the excitement of Baker street for the more "subdued" life in the country (where even there, there were mysteries to be solved!).

Thanks a lot!