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26-Sep-2004, 13:53
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| |  smooth operator
Hello,
A famous song by Shadei is entitled "smooth operator". What does it mean? At first I thought it had something to do with a telephone call, but then I realized it couldn't be such operator. What do you think?
Rip |
26-Sep-2004, 14:46
| | Editor, UsingEnglish.com | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Country: UK
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It's someone who is very cool and can handle people well.  |
26-Sep-2004, 18:28
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Quote: |
Originally Posted by tdol It's someone who is very cool and can handle people well. | "Sweet operator", to me, is a sweet talker, smooth talker, someone who can easily steal a girl's/boy's heart but whose feelings are NOT genuine or true.  |
26-Sep-2004, 19:01
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Couldn't they also be true? |
26-Sep-2004, 20:20
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Quote: |
Originally Posted by tdol It's someone who is very cool and can handle people well. | yes, it could be both but it doesn't necessarily mean that these people can handle others very well. For example, sales people are smooth operators and they get on most people's nerves. Maybe they can handle us better than we can handle them.
Smooth operators basically have the gift of the gab but I am not too sure they can always handle people very well.
that's just my 2 cents. |
26-Sep-2004, 21:32
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TY for the clarification.
FRC |
27-Sep-2004, 04:37
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Quote: |
Originally Posted by Francois TY for the clarification.
FRC | |
27-Sep-2004, 05:54
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Natalie27,
I'm glad I can offer a credible explanation. Back in the 70's the song "Smooth Operator" was extremely popular where I live. I had an excellent English teacher at that time, with whom we used to analyse and explain lyrics of various pop and rock songs (sometimes a challenging task, even for a native speaker, I was told!).
In "Smooth Operator" the title expression means 'a skilled and experienced lover'. If you listen to the song carefully you'll find the above explanation well grounded.
BTW, the singer's name is spelled Sade Ado, Shadei being a close phonetic equivalent.
Regards to all - T.K. |
27-Sep-2004, 06:00
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Natalie27,
I'm glad I can offer a credible explanation. Back in the 70's the song "Smooth Operator" was extremely popular where I live. I had an excellent English teacher at that time, with whom we used to analyse and explain lyrics of various pop and rock songs (sometimes a challenging task, even for a native speaker, I was told!).
In "Smooth Operator" the title expression means 'a skilled and experienced lover'. If you listen to the song carefully you'll find the above explanation well grounded.
BTW, the singer's name is spelled Sade Ado, Shadei being a close phonetic equivalent.
Regards to all - T.K. |
27-Sep-2004, 06:02
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I'm really sorry - I have no idea how come my reply is posted twice. To the Moderator: please delete the redundant reply, if possible. Thank you. | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode | 
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