He's a ride

[Cristina de Felipe]

What's the meaning of ride when describing a person?

A girl is getting ready for a blind date and asks her friend (who arranged for them to meet) what to do if she doesn't like him. She answers she's sure she'll like him because "he's a ride". I understand it's positive but I don't know what it refers to. Could you please explain or provide some synonyms so that I understand? Thank you.

[Barb_D]

Is it possible she said "He's a riot"? If so, that means he's very funny and she will laugh a lot while she is with him.

[Cristina de Felipe]

The text says ride. It's an Irish book so it might be a typically Irish expression.

[Anglika]

It is also possible that she will like him as he has a car and can take her places. It is a colloquial form of saying something like "He can give me a ride [to the party]".

[Cristina de Felipe]

Interesting. Would you say "he's a ride" because he has a car? Is that a common expression? I mean I understood he's means he is, not he has, it sounds rather shallow for a grown up woman to like a man she's about to meet just because he has a car, anyway.

Just found another sentence with the same word in case it helps. On their date, once they're alone and face to face she studies him and describes his looks:

"He was tall, broad shoulders..... Not really my taste but a ride".

Still puzzled over here!

[bhaisahab]

Originally Posted by Cristina de Felipe

Interesting. Would you say "he's a ride" because he has a car? Is that a common expression? I mean I understood he's means he is, not he has, it sounds rather shallow for a grown up woman to like a man she's about to meet just because he has a car, anyway.

Just found another sentence with the same word in case it helps. On their date, once they're alone and face to face she studies him and describes his looks:

"He was tall, broad shoulders..... Not really my taste but a ride".

Still puzzled over here!

In Ireland "He's a ride." means he's good looking, sexy, someone you wouldn't mind going to bed with, even though you wouldn't necessarily want a long relationship with him. It is quite common Dublin slang.

[bhaisahab]

Is it a book by Roddy Doyle?

[Anglika]

Originally Posted by Cristina de Felipe

it sounds rather shallow for a grown up woman to like a man she's about to meet just because he has a car, anyway.

Ju

What says she is anything but shallow? I know many young women from poor backgrounds who would regard a man with a car as a terrific catch.

As to the slang meaning, it seems that bhaisahab has come up with the answer.

[Cristina de Felipe]

Thank you all very much. I agree Bhaisahab's explanation fits perfectly with the context: two professional Irish girls in their late 20's talking about a guy one of them is about to meet in a blind date.

Bhaisahab: No, it's not by Roddy Doyle.