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11-Jul-2005, 06:00
|  | Member | | Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 151
First Language: Russian | |  Tall, dark and handsome
Hi, pals,
I have a query :)
- Is the phrase "tall, dark and handsome" American, or is it used by the British speakers too?
-What if a man is very good-looking but not dark and not tall :) ? Can one say that he is "tall, dark and handsome" anyway?
- Is this phrase slangish, colloquial or neutral? What shall I use if I want, for instance, to tell my male friend (not a boyfriend:) that he looks gorgeous, in neutral words ?
Hope the questions are not too strange ;)
Thanks in advance |
11-Jul-2005, 20:56
|  | Senior Member | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Country: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 959
First Language: English | |  Re: Tall, dark and handsome
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Curious Cat Hi, pals,
I have a query :)
- Is the phrase "tall, dark and handsome" American, or is it used by the British speakers too?
-What if a man is very good-looking but not dark and not tall :) ? Can one say that he is "tall, dark and handsome" anyway?
- Is this phrase slangish, colloquial or neutral? What shall I use if I want, for instance, to tell my male friend (not a boyfriend:) that he looks gorgeous, in neutral words ?
Hope the questions are not too strange ;)
Thanks in advance |
Dark, tall and handsome is a cliche and yes, it is used a lot in N. America. I imagine the same applies to Britain. I guess it's just a staple phrase to discribe a guy that falls into the "hottie", "cutie", "eye candy" category but it's not to say that a guy with blond hair and medium height can't be just as hot! 
Dark, tall and handsome seems to be quite neutral to me. You can just say that your friend is a good looking guy, you find him very attractive or you think he's got a very pleasing appearance.   |
12-Jul-2005, 07:03
| | Member | | Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 151
First Language: Russian | | Re: Tall, dark and handsome
Thanks, Marylin, this is helpful. I think I'll continue to improve my skills of paying compliments to men |
12-Jul-2005, 09:39
| | Editor, UsingEnglish.com | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Country: UK
Posts: 27,067
Current Location: Phnom Penh First Language: English Member Type: English Teacher | | Re: Tall, dark and handsome
It's used in British English.  |
12-Jul-2005, 19:44
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Country: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 959
First Language: English | | Re: Tall, dark and handsome
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Curious Cat Thanks, Marylin, this is helpful. I think I'll continue to improve my skills of paying compliments to men | You are welcome. Nothing wrong with telling a guy he is good looking, especially when he is a real hunk! |
13-Jul-2005, 02:50
| | Editor, UsingEnglish.com | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Country: UK
Posts: 27,067
Current Location: Phnom Penh First Language: English Member Type: English Teacher | | Re: Tall, dark and handsome
Nothing wrong with telling a guy he is good looking, especially when he isn't.  |
13-Jul-2005, 04:46
| | Member | | Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 151
First Language: Russian | | Re: Tall, dark and handsome
Hee hee Thanks a lot, people. |
13-Jul-2005, 08:51
| | Newbie | | Join Date: Jul 2005 Country: Daegu, Korea
Posts: 11
First Language: Korean | | Re: Tall, dark and handsome
Thanks folks for your help.
However, it's quite interesting that our Vietnamese Lang also has this kind of compliment for men. 
Coincidence !!! |
13-Jul-2005, 12:50
| | Member | | Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 151
First Language: Russian | | Re: Tall, dark and handsome
Would you translate the Vietnamese phrase in English for us? That would be interesting to know how people from different cultures compliment their men |
14-Jul-2005, 02:49
| | Newbie | | Join Date: Jul 2005 Country: Daegu, Korea
Posts: 11
First Language: Korean | |  Re: Tall, dark and handsome
Yeah, the expression is word-by-word translated as : tall, big, dark and stinking !.
The meaning of the whole sentence is to compliment a man is nice, good-looking but a little bit dump (a country guy).
Last edited by tot2ivn; 14-Jul-2005 at 02:52.
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