no good and not good

[edmondjanet]

He is no good.
He is not good. I saw both. Can I use both as the same meaning.
Thank you.

 

[Barb_D]

He is no good.
He is not good. I saw both. Can I use both as the same meaning.
Thank you.

He is no good = He is trouble, a bad guy, someone who causes problems.

I wouldn't use the second one without more, as in: He is not good at showing his emotions. He is not good at parallel parking. He is not good at managing his time.

The only time I could imagine using it is something like "She plays the piano so well. She is so good. He... well, he is not good. But he tries hard." Even then, the meaning is "He is not good at playing the piano."

 

[nyota]

He is no good = He is trouble, a bad guy, someone who causes problems.

I wouldn't use the second one without more, as in: He is not good at showing his emotions. He is not good at parallel parking. He is not good at managing his time.

Could you say (1) he's no good at parallel parking? Is there a difference between that and (2) he's not good at parallel parking?

 

[5jj]

Could you say (1) he's no good at parallel parking? Is there a difference between that and (2) he's not good at parallel parking?

In my opinion (stressed), #1 implies that he is a disaster, #2 suggests simply that he could be better.

 

[Barb_D]

I agree. "No good" means totally sucky. "Not good" means simply "not good" but not necessarily "really bad."