handsome as sin or handsome to a fault

[KevinXu]

Hi.

If I say someone is handsome as sin or handsome to a fault, would that be correct or even sound natural? Thank you.

 

[5jj]

Where did you encounter these phrases?

 

[KevinXu]

Where did you encounter these phrases?

I came up with these sentences on my own, so there is no context.

 

[5jj]

Neither sounds natural to me. What inspired you to come up with these phrases?

 

[jutfrank]

Neither metaphor works because you've got the meanings back-to-front.

Sin is not a handsome thing, it's ugly, and it's not easy to imagine that being handsome can be a problem in any way.

 

[KevinXu]

Neither sounds natural to me. What inspired you to come up with these phrases?

I know there are phrases like "ugly as sin", "generous to a fault", so I wonder if I can use these intensifiers with other adjectives.

 

[probus]

"To a fault" does not work because handsomeness is not a matter of choice. A person may be generous or honest to a fault, but not handsome to a fault.

 

[Skrej]

I'm okay with 'handsome as sin' in the right context. It's sort of a twist on the more standard expressions 'handsome devil' or 'devilishly handsome'. By association with the devil, I can see an extension to 'sin', and thus 'sinfully handsome' as well.

There's also a bit of reference to pride as one of the seven deadly sins as well, I suppose. Or perhaps he's so handsome that he's a temptation to commit a carnal sin with him.

Certainly not a standard expression, but it wouldn't take much additional context to make it work.

 

[BobK]

Agreed. This one could be made to work, given the right context. I agree too with .-1: 'to a fault' needs some kind of chosen behaviour.