He's not so much classically handsome as cute

[Silverobama]

Hi,

I read the sentence "He's not so much classically handsome as cute" in my notebook; I've been going over notes in my notebooks. I remember I wrote it down in 2012.

My questions are:

a) What does "classically handsome" mean? I guess it means "handsome in a classical way". But what does it mean then?
b) Does this sentence mean that "Better to say that he's cute than handsome?"

 

[Tarheel]

There are some looks that are generally agreed to be handsome.

Attractiveness is somewhat subjective, but some people have looks that pretty much everybody would agree makes them attractive.

 

[tedmc]

I think "classically handsome" is a strange collocation. The word "classic/classical" has a few meanings (exemplary/outstanding/typical) which I don't know which go with "handsome".

 

[teechar]

b) Does this sentence mean that "Better to say that he's cute than handsome?"

No. It means the speaker thinks it is more accurate to describe him as "cute" than as "classically handsome".

 

[emsr2d2]

I think "classically handsome" is a strange collocation. The word "classic/classical" has a few meanings (exemplary/outstanding/typical) which I don't know which go with "handsome".

It might be one of those collocations you just have to have grown up with. In the UK, I'm very used to hearing "He's classically handsome" and "She's classically beautiful".
The phrases commonly refer back to actors/actresses from the past. Think of Clark Gable, Hedy Lamarr, Ingrid Bergman, Tony Curtis etc.

Bear in mind, too, that many people now refrain from commenting on the attractiveness of others. It's seen as shallow and quite un-PC.

 

[emsr2d2]

@Silverobama I should have added in my last post that those people exemplify classic attractiveness to Western eyes. I'm sure there are similar people in China who fit the bill for Chinese people.