quirky / offbeat

[Francois]

Are they interchangeable?

FRC

 

[Tdol]

To me, they're close, but not identical. 'Quirky' is original, while 'offbeat' goes against the grain. However, in many cases they could be swapped. ;-)

 

[Francois]

Could you provide us with 2 examples that show the difference?

FRC

 

[Tdol]

IMO, Jacques Chirac is quirky- he's independent, tricky and quick witted- but I don't see anything offbeat, or non-conformist, about him. ;-)

Does that help? ;-)

 

[Francois]

Yes, TY!
By the way, who's that Jacques Chirac dude?

FRC

 

[Tdol]

He's the French President- formal in style, but a free thinker who is a thorn in the side for many. At the recent G8 summit, he dressed formally, but was the one who sabotaged some of Bush's plans. ;-)

 

[Francois]

The French have a quirky sense of humour too :roll:

FRC

 

[MikeNewYork]

He's the French President- formal in style, but a free thinker who is a thorn in the side for many. At the recent G8 summit, he dressed formally, but was the one who sabotaged some of Bush's plans. ;-)

He is also the one who caved in on the UN resolution. :wink:

 

[Tdol]

He is quirky, though. ;-)

 

[MikeNewYork]

He is quirky, though. ;-)

Indeed. :wink:

 

[welldone]

so, quirky is actually a positive word?
I always though it was negtive.

 

[Tdol]

I use it positively, but it could be used negatively. ;-)

 

[Francois]

What about 'far-out' ?

FRC

 

[navi tasan]

There is a very good film by the Coen brothers called The Big Lebowski. The main character uses "far out " at least once. It is positive, but I don't think you say that about people. It is as far as I know a very 60s hippy word and it is used about experiences. It has psychedelic connotations.

 

[MikeNewYork]

so, quirky is actually a positive word?
I always though it was negtive.

I used it negatively. :wink:

 

[MikeNewYork]

What about 'far-out' ?

FRC

Far out could be good or bad. In the 60s, Far out! menat something good. Today, it would be more negative. :wink: