"a man with the -est" "fuzzy-wuzzy" and "blackity black"

Question

Hello, everyone.

I'm working on a Thai-English translation for a children's book and am wondering if I can use this phrase...

"Everyone admires the best. So he decided to become a man with the -est too to make his friends proud."

another question...

I wonder whether this text: "A fuzzy-wuzzy lion and a blackity bad wolf are friends." is valid (in the sense that the lion has a very messy mane and a wolk is pitch dark) and non-pejorative, since many dictionaries said fuzzy-wuzzy and blackity black are racist terms.

Thank you you all in advance!

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

anonymousI'm working on a Thai-English translation for a children's book and am wondering if I can use this phrase..."Everyone admires the best. So he decided to become a man with the -est too to make his friends proud."

That's a little risky, since it is a non-standard coinage, and children are not very aware of word parts. How about '...become a man with the best something, too...'?

anonymousI wonder whether this text: "A fuzzy-wuzzy lion and a blackity bad wolf are friends." is valid (in the sense that the lion has a very messy mane and a wolk is pitch dark) and non-pejorative, since many dictionaries said fuzzy-wuzzy and blackity black are racist terms.

Yes, that seems a little risky, too. I don't think that modern children's books dumb down so much for children, either.

A messy-maned lion and a pitch-black wolf are friends.

"a man with the -est" "fuzzy-wuzzy" and "blackity black"

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