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Sarnga1157 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Grotesque

Hello,

Is it OK to say/ask "Don't you think it is grotesque to accuse someone of taking drugs?"

Even though grotesque can mean offensive, unpleasant etc., I'd think that native speakers would never use it in the above sentence. It somehow doesn't seem to fit well there.

Thanks,
Prasanna
  

Top answer

'Grotesque' in this sort of slang usage is very vague, and I find that sentence no more unusual than many others I've heard.

— Mister Micawber

  • 'Grotesque' in this sort of slang usage is very vague, and I find that sentence no more unusual than many others I've heard.
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6 Answers
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'Grotesque' in this sort of slang usage is very vague, and I find that sentence no more unusual than many others I've heard.
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Thank you. So, you're saying it's OK to use that as in the above sentence to mean offensive or unpleasant?
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Yes, if that is the speaker's opinion.
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Thank you, but a slightly different question on the same topic. So, I know from what you're saying this is perfectly acceptable. But, I also want to know if, in a conference with several people, I used the word grotesque in this sense, would it sound slightly odd, or it'd just sound natural?

I'm just basically trying to understand if grotesque would be a natural word to use there.
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It is slang, and should not be used in any kind of conference or formal presentation.
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Oh, I see. I didn't know that. Interesting that none of the dictionaries I referred to said that.
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