Term "deceptively tall"

Question

A co-worker and I were discussing someone else whom we also work with. I made a comment that the person seems average height until you see this person around groups of people. Then you realize how tall he really is. I mentioned that he was "deceptively tall". The term as I've heard it used is when gives a false impression through appearance of what they truly are. For example. a runner who is very fast but looks slow would be called "deceptively quick". The co-worked disagreed and said that since the guy gives off an appearance of being shorter than he is that he is "deceptively short". Any opinions on this?

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Dakota Monroe filted:
[nq:1]A co-worker and I were discussing someone else whom we also work with. I made a comment that the person ... guy gives off an appearance of being shorter than he is that he is "deceptively short". Any opinions on this?[/nq]
Just one...I can't imagine a lot of work gets done where you are..r

Usenet · Answer

I agree with your "co-worked".

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I agree with your "co-worked".[/nq]
The pattern for this form is the Realtor(tm)-speak "deceptively spacious", which is intended to mean "more spacious than it looks". So you and Dakota Monroe's co-worker are wrong.
This is one form where logic doesn't help.
Matti

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I agree with your "co-worked".[/nq]
[nq:1]The pattern for this form is the Realtor(tm)-speak "deceptively spacious", which is intended to mean "more spacious than it looks".[/nq]
I agree that "deceptively" in "deceptively spacious" patterned by Realtor(tm) has a speacial meaning. I'm not sure if that meaning extends to other adjectives attached to "deceptively".
I'm glad you're sure, because the panelists didn't all agree about the meaning:
http://www.bartleby.com/61/13/D0071300.html
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition.
2000.

deceptively
SYLLABICATION: de·cep·tive·ly
PRONUNCIATION: d-sptv-lADVERB: In a deceptive or deceiving manner; so as to deceive. USAGE NOTE: When deceptively is used to modify an adjective, the meaning is often unclear. Does the sentence The pool is deceptively shallow mean that the pool is shallower or deeper than it appears? When the Usage Panel was asked to decide, 50 percent thought the pool shallower than it appears, 32 percent thought it deeper than it appears, and 18 percent said it was impossible to judge.

Thus a warning notice worded in such a way would be misinterpreted by many of the people who read it, and others would be uncertain as to which sense was intended. Where the context does not make the meaning of deceptively clear, the sentence should be rewritten, as in The pool is shallower than it looks or The pool is shallow, despite its appearance.
[nq:1]you and Dakota Monroe's co-worker are wrong.[/nq]
I was stating my opinion on a not so cut and dry issue. Can I be wrong? Can anyone be right or wrong? I believe the usage will determine who is "right" and who is "wrong". Until then, I will avoid "deceptively" followed by an adjective.

Usenet · Answer

Matti Lamprhey filted:
[nq:2]I agree with your "co-worked".[/nq]
[nq:1]The pattern for this form is the Realtor(tm)-speak "deceptively spacious", which is intended to mean "more spacious than it looks". So you and Dakota Monroe's co-worker are wrong. This is one form where logic doesn't help.[/nq]
Serendipity alert: last week Kelly Ripa described herself to David Letterman as "deceptively heavy"...she explained (one so seldom gets this courtesy!) that she meant "heavier than I look"..
Dave punctured whatever deception was involved by bringing out a scale and having her weigh herself in front of the audience..r

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I agree with your "co-worked".[/nq]
[nq:1]The pattern for this form is the Realtor(tm)-speak "deceptively spacious", which is intended to mean "more spacious than it looks". So you and Dakota Monroe's co-worker are wrong. This is one form where logic doesn't help.[/nq]
Logic does help, but you have to look at the verb
used, because "is deceptively small" and "appears
deceptively small" mean two different things.
If it *is* deceptively small, then its smallness deceives; that is, it appears larger.
If it appears deceptively small, then its appearance deceives; that is, it seems smaller.
The whole point of the construction is to contrast the appearance with the reality. You have to know
which one is being described as "deceptive" to make any sense out of it.
Not everyone is intelligent enough to understand
the difference, and you cannot often trust the speaker (or ad copywriter) to be in that select group.

Michael West

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]The pattern for this form is the Realtor(tm)-speak "deceptively spacious", ... are wrong. This is one form where logic doesn't help.[/nq]
[nq:1]Logic does help, but you have to look at the verb used, because "is deceptively small" and "appears deceptively small" ... to understand the difference, and you cannot often trust the speaker (or ad copywriter) to be in that select group.[/nq]
Deceptively simply put!

Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]The pattern for this form is the Realtor(tm)-speak "deceptively spacious", ... are wrong. This is one form where logic doesn't help.[/nq]
[nq:1]Logic does help, but you have to look at the verb used, because "is deceptively small" and "appears deceptively small" ... to understand the difference, and you cannot often trust the speaker (or ad copywriter) to be in that select group.[/nq]
That distinction is deceptively logical.
Wrong: "If it appears deceptively small, then its appearance deceives; that is, it seems smaller."
Correct: "If it appears deceptively small, then its smallness does not in fact deceive; that is, it does not seem larger."

The "deceptively" must apply to the smallness in both cases. The third form, and the one you were really describing, is "It has a deceptively small appearance."
Matti

Usenet · Answer

On Fri 07 May 2004 01:45:25a, "Michael West" (Email Removed) bowled this googly in message server.bigpond.net.au:
[nq:1]Logic does help, but you have to look at the verb used, because "is deceptively small" and "appears deceptively small" ... deceives; that is, it appears larger. If it appears deceptively small, then its appearance deceives; that is, it seems smaller.[/nq]
I see! So if you say "Apparently, it is deceptively small", you mean that clearly it appears to be larger but is smaller, but if you say "It is apparently deceptively small", you mean that it appears to be smaller but is larger.
Hmmm... that's apparent...

Richard Sabey Visit the r.p.crosswords competition website cryptic fan at hotmail.com http://www.rsabey.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/rpc/

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I agree that "deceptively" in "deceptively spacious" patterned by Realtor(tm) has a speacial meaning. I'm not sure if that meaning ... should be rewritten, as in The pool is shallower than it looks or The pool is shallow, despite its appearance....[/nq]
Replace the notice with "Deep pool wading is dangerous" or "Shallow pool do not dive from rocks".
[nq:2]you and Dakota Monroe's co-worker are wrong.[/nq]
[nq:1]I was stating my opinion on a not so cut and dry issue. Can I be wrong? Can anyone be right or wrong?[/nq]
In principle, you can be wrong if you apply that the issue is cut and dried when it isn't.
[nq:1]I believe the usage will determine who is "right" and who is "wrong". Until then, I will avoid "deceptively" followed by an adjective.[/nq]
I agree with you completely, except that if enough of us join you in avoiding it, usage will give the whole thing up.

Jerry Friedman

Term "deceptively tall"

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