0
Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage

Term "deceptively tall"

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?
  

Top answer

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".

  • 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".
  • r
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

11 Answers
0
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
0
I agree with your "co-worked".
0
[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
0
[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 s
0
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 "deceptiv
0
[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
deceptiv
0
[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]
0
[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]
0
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
0
[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-w

Related Questions