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Yoichi
I'd like to make sure about the meaning of the following person B's line.
Person A. "What do you think about that man who has long sideburns?"
Person B. "He has an attitude."
According to an online site, B means a negative meaning. Person B would like to say the man is rude. Is that correct?
Long sideburns are my feature, but rest assured that I'm not said such a thing by anyone. I didn't want to use another man's feature for this question.
Oct 29, 2024 1:44 PM
Answers · 6
1
Hello Yoichi đđ»
Yes, in this context, "He has an attitude" is generally used to convey a negative meaning. It suggests that the person is arrogant, rude, or has a bad temper.
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October 31, 2024
1
Yes, 'attitude' is negative here. But we don't know that it's associated with having sideburns. It could be the person's facial expression, or maybe B knows the person.
Whatever the case in this example, long sideburns are not associated with having an attitude.
Extra note: if you're interested in the origin of the word, look up US Civil War general Ambrose Burnside.
October 30, 2024
1
I think person B is saying it in a tongue-in-cheek way, as a joke, because it's not possible to know if someone is rude just by knowing they have sideburns. Maybe they are just teasing person A, or making fun of person C.
It's also possible that person B actually means to say "he has attitude" (without "an"). This changes the meaning. It means he is flamboyant, outgoing, stylish, making a statement, like an artist who uses bold colours. He might still disturb a snowflake, but most people won't mind - some people will even admire him.
October 29, 2024
1
Hi Yoichi. Itâs always a difficult question to answer. Yes, usually itâs intended negatively, but it can also means he behaves like an individual (which doesnât always mean thatâs a bad thing). But usually yes it means youâre a bit aggressive, forceful, arrogant, disrespectful etc.
Not quite sure how having long sideburns makes a person act like that but ;)
October 29, 2024
Yes, youâre correct! When Person B says, "He has an attitude," it usually implies a negative opinion. This phrase can suggest that the man seems arrogant, rude, or difficult, though it's not always very specific. It generally implies that his demeanor or behavior gives off a vibe that might be unapproachable or unpleasant.
And no worries about your sideburnsâit sounds like you're using them just as an example here, not as a direct reflection!
October 30, 2024
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Yoichi
Language Skills
English, Japanese, Spanish
Learning Language
English, Spanish
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