The word classy is not classy

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Classily meaning

In a classy manner.

Definition of ‘massy’

massive; weighty, bulky, etc. Derived forms. massiness (ˈmassiness) noun. Word Frequency.

What’s the opposite of classy?

Opposite of elegant, highly stylish or fashionable. dowdy. graceless. inelegant. styleless.

What is massy and classy?

Is being classy a good thing?

When you see someone dressed well and say, «That is a classy look,» that means it’s a timeless, flattering style that accentuates the person’s strong features. But, it’s also respectful and modest, showing good taste and high standards. … The person I wish to attract will be attracted to these traits.

What is a classiest?

: having or showing class: such as. a : elegant, stylish a classy clientele a classy hotel. b : having or reflecting high standards of personal behavior a classy guy a classy gesture.

What defines a classy woman?

A lady displays self-respect, class, appreciation, and etiquette. She does not allow her mood to affect her manners. Being a classy lady doesn’t mean that you should be snobby or stuck up, but that you should have dignity, consideration, and moderation in your daily actions.

What is a big word for beautiful?

Some common synonyms of beautiful are comely, fair, handsome, lovely, and pretty. While all these words mean «exciting sensuous or aesthetic pleasure,» beautiful applies to whatever excites the keenest of pleasure to the senses and stirs emotion through the senses.

What is wrong with the word classy?

«Colloquially, the word classy is use to describe something sophisticated, fancy, and upscale – but what you’re basically saying when you call something or someone classy is “upper-class.” By calling a place or someone’s behavior unclassy is essentially equating them with the lower class, implying that the lifestyle of …

How do you say someone is classy?

synonyms for classy

What’s ratchet mean?

Ratchet is a slang term that can mean “exciting” or “excellent,” often used as a term of empowerment among women. Some may also use ratchet for when they are feeling “bad” in some way. The term has been previously used, however, as an insult characterizing a woman as being “overdramatic” or “promiscuous.”

How can I be elegant and classy?

How to speak with elegance:

What does keep it classy mean?

It means to have good behavior and actions. Examples: «We should keep the party classy» = we should make it a nice party «you are acting stupid. Keep it classy» = stop having bad manners.

What is classy style?

Dressing classy means dressing elegant and sophisticated. It’s also timeless and elegant.

How can you tell if a girl is classy?

TOP 10 SIGNS OF A CLASSY WOMAN:

What makes a woman a lady?

«Lady» is used before the family name of a woman with a title of nobility or honorary title suo jure (in her own right), or the wife of a lord, a baronet, Scottish feudal baron, laird, or a knight, and also before the first name of the daughter of a duke, marquess, or earl.

How do you stay classy?

How to be a Classy Lady in 7 Steps

What is not classy?

not classy; lacking in good taste or sense; crude: Always being late for appointments is unclassy.

Is elegant and classy the same thing?

How do you dress classy?

What are the fanciest words?

We’ve rounded up the most beautiful words in the English language that are guaranteed to make you absolutely ebullient.

Мои примеры

Caroline’s too classy to say anything nasty like that. 

Кэролайн слишком утончённая натура, чтобы говорить такие ужасные вещи.

The spa boasts some very classy clients. 

Спа-центр гордится некоторыми своими ВИП-клиентами.

Donating her salary bonus to charity was a really classy thing to do. 

Отдать прибавку к зарплате на благотворительность было по-настоящему шикарным поступком с её стороны.

When was the last time you used the word ‘classy’ to describe someone? Go on, think about it. What were the qualities of that person that made you describe them as such? Let’s define ‘classy’ and get to the meat of this exploration. 

From Merriam-Webster:

Classy. adjective ˈkla-sē
: having or showing class: as
a : elegant, stylish <a classy clientele>
b : having or reflecting high standards of personal behavior <a classy guy> <a classy gesture>
c : admirably skillful and graceful <a classy outfielder>

Elegant. Stylish. High standards of personal behavior. 

Now, think about the word ‘trashy’ as a contrast. Are you getting to where I am going yet?

These are terms rooted in social class, particularly the social classes of the British Empire. High class, middle class, low class. In this hierarchy, the upper class, or high class, is the upper echelon, the tip of the pyramid. We want to ‘go to there’ as a society but the pyramid is weighted toward the middle and lower classes.

Lower class is bad, then. Lower class is NOT ‘classy’; it is ‘trashy’. Lower class can try all it wants, it will never have the “high standards of personal behavior” that the upper classes have. Basically, this is what you are saying when you use the word ‘classy’ as an adjective. You’re being classist.

What is classism? Basically, it is being prejudiced against other classes than the one you are in—or, I suppose, the one you are in, as well. The mere fact that we have words in the common lexicon that describes one class (a minority class with a LOT of prestige and privilege) as being superior to other classes should be cause for concern. When we hear people using words like ‘ghetto’ and ‘trashy’ in the pejorative, unbeknownst to them that they are belittling the working and lower classes, there should be a pause. Only there isn’t one for most people. We use these words like they are going out of style. 

I hear ‘classy’ all over the place any more. In a country (the United States) where class divides are deeper and wider than ever, there is still a clamor to be ‘classy’ over ‘trashy’. Pull an Occupy Wall Street protester out of the pack and ask them: ‘classy’ or ‘trashy’? Which one is more attractive, better than the other? Maybe you should avoid asking a ‘trustafarian’ (another class-based word) but I digress. They’re going to choose ‘classy’ 9 times out of 10*. I liken this to the historic transformation of the words black and white to separate races, equating purity and goodness to whiteness, evil and darkness to blackness. The poor can never be dignified, can they? They can never be ‘classy’. Just as the rich can never be ‘trashy’ unless they were poor to begin with. Right?

Please don’t get me started on the use of ‘ghetto’ in the pejorative. This is not only classist but is generally racist, as well. You know why but you still use it, don’t you? *nods* I thought so. 

There are more adjectives to use than ‘classy’, ‘trashy’, and ‘ghetto’ for sure. If we are to reconcile the dangerous trend of neo-tribalism and advance as a society, we have to start thinking about the words we use. Particularly the words we don’t realize we ARE using. 

Instead of classy, try: genteel, couth, well-mannered, stylish

Instead of trashy or ghetto, try: uncouth, coarse, impolite, racy, and so on, depending on the particulars of what you are describing.

We shouldn’t ever forget the pain of the past but we can only move forward if we understand the pains of the past. It is just like recovering from trauma in your own life. Words build the bridge to recovery. Let us not keep widening the divide between the classes unintentionally. Using the pejorative and being negative in general is often not constructive but deconstructive. I guess you have to make a choice.

I am hoping that the Etymology and Culture series on this blog will help shed some light on the words we use every day and their origins in our culture. Blindly using words without understanding their history and deeper meaning is not good enough for us. I hope you will return for more installments. Send me any suggestions.

*=Completely unscientific data.

classy

[ʹklɑ:sı] сл.

1) «классный», первый сорт

2) шикарный; стильный; одетый по последний моде

Новый большой англо-русский словарь.
2001.

Смотреть что такое «classy» в других словарях:

• classy — adj. 1. having elegance or taste or refinement in manners or dress. Opposite of {styleless}. [informal] Syn: posh, swish, stylish. [WordNet 1.5] 2. exhibiting refinement and high character. Opposite of {low class} [informal] Syn: high class.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

• Classy — may mean: Possessing elegance, the attribute of being tastefully designed, decorated and maintaining refined grace and dignified propriety. Classy (magazine), a Japanese women s magazine The nickname of professional wrestler Fred Blassie This… …   Wikipedia

• classy — 1891, from CLASS (Cf. class) (n.) + Y (Cf. y) (2) …   Etymology dictionary

• classy — [adj] stylish, having panache chic, dashing, elegant, exclusive, fashionable, high class, in, in vogue, mod, modish, posh, select, sharp, superior, swank, swanky, tony, uptown; concept 589 Ant. inelegant, inferior, plain, unstylish …   New thesaurus

• classy — ► ADJECTIVE (classier, classiest) informal ▪ stylish and sophisticated. DERIVATIVES classily adverb classiness noun …   English terms dictionary

• classy — [klas′ē] adj. classier, classiest Informal first class, esp. in style or manner; elegant; fine classiness n …   English World dictionary

• classy — UK [ˈklɑːsɪ] / US [ˈklæsɪ] adjective Word forms classy : adjective classy comparative classier superlative classiest informal 1) something that is classy is attractive, fashionable, and of excellent quality a classy hotel/ski resort 2) someone… …   English dictionary

• classy — adjective (classier; est) Date: 1891 having or showing class: as a. elegant, stylish < a classy clientele > b. having or reflecting high standards of personal behavior < a classy guy > < a classy gestu …   New Collegiate Dictionary

• classy — class|y [ klæsi ] adjective INFORMAL 1. ) something that is classy is attractive, fashionable, and of excellent quality: a classy hotel/ski resort 2. ) someone who is classy has the natural ability to choose the best thing or behave in an… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

• classy — adjective /ˈklæs.i/ a) Elegant, highly stylish or fashionable. Thats a very classy outfit. b) Of a superior type; especially, exhibiting admirable personal qualities That was a classy response. Syn …   Wiktionary

• classy — [[t]klɑ͟ːsi, klæ̱si[/t]] classier, classiest ADJ GRADED If you describe someone or something as classy, you mean they are stylish and sophisticated. [INFORMAL] The German star put in a classy performance… Both GM and Ford believe they need… …   English dictionary