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#2 (permalink) Tue May 06, 2008 22:07 pm What does the expression "too light on its feet" mean? |
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Hello Babyface,
At first glance, it appears to mean "unstable; liable to topple over" – either literally or metaphorically.
Can you remember the full context of the phrase?
Best wishes,
MrP |
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MrPedantic I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 1326 Location: Southern England
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#3 (permalink) Wed May 07, 2008 7:41 am What does the expression "too light on its feet" mean? |
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Thank you MrPedantic!
I'm afraid I can't remember the full context in which it was said, but what you wrote makes perfect sense. What I thought at first is that perhaps it means "not serious enough" or "lightweight" or something of that sort. The point is that it sounded to me like something with a negative connotation, but not being a native speaker, I can't be sure about it. Was my intuition right? |
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Babyface New Member
Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 4
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#4 (permalink) Wed May 07, 2008 8:06 am What does the expression "too light on its feet" mean? |
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Then let's wait for some native speakers' ideas ;) _________________ :(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(
Sorry seems to be the hardest word... |
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Nessie I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 1102
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#5 (permalink) Wed May 07, 2008 11:36 am What does the expression "too light on its feet" mean? |
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. MrPedantic is a native speaker, Nessie. . _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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#6 (permalink) Wed May 07, 2008 22:38 pm What does the expression "too light on its feet" mean? |
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| babyface wrote: |
The point is that it sounded to me like something with a negative connotation, but not being a native speaker, I can't be sure about it. Was my intuition right?
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Hello babyface,
Yes, I think your intuition was right. In ordinary usage, "too X" tends to mean "superfluously or excessively X". If the adjective X is neutral, therefore, the connotation tends to be negative.
If the adjective itself has positive connotations, on the other hand, "too X" may also have positive connotations, e.g.
1. You're too kind!
which means "you are abundantly kind".
Best wishes,
MrP
PS: A cheery Wednesday evening to Yankee and Nessie. |
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MrPedantic I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 1326 Location: Southern England
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#7 (permalink) Thu May 08, 2008 0:44 am What does the expression "too light on its feet" mean? |
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. Thanks, MrP. Hope your evening is (was?) cheery, too. :D . _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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