Oct 20, 2005 15:22
18 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term

devil-may-care way

Non-PRO English Art/Literary Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting
The sentence is:" He is tall and handsome in a devil-may-care way." I'd like to know what is "devil-may-care way"?

Thanks.

Responses

+5
6 mins
Selected

(see explanation)

In general, it means that he's carefree and easygoing.
And, in that context, it means that he's simply handsome but not "metrosexual" ;), that is, he doesn't worry much about his appearance but he's cute anyway.

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Note added at 7 mins (2005-10-20 15:30:30 GMT)
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I think that the most appropiate here is to focus on his appearance, not on his personality.
Peer comment(s):

agree Brie Vernier
4 mins
thank you, Brie
agree Nick Lingris : Yes, the empasis is on his appearance.
56 mins
thanx, Nick
agree María Teresa Taylor Oliver : =)
1 hr
gracias, Maria Teresa
agree Enza Longo
2 hrs
thank you, Enza
agree Alfa Trans (X)
1 day 17 hrs
thank you, marju
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "thank you for help."
+2
3 mins

doesn't take things seriously

at first glance

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Note added at 2005-10-20 15:27:19 (GMT)
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Webster =
\"1 : RECKLESS, ROISTERING, ROLLICKING : careless of authority (a crew of devil-may-care swashbucklers) (an arrogant devil-may-care attitude)
2 : RAKISH, INFORMAL, CASUAL (hat worn at a devil-may-care angle)\"
Peer comment(s):

agree sarahl (X)
27 mins
agree Tegan Raleigh : first synonym that came to mind was "irreverent"
3 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
4 mins

See definition from Web below

I feel I know what it means but it's difficult to explain. Think of Clark Gable as Rhett Butler in "Gone With the Wind" (if you know that film) for an example.

Definitions of devil-may-care" on the Web:

* carefree: cheerfully irresponsible; "carefree with his money"; "freewheeling urban youths"; "had a harum-scarum youth"
* marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness; "a cocktail party given by some...raffish bachelors"- Crary Moore
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Peer comment(s):

agree David Hollywood : faster and I agree "cheerfully irresponsible" and without worring about what others might say
2 mins
Thank you.
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+4
6 mins

cheerful and reckless

which is the Oxford Dict's definition of devil-may-care.

He's a merry, carefree sort of chap rather than a precise and particular one.
Peer comment(s):

agree Jane Lamb-Ruiz (X) : indeed..carefree sort of chap...
1 hr
agree KNielsen
8 hrs
agree mportal
1 day 2 hrs
agree humbird
2 days 13 hrs
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5 mins

cheerfully irresponsibe

carefree: cheerfully irresponsible; "carefree with his money"; "freewheeling urban youths"; "had a harum-scarum youth"
marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness; "a cocktail party given by some...raffish bachelors"- Crary Moore
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

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Note added at 8 mins (2005-10-20 15:31:06 GMT)
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without worrying about what others might say
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+1
6 mins

unworried, not caring what happens, light-hearted

That's what my dictionary said

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Note added at 9 mins (2005-10-20 15:31:40 GMT)
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I'd say he's an easy-going person
Peer comment(s):

agree Elizabeth Lyons
11 mins
Thank you! :)
Something went wrong...
+1
11 hrs

in a nonchalant sort of way/ naturally

he's not someone who keeps looking in the mirror, doesn't get his hair bleached/dyed, seems not to care about his appearance; in other words, he's just naturally handsome.

casual: marked by blithe unconcern; "drove his car with nonchalant abandon"; "was polite in a teasing nonchalant manner"
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Seeming to be coolly unconcerned or indifferent.

Idioms . ... devil-may-care attitude. - unworried, not caring what happens. He has a devil-may-care attitude to his job and nothing bothers him. ...
www.idiomconnection.com/dquiz.html -
Peer comment(s):

agree juvera : Nicely said in the first sentence.
1 day 19 hrs
thank you :-)
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