different between flimsy vs tinsel
flimsy
English
Etymology
Origin uncertain. First used in the 18th century. Perhaps a metathesis of film +? -s +? -y; or related to flimflam.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?fl?mzi/
Adjective
flimsy (comparative flimsier or more flimsy, superlative flimsiest or most flimsy)
- Likely to bend or break under pressure.
- Synonyms: weak, shaky, flexible, fragile
- Antonyms: robust, strong, sturdy
- 1715, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The Rivals
- All the flimsy furniture of a country miss's brain.
- (figuratively) Weak; ill-founded.
- Synonyms: weak, feeble, unconvincing
- Antonyms: well-founded, substantiated
Translations
Noun
flimsy (plural flimsies)
- Thin typing paper used to make multiple copies.
- 1977, John Le Carré, The Honourable Schoolboy, Folio Society 2010, p. 251:
- Smiley peered once more at the flimsy which he still clutched in his pudgy hand.
- 1977, John Le Carré, The Honourable Schoolboy, Folio Society 2010, p. 251:
- (naval slang) A service certificate
- 1964, Australia. Parliament, Records of the Proceedings and Printed Papers of the Parliament
- A perusal of the comments of officers under whom he has served as recorded in his “flimsies" indicates that he has almost consistently received high commendation for his service.
- 1994, John Wells, The Royal Navy: An Illustrated Social History, 1870-1982 (page 7)
- Regulations required a commanding officer to render annual confidential reports on the character and ability of his officers - with particular reference to sobriety - on forms known as 'flimsies'.
- 1964, Australia. Parliament, Records of the Proceedings and Printed Papers of the Parliament
- (informal, in the plural) Skimpy underwear.
- (slang) A banknote.
Translations
flimsy From the web:
- what flimsy means
- what flimsy excuse
- what flimsy paper
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- what causes flimsy nails
- what is flimsy file
- what do flimsy mean
- what is flimsy tire
tinsel
English
Etymology
From Middle French estincelle (“spark”) (compare French étincelle), from Latin scintilla; compare scintillate, stencil.
Pronunciation
- (UK, US) IPA(key): /?t?n.s?l/
- Rhymes: -?ns?l
Noun
tinsel (usually uncountable, plural tinsels)
- A shining material used for ornamental purposes; especially, a very thin, gauzelike cloth with much gold or silver woven into it; also, very thin metal overlaid with a thin coating of gold or silver, brass foil, or the like.
- 1675, John Dryden, Aureng-zebe
- Who can discern the tinsel from the gold?
- 1675, John Dryden, Aureng-zebe
- Very thin strips of a glittering, metallic material used as a decoration, and traditionally draped at Christmas time over streamers, paper chains and the branches of Christmas trees.
- Anything shining and gaudy; something superficially shining and showy, or having a false luster, and more pretty than valuable.
- 1782, William Cowper, Truth
- O happy peasant! O unhappy bard! His the mere tinsel, hers the rich reward.
- 1782, William Cowper, Truth
Translations
Adjective
tinsel (not comparable)
- Glittering, later especially superficially so; gaudy, showy.
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.1:
- Her garments all were wrought of beaten gold, / And all her steed with tinsell trappings shone […]
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.1:
Verb
tinsel (third-person singular simple present tinsels, present participle (UK) tinselling or (US) tinseling, simple past and past participle (UK) tinselled or (US) tinseled)
- (transitive) To adorn with tinsel; to deck out with cheap but showy ornaments; to make gaudy.
- She, tinseled o'er in robes of varying hues
- (figuratively, transitive) To give a false sparkle to (something).
Derived terms
- tinseled, tinselled
- tinselly
- Tinseltown
See also
- trimmings
- trim up
References
- tinsel in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
Anagrams
- ELINTs, SILENT, Teslin, enlist, inlets, leints, listen, silent
tinsel From the web:
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- what's tinsel in irish
- what tinsel means in english
- tinseltown what's playing
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