class/classy

Question

I do love my expressions - and love the Spanish ones just as much!

I'm particularly after the word 'class' or 'classy' as in perhaps 'style'.

"He has more class than a rat with a gold tooth".

I'm sure there's a similar expression in Spanish. Any ideas?

Gracias,
Annie.
(ps I'm 'girding my loins' for another attack on my numbers/time lesson - oops another expression - lo siento!)

Answer 1

Is this expression used in an ironic or strict sense'

Answer 2

Dunia said:

Is this expression used in an ironic or strict sense?

Ironic/sarcastic. cf. "un cerdo con tirantes" However, "class"/"classy" can also denote approval e.g. "This is a very classy restaurant." or "X (somebody) has a lot of class."

Answer 3

Hi Anne
I have found the following
Upper class - clase alta
To have class - tener clase
Class distinction - diferencia de clase
Classy player or actor - de primera clase

Answer 4

elegante, con estilo, con clase

I've never heard the expression about the rat. When would you say this, for example'

Answer 5

Natasha said:

elegante, con estilo, con clase

I've never heard the expression about the rat. When would you say this, for example?

When speaking of someone who is "putting on airs".

Answer 6

samdie said:

Natasha said:

elegante, con estilo, con clase I've never heard the expression about the rat. When would you say this, for example?

I must admit that I have never heard of this expession either.

When speaking of someone who is "putting on airs".

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Answer 7

Eddy said:

samdie said:

Natasha said:

elegante, con estilo, con clase I've never heard the expression about the rat. When would you say this, for example?

I must admit that I have never heard of this expession either.

When speaking of someone who is "putting on airs".

Sorry. Someone whose manner/appearance is inappropriately fancy. It's also similar to the "lipstick on a pig" that was the topic of a recent thread.

Answer 8

samdie said:

Eddy said:

samdie said:

Natasha said:

elegante, con estilo, con clase I've never heard the expression about the rat. When would you say this, for example?

I must admit that I have never heard of this expession either.

When speaking of someone who is "putting on airs".

Sorry. Someone whose manner/appearance is inappropriately fancy. It's also similar to the "lipstick on a pig" that was the topic of a recent thread.

That's interesting, because "classy"almost always has a positive connotation here (U.S.). Less "positive" synonyms: high-falutin' (slang), decked out, geed up (slang), fancied up.

Answer 9

That's interesting, because "classy"almost always has a positive connotation here (U.S.).

Samdie is referring to the expression about the rat with the gold tooth, not the word classy. And he was saying that that expression is only used ironically with the word classy, that is, to say that someone is in fact not classy. See his first post in this thread.

Answer 10

Gracias amigos.

"clase" - okay.

Here, the expression would be used 'tongue in cheek' being that a rat with a gold tooth does not has simple and timeless 'class' but is gaudy and 'over the top'.
We wouldn't use it so much for appearance though but would use it when commenting on the way someone expresses themselves.

Annie.

Answer 11

so pompous or ostentatious rather than garish?

Anne Sherwood said:

Gracias amigos."clase" - okay.Here, the expression would be used 'tongue in cheek' being that a rat with a gold tooth does not has simple and timeless 'class' but is gaudy and 'over the top'.We wouldn't use it so much for appearance though but would use it when commenting on the way someone expresses themselves.Annie.

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Answer 12

Not so much 'pompous' but rather someone who downright coarse or vulgar especially in relation to speech. So it would be made in a 'sarcastic' sense.
Annie.

Quentin said:

so pompous or ostentatious rather than garish?

Anne Sherwood said:

Gracias amigos."clase" - okay.Here, the expression would be used 'tongue in cheek' being that a rat with a gold tooth does not has simple and timeless 'class' but is gaudy and 'over the top'.We wouldn't use it so much for appearance though but would use it when commenting on the way someone expresses themselves.Annie.

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Answer 13

NO había visto este hilo. De paso reseñar que hemos abierto una categoría para estos dichos.

Bueno, en este caso se me ocurren varias cosa:

tiene menos clase que un boxeador bailando ballet

tiene menos clase que sushi de bagre o que canapé de morcilla

tiene menos clase que una lata de atún

Lo de la lata de atún ...jejej, ¡qué tontería!