Efusivo? Qué .......

Question

From "Noche de perros" programa de televisión

¿Como saluda el abuelo a la amiga de su nieta?

How does the granddad greet his granddaughter's friend. (it probably says that)

One of the answers is

Le da un abrazo efusivo.

Our dictionary says "effusive" for efusivo. I can't imagine this show would use some arbitrary big word that nobody knows. Is effusive really what efusivo means and nothing more regular?

por fin, buen contexto, bien escrito, tómate tu tiempo jeez, así conseguirás más respuestas. También hace tiempo que no ecribes en lets talk about...;) - 00494d19, Jan 25, 2012

;) - jeezzle, Jan 25, 2012

Answer 1

word that nobody knows

Everybody knows efusivo here, Jeez, jeje, very funny. well, kids I don't know, is effusive so odd?

NO other meaning, just a great big hug.

I was puzzled, too. Indeed, in Spanish at least, "efusivo" is very common. I use it frequently enough in English, as well. - Gekkosan, Jan 25, 2012

Answer 2

is effusive so odd?

Yes, quite odd to my American ears.

Answer 3

Can anybody just chime in here and say "yes I've never heard that word either, what does it mean"? I think it means "good and long" like "a good and long hug" in the example above.

Le da un abrazo efusivo. He gives her a good and long hug.

The dictionary says: marked by the expression of great or excessive emotion or enthusiasm

But I guess it is common in Spanish "efusivo".

Is effusive common in Britain English? I would wager that most Americans have never even heard the word. Have you? Please post here instead of just reading this and moving on. You. You reading this right now. I'm talking to you.

Not a common conversation word but I understand it fine. I'm a Brit. - patch, Jan 25, 2012

"You talkin' to me?" Haha, careful, Jeezle! I'm from the UK, and I'm very familiar with the word. - Sheily, Jan 25, 2012

Maybe it's a word that is common in British English then. Very strange, I'm certain my American friends would not know it, I have literally never heard the word before and I read a lot, having once attempted to major in English Literature. - jeezzle, Jan 25, 2012