MrPedantic  +  56534 Sun, 21 Nov 04 01:41 PM Not all the apparent antonyms would work in every context. For instance, 'delicious!' is used (by some people) as a very positive remark on tasting a particular dish. For the 'opposite' in such contexts, you would need an equally forceful negative remark. 'How unsavoury!' would be quite mild, for instance; though 'Yuk!' or 'Gross!' would probably do. Personally I disapprove of 'delicious'. 'Not bad' is surely praise enough for any foodstuff. MrP MrPedantic Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004 Veteran Member 12,592 ...opella forensis / adducit febris... Negatives, Antonyms

	CalifJim  +  56606 Sun, 21 Nov 04 11:53 PM Where are you from, Mr. P, that "not bad" is "praise enough"? From one of those O-U-R countries, where it takes a little more effort to produce flavour and colour?! Am I not wicked, though? Seriously, I don't know an American who would ever use the word "unsavory" except followed by "character". "What an unsavory character! I wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley!" CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,465 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

	paco2004  +  56681 Mon, 22 Nov 04 07:53 AM Hurm… you native speakers are using "unsavory" only to talk about someone's character. My dictionary (Webster Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English published in 1994) says "unsavory", as its first definition, is "not savory, tasteless, or insipid" and gives "an unsavory meal" as an example phrase in usage. I think this dictionary is now outdated and should go to a trash box. paco paco2004 Joined on Wed, Nov 17 2004 Senior Member 4,095 In Japan today even dogs are learning how to bow-wow in English.

	Mister Micawber  +  56742 Mon, 22 Nov 04 01:50 PM It's just that 'unsavory' as an adjective for food is a little stilted now, Paco. I think Mr. P is like me, Jim, he eats to live, not lives to eat. I correspond regularly with an otherwise dear friend who insists on regaling me with his most recent adventure with cuisine, either some elegant recipe he has prepared himself, or the latest ethnic restaurant dish he has savored. If I may quote an example: '...First we had an incredible seafood tinged feast, prepared by our pal John. The food: pan-fried breaded oysters, candied salmon, grilled salmon, curried prawns, rice, Caesar salad, green beans to die for, sourdough bread, and for dessert a birthday cake I made (Betty Crocker) but with my own personal chocolate frosting made from scratch and dubbed, for the occasion, Chocolate Shrapnel Supreme. Only a few crumbs were left on the plate—to be expected when there are 20 people present, I guess. . .' But these descriptions of his only cause me to lose my appetite, nay feel downright queasy. Nothing to do with the food itself, I am just not enamoured of the stuff. Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,840 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

	paco2004  +  56781 Mon, 22 Nov 04 05:27 PM Mister Micaweber and Elena Thank you for the additional information. I understand "unsavory" is "tasteless", not "negative-delicious". But what I (as an English learner) want to confirm here is whether it is true if you do rarely use "unsavory" to talk about food. Is it a word used only to talk about someone's nature (to mean "inoffensive" or "boring")? paco paco2004 Negatives

	CalifJim  +  56810 Mon, 22 Nov 04 07:42 PM Mr. Micawber, Thanks for that insight into your feelings about food. I must say, we differ greatly in this area. That description made my mouth water! Now I wouldn't venture to stretch my limited culinary skill to the point of trying to make frosting from scratch, but I would be happy to accept any offer to sample it! The only downside is having to work off the calories with exercise. California Jim CalifJim Sample

	MrPedantic  +  56850 Mon, 22 Nov 04 11:37 PM Hello Paco An 'unsavoury character' is shifty, shady, seedy. He is not to be trusted. He looks as if he has dubious associations. You can't quite put your finger on it, but there's something not quite right about him. In fact, if anything, he has a little too much 'savour'. 'Unsavoury+character/person' is now such a strong association, that 'unsavoury' applied to food would be quite surprising. MrP MrPedantic

	MrPedantic  +  56854 Tue, 23 Nov 04 12:02 AM I too have such a friend, Mister M. When he talks about food, I don't know where to look. MrP MrPedantic