RE: Edgy page 2This is a discussion thread · 22 replies Mickwick: A movie that is edited "MTV style" with jump cuts, swish pans, hand held shots in static situations, is "edgy". ... which I like) are good examples of "edgy" movies. That's not surprising as Guy Ritchie came from making music videos." Hand-held cameras are the key, I reckon. I think I first encountered the word in film criticism, where it seemed to mean not just "nervy" but "raw, energetic and risk-taking". Some now use it to indicate unspecified cutting-edge trendiness but I think the 'raw' etc. meanings are still the main ones. Mickwick Dr Robin Bignall: Has anyone any idea when the word 'edgy' began to ... company' and this sounded most peculiar to my British ears." This American would think your company wanted to be irritable and nervous. We talk about being "on the leading edge", and even "on the edge", but I've not heard "edgy" used with this meaning." COD 10 again: edgy · adj. (edgier, edgiest) tense, nervous, or irritable. DERIVATIVES edgily adv. edginess n. Is this a Pondian thing? wrmst rgrds Robin Bignall Quiet part of Hertfordshire England Dr Robin Bignall: I'm not familiar with it. Cassell's and RHHDAS (slang dictionaries) ... of Improvisation My conclusion is that it is quite recent." Thank you Donna, Simon and Tony. I also wondered about possible literal translations of Norwegian phrases but as Simon points ... are. The dictionary reference was from the American Heritage Dictionary, Fourth Edition, 2000, so it could be very recent indeed." It's a word I've used all my life, in England, so it must date back to the 1940s at least. wrmst rgrds Robin Bignall Quiet part of Hertfordshire England Dr Robin Bignall: Has anyone any idea when the word 'edgy' began to ... company' and this sounded most peculiar to my British ears." As stated by a few others it does mean "on the cutting edge", but of fashion or newness, not technology. It became popular during the heyday of the Dot Com startups." I'm beginning to think that, to Americans, "edgy" is in the same ballpark as "shagging" - a word that's been around in BrE for decades, but that's quite unknown until recently in America. "Edgy" has nothing whatever to do with "leading edge" in BrE. wrmst rgrds Robin Bignall Quiet part of Hertfordshire England R F: As stated by a few others it does mean "on ... became popular during the heyday of the Dot Com startups." I'm beginning to think that, to Americans, "edgy" is in the same ballpark as "shagging" - a word that's been around in BrE for decades, but that's quite unknown until recently in America. "Edgy" has nothing whatever to do with "leading edge" in BrE." That makes no sense, Doc. Oy! "Edgy" in the earlier sense that I assume you mean is indeed very well known in AmE, more so than this relatively recent "edgy" slang usage. Oy! Brian Wickham snipI'm beginning to think that, to Americans, "edgy" is in the same ballpark as "shagging" - a word that's been around in BrE for decades, but that's quite unknown until recently in America. "Edgy" has nothing whatever to do with "leading edge" in BrE." "Edgy" has always meant "on edge" even in America, but we are talking about a new slang term that popped up in the 1990s (AFAIK) and is partly derived from "cutting edge". Actually it seemed to pop up in advertising simultaneously so I wonder if the term may have come from the world of art directors. (ASIDE: If I put a "not" between "may" and "have" in the preceding sentence the meaning is unchanged. Someone please figure that out!) If you said to an American that you feel "edgy" about something he would understand that you mean that you are not comfortable with the situation. If, on the other hand, you said that you require the new sales presentation to be "edgy" most Americans would know that you want it to appeal to Generation X. There is some crossover from the original meaning of "edgy" in that the new "edgy" is jarring and "in your face", so it's more like the jagged edge than the leading edge. The difference in usage is that the new "edgy" is an attribute where as the traditional "edgy" is closer to an emotion. If some young person told you that your new car was "edgy" he wouldn't be pointing out that your Mini Cooper was apprehensive. He would probably be referring to the electric green paint job that assaults the sensibilities of "the establishment". But don't worry, the new "edgy" will be disappearing as soon as Gen X reaches 30 years old. Brian Wickham Tony Cooper: Thank you Donna, Simon and Tony. I also wondered about ... Fourth Edition, 2000, so it could be very recent indeed." It's a word I've used all my life, in England, so it must date back to the 1940s at least." But how? Meaning nervous and irritable? So have I. Meaning on the leading edge? Not me. My son might. I think it's a word used by particular age groups in the leading edge usage. Donna Richoux: This American would think your company wanted to be irritable ... edge", but I've not heard "edgy" used with this meaning." COD 10 again: edgy · adj. (edgier, edgiest) tense, nervous, or irritable. DERIVATIVES edgily adv. edginess n. Is this a Pondian thing?" Maybe you misunderstood Tony. When he said "I've not heard 'edgy' used with this meaning," he meant with Brian's meaning of "daring, provocative, or trend setting." Not with 'tense, nervous, or irritable." You, Tony, the dictionary you quote, and everybody else here, know about that one. Best Donna Richoux Steve Hayes: Has anyone any idea when the word 'edgy' began to be used in the sense 'daring, provocative, or trend setting' ... company expressed the hope that we would become 'an edgy company' and this sounded most peculiar to my British ears." It sounds peculiar to my ears too. To me edgy means nervous, timid, afraid. An "edgy" company would always be looking over its metaphorical shoulder to see what kind of threat the competition posed. Steve Hayes http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm More
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