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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2009"frou frou" vs. "chichi": a difference?
I wonder.... Is there a subtle difference between "frou frou" and "chichi" that the *stylish* speaker of English should know? :P Some relevant references: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/frou-frou http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chichi -- Brett http://www.100bestwebsites.org/ "The 100 finest sites on the Web, all in one place!" Widely-watched non-profit ranking of top Internet sites > I wonder.... > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > "The 100 finest sites on the Web, all in one place!" > Widely-watched non-profit ranking of top Internet sites To me, "frou frou" indicates frilliness, ruffles on an item. "Chi- chi" implies that the user or wearer of the item considers that item to be extremely fashionable, no matter how impractical or silly it is. > > I wonder.... > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > chi" implies that the user or wearer of the item considers that item > to be extremely fashionable, no matter how impractical or silly it is. The Hawaiian muumuu is frilly with ruffles, and the wearers consider themselves fashionable despite their looking extremely silly. Should we then call this muumuu frou frou chi chi? -- Aloha ~~~ Ozzie Maland ~~~ San Diego > > > I wonder.... > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > - Show quoted text - I've never seen any frills or ruffles on a muumuu. >>>> I wonder.... >> [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > I've never seen any frills or ruffles on a muumuu. If you click on this URL, you will have.... http://site.hawaiianoutpost.com/images/wallpapers/blue-muumuu.jpg  SignatureMaria C. >>>>> I wonder.... >>> [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > >http://site.hawaiianoutpost.com/images/wallpapers/blue-muumuu.jpg I hope she didn't have to sit too long. That rock looks very uncomfortable. SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) > >>>> I wonder.... > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > -- > Maria C. Thanks -- that pic looks pretty stereotypical of the muumuu to me. But maybe the one pictured is a chi chi frou frou muumuu? -- Aloha ~~~ Ozzie Maland ~~~ San Diego tinwhistler filted: >Thanks -- that pic looks pretty stereotypical of the muumuu to me. >But maybe the one pictured is a chi chi frou frou muumuu? Of the sort they wear from Pago Pago to Walla Walla....r Signature"You got Schadenfreude on my Weltanschauung!" "You got Weltanschauung in my Schadenfreude!" >>>>> I wonder.... >>> [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > >http://site.hawaiianoutpost.com/images/wallpapers/blue-muumuu.jpg This is typical of the muumuus I've seen in Hawaii: http://www.waveshoppe.com/images/Hawaiian-dresses/muumuu.jpg I don't believe there are any frills or ruffles on it. SignatureRegards, Chuck Riggs Near Dublin, Ireland >>> I've never seen any frills or ruffles on a muumuu. >> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > I don't believe there are any frills or ruffles on it. Right -- no frills/ruffles on the /typical/ muumuu. But there are variations that can be found. SignatureMaria C. Maria C. a écrit : >>>> I've never seen any frills or ruffles on a muumuu. >>> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Right -- no frills/ruffles on the /typical/ muumuu. But there are > variations that can be found. I might be mistaken, but I think I can detect a width of material down at the bottom of the dress on the URL provided by Chuck which looks more pleated or gathered than at the top. While not exactly a frill, might it count as a flounce? In my mind, frills are more, well, frilly than flounces, but I'm having some difficulty finding a dictionary which could bear this out. What say you, gentle native speakers? Do you make a difference between a frill and a flounce? SignatureIsabelle Cecchini >Maria C. a écrit : >> [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] >What say you, gentle native speakers? Do you make a difference between a >frill and a flounce? A flounce I'll have to accept, not knowing what one is, but I maintain that true muumuus incorporate no frills. SignatureRegards, Chuck Riggs Near Dublin, Ireland > On Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:05:58 +0100, Isabelle Cecchini > [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] > > - Show quoted text - My understanding is that "frill" is a larger notion that encompasses, among other adornments, "flounces". >> On Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:05:58 +0100, Isabelle Cecchini >> [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] >My understanding is that "frill" is a larger notion that encompasses, >among other adornments, "flounces". I think you have it. Merriam-Webster calls a flounce a wide ruffle, although the COD doesn't make a clear distinction. COD10 has: flounce n. a wide ornamental strip of material gathered and sewn to a skirt or dress; a frill. DERIVATIVES flounced adj. flouncy adj. ORIGIN C18: from an alt. of obs. frounce a fold or pleat, from OFr. fronce. SignatureRegards, Chuck Riggs Near Dublin, Ireland Berkeley Brett <RoyalOui@gmail.com> wrote in news:3a46acd6-cb29-41b6-8731- 43b7ba499d0b@d36g2000prf.googlegroups.com: > I wonder.... > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chichi In speaking about fashion, "frou-frou" implies overly fussy, frilled or heavily decorated, as with lace, ruffles, or ribbons. "Chichi" is trendy, in an ostentatious way. These shoes are chichi: <http://preview.tinyurl.com/9bpm94> or <http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod53480047 &parentId=cat17520731&masterId=cat7230758&index=0 &cmCat=cat000000cat980731cat6000734cat11000734cat7230758cat17520731> These are frou-frou: <http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/32557449/c/632.html> as are these: <http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/29924531/c/83100.html> Barbara wrote on Fri, 9 Jan 2009 21:39:14 +0000 (UTC): >> I wonder.... >> [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >> >> http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chichi > In speaking about fashion, "frou-frou" implies overly fussy, > frilled or heavily decorated, as with lace, ruffles, or > ribbons. "Chichi" is trendy, in an ostentatious way. At one time "Chi-Chi" was used to describe the speech and habits of Anglo-Indians in the sense of those with both ancestries. In that sense, it's rather non-PC. SignatureJames Silverton Potomac, Maryland Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not > Barbara wrote on Fri, 9 Jan 2009 21:39:14 +0000 (UTC): > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > Anglo-Indians in the sense of those with both ancestries. In that > sense, it's rather non-PC. I was thinking that, too. To the people themselves, too. The fashion sense came so late into my life that I can't, I think, use it, and wince slightly when others do. I assumed it was from the French, and OED confirms that; but it surprised me by giving an example of the French meaning from 1908, so I must have led a more sheltered life than I'd imagined. Am I being vicariously over-sensitive, or should the word still perhaps be used with caution? SignatureMike. > Barbara wrote on Fri, 9 Jan 2009 21:39:14 +0000 (UTC): > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > Anglo-Indians in the sense of those with both ancestries. In that > sense, it's rather non-PC. This is the meaning I am familiar with so I wouldn't be comfortable using it. I heard an elderly person use the word 'gypped' recently and Chi-Chi raises a similar level of unease in me. > Is there a subtle difference between "frou frou" and "chichi" Sure. Anything that's The New Black is chichi but simple. ¬R |
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