King: she was no oil painting

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Marius Hancu - 30 Jul 2009 12:59 GMT

Hello:

Is this common for "not beautiful?" Or created?

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... if Rod's description of Mark's woman last night is anything to go
by then she was no oil painting either.

John King, The Football Factory, p. 3
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Thanks.
Marius Hancu

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Cheryl - 30 Jul 2009 13:27 GMT

> Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> Thanks.
> Marius Hancu

Not beautiful.

Cheryl

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CDB - 30 Jul 2009 14:12 GMT

> Is this common for "not beautiful?" Or created?

I was going to answer that it isn't common, but a couple of online
dictionaries disagree.

be no oil painting (British & Australian humorous)
if someone is no oil painting, they are not attractive She has an
interesting face but she's no oil painting.

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/be+no+oil+painting

You might find this one useful too:
http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/n.htm .

> ----
> ... if Rod's description of Mark's woman last night is anything to
> go by then she was no oil painting either.
>
> John King, The Football Factory, p. 3
> ----

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Peter Duncanson (BrE) - 30 Jul 2009 14:26 GMT

>> Is this common for "not beautiful?" Or created?
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>if someone is no oil painting, they are not attractive She has an
>interesting face but she's no oil painting.

This shows an oil painting but the woman portrayed is "no oil painting":

>http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/be+no+oil+painting
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>> John King, The Football Factory, p. 3
>> ----

Signature

Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)

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Marius Hancu - 30 Jul 2009 16:53 GMT

> > Is this common for "not beautiful?" Or created?
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> You might find this one useful too:http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/n.htm.

Thank you all.
Marius Hancu

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / July 2009

King: she was no oil painting