Hi! What does "neat" mean in this sentence: "Manson trimmed his beard to a neat fork and completely shaved his head"?
Source: "Helter Skelter", by Vincent Bugliosi.
Source: "Helter Skelter", by Vincent Bugliosi.
a neat fork
- Thread starter Stray Lamb
- Start date
Please tell us where you found this sentence, and in what situation it was used.
In addition to Florentia's question, is there some reason why you think that none of the ordinary, standard definitions of "neat" that can be found in any dictionary apply in this case???
Good question!
Because, in my language, Portuguese, if I translate "Manson trimmed his beard to a neat fork and completely shaved his head" to my language literally, will look like this (in your language, once is not allowed to include the Portuguese sentence here): "Manson trimmed his beard in the shape of a cool fork and completely shaved his head". As far as the barber profession is concerned, what does "cool fork" mean to you?
Last edited:
Neat = 'orderly' or 'tidy' in this sentence. Better to use a dictionary rather than translating software.
Hi again, Roxxxannne 
I use a dictionary, of course. But some meanings do not, let's say, "fit".
I use a dictionary, of course. But some meanings do not, let's say, "fit".
Sorry, I was confused by what you said in your previous post. I didn't understand how 'neat' translated into Portuguese and back into English would become 'cool' unless you were using translation software. Does 'a tidy fork' make sense?
I wanted to insert the word translated to my language in the previous post, but is not allowed. Of course "cool" isn't the only meaning recommended by the dictionary. It is one of the meanings that "fits" in this context (that "fits" in my language, of course).
Last edited:
The normal meaning of "cool" (low temperature) does not fit the sentence. The slang meaning of "cool" (hip, trendy) seems a little casual for the tone of the passage.
Bugliosi is describing Manson at the time of his trial. He had a neatly trimmed beard at that time. After the trial (and perhaps before) he had a long and unkempt beard.
I found this image of Manson that was purportedly taken during the trial, it shows a "forked" beard. However I could not find an image with a shaved head and the forked beard. Later on Manson's beard grew quite long.
Bugliosi was the prosecutor in the Manson trial.
I found this image of Manson that was purportedly taken during the trial, it shows a "forked" beard. However I could not find an image with a shaved head and the forked beard. Later on Manson's beard grew quite long.
Bugliosi was the prosecutor in the Manson trial.
In either case, the beard is neat or tidy, rather than hip, trendy, cool, etc.