flatly/sharply refused
- Thread starter nebt
- Start date
nebt said:
Hi Nebt,
I think you are looking for 'smartly refused' which means the offer was immediately turned down.
LRV
"Flatly refused" means the offer was completely refused.
We say "He flat out refused the offer."
drei
drei
nebt said:
Sorry Nebt, I didn't notice your word 'flatly'. I was concentrating on 'sharply'.
It is correct to say 'flatly refused'.
LRV
la reine victoria said:
I have never heard "flatly/sharply/smartly refused".
Is this BE? I have only heard "to flat out" refuse.Thanks,
drei
I (speaker of American English) have heard and read "flatly" refused quite often. The other two are unfamiliar.
'Flatly refused' is in nationwide use in England - home of the English language! (Peace and love to those in the USA).
However, we sometimes say 'refused flat out' but never 'flat out refused'.
Google gives 192,000 sites for 'smartly refused', 2,010,000 for 'sharply refused' and 702,000 for 'flatly refused'.
I believe 'sharply' applied to 'refused' can mean a decision was made at high speed. Or possibly 'harshly'.
As KellyB has suggested, 'sharply' could also be a tone of voice.
LRV
(Peace and love to those in the USA). However, we sometimes say 'refused flat out' but never 'flat out refused'.
Google gives 192,000 sites for 'smartly refused', 2,010,000 for 'sharply refused' and 702,000 for 'flatly refused'.
I believe 'sharply' applied to 'refused' can mean a decision was made at high speed. Or possibly 'harshly'.
As KellyB has suggested, 'sharply' could also be a tone of voice.
LRV
OK, so what is wrong with "naturally refused"?
Nothing at all, although it carries a different kind of meaning to flatly or sharply.
On the other hand, sharply and flatly carry different kinds of meaning too.
Isn't is strange that refusal may be natural, flat or sharp.
I was offered a job as an unpaid, temporary, assistant drain-cleaner.
I naturally refused it.
... Of course I refused it, anyone sane would have done the same.
I flatly refused it.
... I very emphatically, but politely, refused it.
I sharply refused it.
... I refused it rather as if I had been insulted by the offer.
Have I got sharply refused right here? It's not something I would say normally.
Nothing at all, although it carries a different kind of meaning to flatly or sharply.
On the other hand, sharply and flatly carry different kinds of meaning too.
Isn't is strange that refusal may be natural, flat or sharp.
I was offered a job as an unpaid, temporary, assistant drain-cleaner.
I naturally refused it.
... Of course I refused it, anyone sane would have done the same.
I flatly refused it.
... I very emphatically, but politely, refused it.
I sharply refused it.
... I refused it rather as if I had been insulted by the offer.
Have I got sharply refused right here? It's not something I would say normally.
Sharply can also mean quickly or at high speed as Laura suggested.
I sharply/quickly refused.
I sharply/quickly refused.
I would say sharply if I wanted to indicate that the decision to refuse was nothing to think about. I refused rightaway, without any willingness to discuss the matter (for any reason - either I could have felt offended or I despise such offers or the way of thinking...). In one word SHARPLY.
Having read your comments, I think I could use it.
E.g.:
The PM sharply rejected the rumours about preparations of new taxation laws which had risen a huge dismay of public a week ago.
Thank you for your vivid discussion.
nebt
Having read your comments, I think I could use it.
E.g.:
The PM sharply rejected the rumours about preparations of new taxation laws which had risen a huge dismay of public a week ago.
Thank you for your vivid discussion.
nebt