"old"

    • same old=usually describing something cliché
    good old=the speaker likes the thing, and is implying they have liked it for quite a while
     
    Can I put it like this:
    "old" is kind of like "damn"
    The difference is you put "old" after an adjective whereas put "damn" before. Besides, adj + old is kindof describes something good, while most time, damn + adj means something bad.
    Does that make sense?
     
    Can I put it like this:
    "old" is kind of like "damn"
    The difference is you put "old" after an adjective whereas put "damn" before. Besides, adj + old is kindof describes something good, while most time, damn + adj means something bad.
    Does that make sense?
    Click to expand...
    I can't think of any exceptions, but it sounds weird when used with a negative adjective [like 'bad old'.] "The good old days" is probably one of the most common expressions, said mostly by older people. ;)
     
    Dem was the days! ;)

    I think it could be an intensifier. "Good old boys," "good old days," "good old Johnny," all can mean something different without their "goodness" inherint. ;)
     
    nasridine said:
    Can I put it like this:
    "old" is kind of like "damn"
    Besides, adj + old is kindof describes something good, while most time, damn + adj means something bad.
    Click to expand...

    Adj + old does not always describe something good.

    Ex: "Every day it's the same old shit:warning::warning:" (This means that every day it's the same thing... each day is predictable and boring)

    "Good old Donna. She never lets us down" (This means, in an affectionate way, that Donna is dependable and can be counted on)

    I'd say that the word "old" in these cases just puts greater emphasis on the preceding word - Same or Good.

    Another thing you might hear is "same old, same old".

    Ex:
    Person 1: "How's work going for you these days?"
    Person 2: "Oh, you know. Same old, same old" (this is just a way of saying, "nothing new to report")

    Does that make sense?
     
    I think "old" in this context simply means "as always" or "as ever" or "nothing's changed" (either in the positive or negative). Whenever I hear the phrase, in whatever form, I simply think that nothing's changed. "Good old days" (goes without saying, I think, that we're referring to the "old days" here). Same with "same old shit"... nothing's changed. "Good old Donna" is, and always has been, dependable.

    And, no, I don't think it's at all like "damn", Nasradine. "Good old Donna" might object!;)
     
    You must log in or register to reply here.
    Back
    Top