Monday, March 15, 2010

Solid crab!


I ate at Mellben Seafood Restaurant recently and saw this sign, which involved the use of 'solid' as an adjective to describe food positively, this struck me as something distinctly Singaporean, or at most, Malaysian as well. However, upon referring to various online dictionaries, I realized that it was actually primed for other groups of English speakers like the Am, and Br English speakers too. I also Googled the term 'solid steak', and one of the top search results was of an American steak house, BLT Steak, which guaranteed a solid steak experience, as can be seen on the website, http://steakclub7.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/bltsteak/.

Here are the dictionary results which supported the use of 'solid' to describe food as 'good' were,
OED:
c. Of food or liquor.
1711 STEELE Spectator No. 43 {page}4 A Bottle or two of good solid Edifying Port, at honest George's, made a Night chearful, and threw off Reserve.

Merriam-Webster:
4 : of good substantial quality or kind

Merriam-Webster's Learner's:
5 [more sol*id; most sol*id] a : good and able to be trusted to do or provide what is needed He plays solid defense. The team's defense is very solid. She gave a solid performance. She's a good, solid player. b : having a strong basis : good and dependable

Longman:
11

good

British English informal good

Cambridge:
of a good standard

However, some dictionaries stated that 'solid' be meant as something good and dependable and substantial, but not exceptionally special, which is probably not what the proprietors of Mellben intended for the meaning of 'solid'.

Oxford Advanced Learner's:
GOOD BUT NOT SPECIAL
5 definitely good and steady but perhaps not excellent or special: 2004 was a year of solid achievement. * He’s a solid player.

Dictionary.com:
not flimsy, slight, or light, as buildings, furniture, fabrics, or food; substantial.

Please let me know your views regarding how the word 'solid' as an adjective to describe the quality of things is primed for you!(:



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