Would it be inappropriate if I say "awesome" on a formal occasion?

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

It might be considered a little inappropriate, yes, as it's commonly used in its informal sense. It is sometimes okay to use formally, as it used to be in the past, but usually right before the noun to describe something. Ex: The awesome speed of this car is unbeatable by any other. => slighty outdated use, but reads as formal Ex: What an awesome day! => appropriate Ex: What an awesome graduation ceremony! => maybe a little inappropriate Ex: This has been an excellent graduation ceremony.

How do native speakers use this expression?

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Popular Q&As

01/03

1
Do British people tend to use the term "house" instead of "dormitory"?
In Harry Potter, Hogwarts follows a "house system." As you guessed, this is common in England and the rest of the UK (and sometimes in America and Commonwealth countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and so on). It cannot be categorized as just a dormitory system. Students are divided in subunits (houses) when they start school. Houses compete with each other in sports, academics, and other events. Typical dormitory systems won't really create the feelings of group loyalty and competition that you find with the house system. Thus, it is not quite appropriate to equate to "house" to just meaning "dormitory/dorm." You can assume that they are not substitutes for each other and actually represent different systems.

2
What's the origin of the exclamation "bingo?"
Yelling out "bingo" when you win the game is a very common tradition from when the game came out! It started when the game was introduced in New York, and a lady yelled at "Bingo" after she won, and people kept on doing it.

3
What's "fold" mean here?
Good question! The meaning of "fold" here is twofold. In the context of poker, to fold means to drop out of a hand (to discard one's hand and give up the current pot). It's also used to mean to give up, fail, or collapse. For example, it may be used in the business setting to express that a company has gone out of business. Thus, the singer is expressing here that even when he gives up or fails, his partner is supportive and sees the best in him (does not think badly of him). Ex: The company folded due to the pandemic. Ex: Stay strong, don't fold under pressure!

4
What's "fascinate" mean?
"Fascinate" is a verb that means to intrigue and wonder about; to draw one's attention to something or someone and be curious. Ex: The way she paints fascinates me. I've never seen anyone paint like that. Ex: The documentary I'm watching is so fascinating. Ex: What are things that fascinate you in life?

5
I understand that the word "chicken" refer to a coward. However, why would she mention "spring" with a chicken?
Yeah, "spring chicken" has a different meaning to "chicken" when referring to a coward. A "spring chicken" means a young person. One uses it when saying that someone isn't young anymore. Ex: Heather isn't a spring chicken anymore. She can't do the things she used to. Ex: At 73, Dorris is still a spring chicken! Always out and about. Ex: He's no spring chicken, but sure, he can join the team.

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