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 #2 (permalink) Thu Jan 12, 2006 15:44 pm 'No good' vs. 'Not good'? |
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| Quote: | Is there a difference in meaning between 'no good' and 'not good'?
yes
55% [ 5 ]
no
22% [ 2 ]
I have no idea
22% [ 2 ]
Total Votes : 9 |
| english-test.net wrote: | | Now I'm curious... |
And I'm curious, too. I said 'no', but I'm not so sure now. Thank you for resolving my doubts. |
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Conchita
Language Coach
Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain
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| #3 (permalink) Thu Jan 12, 2006 17:07 pm 'No good' vs. 'Not good'? |
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Hi Conchita,
Let's have a look at this with examples.
Talking of news/information you have received which is unpleasant/serious/bad. Your response: That's not good.
Talking of an offer someone has made you to help you, not now when you want it, but next weeK. Your response: That's no good.
Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Cool Expressions |
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Alan
Co-founder
Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 9119
Location: UK
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| #4 (permalink) Fri Jan 13, 2006 10:19 am 'No good' vs. 'Not good'? |
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Good morning Alan and thank you.
For some people, Friday 13th is not good (I prefer 'is a bad day'), but being superstitious is no good, is it?
In Spain we don't even have the same bad luck day: it's Tuesday 13th, and an old saying goes: 'Neither embark nor get married on a Tuesday'. By the way, our equivalent of April Fool's Day is 'Los Santos Inocentes' (the Holy Innocents), on December 28th. |
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Conchita
Language Coach
Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain
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| #5 (permalink) Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:37 am 'No good' vs. 'Not good'? |
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| english-test.net wrote: | | Now I'm curious... |
Hi,
The phrase "no good" typically refers to quality or condition.
It can also be a compound adjective. In that case, we would use a hyphen "no-good".
no-good (nō'gʊd')
adj.
Having no value, use, merit, or virtue.
http://www.answers.com/topic/no-good?method=22#after_ad1
The phrase "not good" can refer to quality, condition, or something that one finds to be bad or not pleasing.
Here are two examples:
It's raining, so we can't go to the park. That's not good. - This is something the speaker and the listener find to be unpleasing or bad.
This keyboard doesn't work anymore. Throw it away. It's no-good. Here, the speaker is referring to the condition of a keyboard. (You could say "not good" here, but this is an example of how someone would typically use "no good.)
We could also say "throw that keyboard away; it's not good anymore".
However, I would say that using "no good" in this in this sentence would be less likely "we can't go to the park because it's raining; that's no good". It's not impossible, but I would say it's less likely.
_________________________
As shown by two dictionary definitions, we can also use "no-good" to describe a person.
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=53843&dict=CALD
http://www.answers.com/topic/no-good?method=22
Also, "no good" sounds rather "informal" to me. At the least and at the most, I would say "no good" is a phrase that is best not used in formal writing or when a more formal presentation of language is best. I have nothing against informal language. However, I think this is noteworthy. It has to do with register.
Here, we can see that it is labeled informal in the American Heritage Dictionary.
http://www.answers.com/good
no good Informal.
Worthless.
Futile; useless: It's no good arguing with them.
http://www.answers.com/topic/no-good?method=22
no good
Unsatisfactory, inadequate; also, no use. For example, This work is no good; it'll have to be done over, or It's no good complaining since there's nothing we can do, or I tried to appeal to his sense of generosity, but it did no good. [Mid-1800s] Also see come to an end (to no good), def. 2; do any (no) good. |
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Steve
I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 09 Jun 2006
Posts: 14
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| #6 (permalink) Fri Jun 09, 2006 23:35 pm 'No good' vs. 'Not good'? |
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Jeez, I've never thought that there is any difference between them. It makes me wondering how funny I'd sound to myself if I was a native english and I could hear myself speaking the way I do now.
I know it's weird, I took my pills, don't worry 
Spencer |
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Spencer
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 07 Feb 2006
Posts: 326
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Steve
I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 09 Jun 2006
Posts: 14
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| #8 (permalink) Fri Nov 28, 2008 11:33 am 'No good' vs. 'Not good'? |
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''No good'' is sometimes written as ''no-good'' and means having no worth, virtue, use, or chance of success (Mirriam-Webster Online).
''No-good'' it is worse that just being not good. Particularly if used for a person.
You mother might tell you, "That guy is no-good. You should stay away from him. '' Using ''not good'' just wouldn't work here.
Of course, lots of other things can be no-good, not just people. A similar expression is good-for-nothing.
http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=11081
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Sitifan
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