Meaning & use
charmingly old-fashioned
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Meaning
adjectivebefore a noun
pleasantly old in style, in a way that people find attractive rather than outdated
Grammar: Used before a noun: a charmingly old-fashioned hotel. It is not usually used after a verb.
Patterns
- a charmingly old-fashioned place
- a charmingly old-fashioned custom
They stayed in a charmingly old-fashioned hotel with brass keys and no televisions.
Her charmingly old-fashioned manners made everyone feel welcome.
The shop has a charmingly old-fashioned feel, like something from fifty years ago.
Common combinations
- charmingly old-fashioned village
- We drove through a charmingly old-fashioned village with a stone church.
- charmingly old-fashioned style
- He writes in a charmingly old-fashioned style that reminds me of old letters.
- charmingly old-fashioned manners
- Her charmingly old-fashioned manners impressed my grandparents.
- charmingly old-fashioned feel
- The cafe has a charmingly old-fashioned feel.
Synonyms and how they differ
- quaint
- Quaint means attractively unusual or old, but it can also suggest something slightly strange; charmingly old-fashioned is warmer and more positive.
- old-world
- Old-world suggests European tradition and elegance; charmingly old-fashioned is more general and can describe everyday things.
Opposites
Word family
- charming adjective
- pleasant and attractive
- charmingly adverb
- in a pleasant or attractive way
- old-fashioned adjective
- belonging to or typical of an earlier time
Commonly confused: charmingly old-fashioned or old-fashioned?
charmingly old-fashioned vs old-fashioned
Old-fashioned alone often means not modern and can be negative; charmingly old-fashioned adds the idea that the oldness is attractive.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase describes something pleasantly old in style, so wooden floors and afternoon tea fit. Option 1 is wrong because complaining suggests the oldness is a problem. Option 2 contradicts the meaning, and option 3 contradicts 'old-fashioned'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “charmingly old-fashioned”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.