MetaChat - What's an economical face?

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02 August 2008

What's an economical face? I'm listening to an audio book. A security guard is described as having an economical face. What does this mean? Spare, thrifty? I don't get it.

post by: LoriFLA at: 21:42 | 8 comments

It's probably a term unique to the author - not a common descriptor. Without any context, I'd guess it means someone who doesn't show too much emotion - that he's economical (frugal) with his expressions, not giving too much away.

posted by Miko 02 August | 21:46

Thanks, Miko. Your explanation sounds very reasonable. This is probably what the author meant.

posted by LoriFLA 02 August | 21:49

If not expression, he may just have a bland set of features; small eyes and mouth, an unremarkable nose.

It's a nice turn of phrase, in any event.

posted by MonkeyButter 02 August | 21:58

One eye and on nostril with a small mouth would be an economical face would it not?

posted by arse_hat 02 August | 22:07

I get the impression of someone whose face is very square and strong and characterless, if that makes sense. Like there's not a lot of extraneous features that would create individuality.

posted by occhiblu 03 August | 00:19

When we first heard it my husband and I were trying to decipher what the author meant. We were thinking the same as monkeybutter. We listened to this passage again last night because we were getting caught up and we were still stumped. All of these suggestions sound good to me.

posted by LoriFLA 03 August | 09:47

I lean toward "bland and undistinguised" rather than Miko's (nonetheless creative) interpretation. Like an economy car.

posted by stilicho 03 August | 22:25

I've seen this description before. I took it to mean the same as Miko - not giving too much away, which would be in keeping with a security guard.

posted by dg 04 August | 03:20

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