Mean-adjective meaning in English

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Definition

(you are so) mean (to me): (you are so) unfair, unkind, nasty (to me) adjective

Examples

  • "Oh yes, also, we mourn the passing of another man, Horatio Oléré, a frequently-naked Shaman that yelled a lot and was really mean to everyone."
  • "Kevin : Beautiful machine... Why do you treat me so mean?"
Exercise 1
Below are extracts from the audio you just heard. Find the expressions that could replace them without changing the meaning.

Why do you treat me so mean? -->

I demand you to comply! -->

You fixed the machine! -->
Below are extracts from the audio you just heard. Find the expressions that could replace them without changing the meaning.

Why do you treat me so mean? --> Why are you so horrible to me? 1

I demand you to comply! --> You must do what I tell you! 2

You fixed the machine! --> You repaired the machine! 3
1 Why are you so horrible to me?: In this context, "to treat" is to behave toward someone in a certain way. Example: The banker always treats the rich clients very well. To be "mean" is to be "nasty", "offensive" or "horrible". Example: Philip Cheeter is mean to his girlfriends in order to keep them interested!
1 Why don't we understand each other?: This isn't the best choice here!
1 Why don't you tell me what you really think?: This sentence might be replaced by a different use of the term "mean": "Why don't you tell me what you really mean"? Here, "What do you mean?" = "What do you intend to say?".
2 You must do what I tell you!: "To comply" is "to obey", "follow the rules" or "to conform". Example: We no longer sell this rubber doll because it doesn't comply with USA toy safety standards. "I demand you to comply" means "I insist that you obey" or "You must do what I tell you"!
2 You must apologize!: "To comply" is not "to apologize" or "say sorry".
2 You must be nice!: "To comply" is not to "be nice".
3 You repaired the machine!: "To fix" is "to repair" or "make a broken (machine) work again". Example: My Aunty Jane is very good at fixing motorbikes.
3 You attached the machine to the wall!: It is possible to fix something to a wall, meaning that it becomes more or less permanently attached. However, in English, we need to include the surface the object has been attached to. Example: I fixed the picture to the wall. "I fixed the picture" (on its own) means "I repaired the picture".
3 You made the machine really angry!: "To annoy" is "to irritate" or "make someone slightly angry". "To annoy" is not a synonym of "to fix".

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