Suits you Sir

[katzenellenbogen]

Not a TAAT (I hope!) but I have seen a number of threads on different subjects recently where somebody is described as not suiting something.

e.g. I don't suit red, my DD doesn't suit dresses, the baby doesn't suit that name.

Surely it is always the other way round?

In The Fast Show they never say "You suit that Sir"

I feel better for getting that off my chest, but am now bothered that the word suit looks bloody weird when you type it out several times

Just seen one of these today.

It's both ways no?

That dress doesn't suit you? You don't suit that dress.

That suits you? You suit it?

I mean techincally the word order does bring its sutle implications.

The dress doesn't suit you may imply the dress is ugly or has a problem, eg. The wrong colour on you.

You don't suit that dress implies there is nothing wrong with the dress, it's you that's the 'problem' e.g. you have too big boobs for it.

By extension can also relate to importance. Says that suits you / doesn't suit you in a shop puts the buyer as the important aspect. That doesn't suit you, so we will find another in a better colour / tighter fit / higher cut. Its important that the suit suits you not you suiting it. The suit has less feelings.

You don't suit that, as above implies you have a flaw. You dont suit that because you have skinny legs...and therefore places the importance on the suit; the suit must find a fatter legged person.

Has vague implications of what came first too.

The name doesn't suit the baby implies the name was suggested for the already existing child and is being rejected as a suggestion.

The baby doesn't suit the name implies the baby has come along and doesn't quit match the name that was pre-selected, prior to birth.