What do you think of the word "sallow"?

[Corolla]

I have what I would consider sallow skin, by which I mean sort of the yellow side of olive! I don't think of "sallow" as a complimentary word.

Yet recently I've come across it being used in a flattering sense, eg "beautiful sallow skin". How do you interpret it?

Sallow I'd see as a bit grey and pale.

It’s not generally used as a compliment. It means bloodless and unhealthy!

Exactly as you have described. I wouldn't think of it as a complimentary word either.

Swallow to me implies a bit yellowish, probably unhealthy.

Ugh not a compliment at all, kind of pale and waxy. (actually that almost perfectly describes my complexion! Ho hum.)

Professor Snape!

For me sallow = pale and sickly looking

sallow bloomin autocorrect

My main point of reference is The Secret Garden - Mary Lennox was described as having a "sallow" complexion I think, as she had grown up not getting much exercise or fresh air. Definitely wasn't meant to be a good thing! But maybe the definition has moved on in the last 100 years!?

That's interesting then - most of you see it the same way as I do, not complimentary. Yet I've definitely seen it used as a compliment in books.

Sallow misunderstood to be olive I reckon?

Yellow and pale and pinched - think Mary Lennox was described as sallow in The Secret Garden, so I think of her!

@Tempusfudgeit

Professor Snape!

That's exactly what I'd think of!

Yellow and sickly and pinched - think Mary Lennox was described as sallow in The Secret Garden, so I think of her!

In my experience (in Ireland) we use it as a compliment to suggest skin that tans nicely. Having sallow skin would be enviable

Yellow and dull - me recently due to anemia.

In Ireland it's a compliment - like "ooh lovely tan" I've often been told I have lovely "sallow" skin, which I was at first, as that's not the context pretty much anywhere else as far as I know

Your description is exactly what I would have said I agree that sallow is not usually used as a compliment.

Was the "beautiful sallow skin" written by a Daily Mail reporter because nearly all of them appear to be illiterate and it sounds like the kind of tripe they would write.

@barkypup

In my experience (in Ireland) we use it as a compliment to suggest skin that tans nicely. Having sallow skin would be enviable

I'm in Ireland too and I get complimented on my sallow skin (means I don't burn to a crisp). Clearly it means different things in different places.

Irish too and always heard it as a compliment until my SIL, whos DD has previously described gorgeous sallow skin, found out the word actually means grey. So we stopped using it.

Hmmm, it’s not the nicest sounding description. But I’ve used it to describe DS before though, as it fits; he’s a pale redhead, but his skin doesn’t have that pinkish or even bluish tinge some redheads have. Instead there’s a yellowish undertone, and he gets this faint, grubby looking tan in summer instead of burning easily like most people with his hair colour.

Nichola Walker has what I call sallow colouring (as do I). But I tan beautifully in the summer.

www.digitalspy.com/tv/a861006/unforgottens-nicola-walker-the-bigger-the-actor-the-more-likely-the-killer/

Interesting that in Ireland it's a compliment. Maybe the books I've read it in were written by Irish authors.

This is a bit extreme but this is more or less how I see sallow.

@Cpl1586407

In Ireland it's a compliment - like "ooh lovely tan" I've often been told I have lovely "sallow" skin, which I was at first, as that's not the context pretty much anywhere else as far as I know

Exactly what i came on to say, so many Irish people are pale and freckley that sallow is seen as very desirable.

The first words that pop into my head are drab and unhealthy.