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Original poster

Please settle an argument between me and DP..... what does 'mild' mean?

448 replies

Limth · 15/11/2023 12:34

You may be preventing a fucking divorce here, so please help by answering this question -

Question: If I said "It's milder today than it was yesterday", would you take that to mean:
A: Its warmer than it was yesterday
B: Its colder than yesterday

Very many thanks!

OP posts:
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7
Ireallydontwantto · 15/11/2023 13:39

Warmer x 😂

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 15/11/2023 13:40

Limth · 15/11/2023 12:57

This is my exact thinking.

Milder = warmer, less cold but not approaching boiling hot

DP thinks "milder" means cooler, colder, less hot.
IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES - not just compared to a boiling hot day yesterday (in which case, the usual word would be "cooler" IMHO).

Seriously, me and DP are just about ready to break up over this.

Show quote history

You are both wrong

MoltenLasagne · 15/11/2023 13:40

This is like how Americans use "quite" differently.

In British English, if we say your DP is quite stupid, we mean he is a little bit stupid. But an American who calls your DP quite stupid, thinks he's very stupid indeed.

PinkRoses1245 · 15/11/2023 13:40

Warmer, or just generally nicer weather.

Flightorflounder · 15/11/2023 13:40

I would take it to mean less of an extreme. Ie if it was icy yesterday and warmer today that would be milder. Equally if it was scorching june day and cooled down, that would also be milder

Iwasafool · 15/11/2023 13:41

I think it means less extreme, in the middle maybe? So in July in the heatwave a milder day is cooler, in December a milder day is warmer.

So you are either both right or both wrong!

Ifeellikeateenageragain · 15/11/2023 13:41

In the UK: A. Warmer.

ARE you in the UK?

Iwasafool · 15/11/2023 13:41

Flightorflounder · 15/11/2023 13:40

I would take it to mean less of an extreme. Ie if it was icy yesterday and warmer today that would be milder. Equally if it was scorching june day and cooled down, that would also be milder

You beat me to it.

plumtreebroke · 15/11/2023 13:42

Google the definition to settle the argument.

Mild weather is not very cold or not as cold as usual.

usual

1. normal; happening, done, or used most often: 2. Someone's usual is the…

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/usual

Grimbelina · 15/11/2023 13:43

You are both wrong. The definition of milder is less severe. Therefore warmer or colder depends on the starting point.
If it was raging heat yesterday and milder today, that would be cooler.
if it was freezing cold yesterday but milder to day, that would be warmer.

This.

Winederlust · 15/11/2023 13:43

Limth · 15/11/2023 13:07

Exactly.... like 'cooler' is kind of opposite of milder.

Hot day yesterday, less hot today = Cooler
Cold day yesterday, less cold today = Milder

Show quote history

You see I don't even think I'd use the term 'milder' in that context either. I'd just say 'warmer' or 'less chilly/damp/whatever'.

I kind of think in weather terms mild weather just means relative to what the average is for the time of year rather than used on a day to day comparison basis.

Maybe just avoid the word totally going forward for the sake of your marriage!

Galatine · 15/11/2023 13:43

PivotPivotmakingmargaritas · 15/11/2023 12:35

Lol I say milder is colder

Well there has to be one who will gainsay everyone else!

Mikimoto · 15/11/2023 13:43

Who has EVER said "Brrr...it's so mild today"??!!

Thisistyresome · 15/11/2023 13:43

Limth · 15/11/2023 12:34

You may be preventing a fucking divorce here, so please help by answering this question -

Question: If I said "It's milder today than it was yesterday", would you take that to mean:
A: Its warmer than it was yesterday
B: Its colder than yesterday

Very many thanks!

Depends on season.

In winter, it is warmer, in summer it is cooler. It is less extreme.

So in Britain that mostly means warmer.

cantseethetrees · 15/11/2023 13:44

A

DiscoBeat · 15/11/2023 13:44

Less warm, rather than colder

TheShellBeach · 15/11/2023 13:44

Colder

MrsHarrisAParis · 15/11/2023 13:44

I think a PP was right. Your DH learnt the meaning of milder from sauces - where a milder sauce isn't as hot as a spicy one. Hence he thinks it always means less hot ie cooler.

HMW1906 · 15/11/2023 13:45

Colder

Lizzyinatizzy · 15/11/2023 13:45

Less stark than whatever it was…
so if it was baking hot yesterday I’d expect milder to mean a bit cooler.
but if it was freezing cold yesterday I’d expect it to mean a bit warmer

but I was taught English by non English speakers abroad.. so maybe not!

TheShellBeach · 15/11/2023 13:45

Grimbelina · 15/11/2023 13:43

You are both wrong. The definition of milder is less severe. Therefore warmer or colder depends on the starting point.
If it was raging heat yesterday and milder today, that would be cooler.
if it was freezing cold yesterday but milder to day, that would be warmer.

This.

Exactly this!

FraiseRoyale · 15/11/2023 13:46

Interesting discussion. I live in a warm/hot climate. Milder to me means cooler.

JeezWhatNext · 15/11/2023 13:47

His definition only works for spicy food not weather. Eg “the korma is milder than the madras”.

Liv999 · 15/11/2023 13:47

A. It's warmer than it was yesterday, mild definitely does not mean cold!

Stacksnacks · 15/11/2023 13:47

Google says warmer, although only slightly!