Jenne Phuong
2022-03-22 01:03
No better than (one) ought to be phrase
This phrase is typically used to reflect on women. The phrase can be rewritten as "no better than (one) should be".
If a person, especially a woman is "no better than she ought to be", that person is immoral or perverse, having a tendency toward sexual promiscuity.
My grandma thinks a woman who lives with her boyfriend before marriage is no better than she ought to be.
A full-figured and sexually attractive woman
Used to talk about the woman’s side of the family.
1. Images of attractive and scantily dressed women.
2. An attractive woman.
Used to describe a woman who is successful and talented in many areas
Used to describe a girl or woman who is unattractive
This phrase dates back to the early 17th century. It originated in England and was in common use up to the 1960s, but it seems to have fallen out of favor now. The most likely origin is a reference to the person’s assumed class – “no better than she ought to be, considering her status”. The assumption being that working-class people had lower moral standards than middle or upper-class people. The fact that it was only used to reflect on women makes sense because men weren’t considered immoral in having relationships outside of marriage, while women – particularly working-class women – were.
Do you see anything wrong?
Clear
