painted Jezebel
- noun
- /ˈpeɪntɪd ˈdʒɛzəˌbɛl/
- Slur
:
[ofensivo] mujer provocativa
- Tabloid headlines often sensationalized her image as a painted Jezebel.
Examples
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She was branded a painted Jezebel by the local gossip column.
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Many people viewed her as a painted Jezebel due to her provocative outfits.
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In the play, the villain refers to his adversary as a painted Jezebel.
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She was often called a painted Jezebel for her bold fashion choices.
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Many people viewed her as a painted Jezebel due to her provocative outfits.
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She was often called a painted Jezebel for her bold fashion choices.
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In the play, the villain refers to his adversary as a painted Jezebel.
Synonyms
64
9.9
A very attractive woman who gets a lot of attention
12
8.6
A woman who uses charm to attract and control people
3
9.8
A woman who flirts playfully to attract attention
2
9.9
A woman seen as shameless or immoral, often used as an insult
1
9.9
A woman people call immoral or who uses others to gain power
A woman who uses charm to make a man lose power or get into trouble
A woman in stories or films who uses charm and looks to attract and influence others
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
This phrase is a straightforward adjectival composition: 'painted' (wearing heavy or noticeable makeup) modifies 'Jezebel' (a derogatory term for an immoral or conniving woman), so the overall sense is an immoral/seductive woman who dresses or makes herself up conspicuously. Given that structure and meanings, a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the MWE meaning without prior exposure.
Etymology
Painted Jezebel comes from a strong image: Jezebel was a wicked queen in the Bible, and painted meant wearing noticeable makeup, which people once saw as a sign of bad morals or of trying to attract men. So, calling someone a painted Jezebel came to mean 'an immoral or seductive woman'.