torch singer
1
7.9
- noun
- /tɔrtʃ ˈsɪŋər/
- Archaic
:
cantante de baladas
- As the evening progressed, the torch singer's emotional ballads left the listeners in tears, reminiscing about their past heartaches.
Examples
-
The old torch singer is surprised and pleased by the presence of two young American soldiers.
Fiction book (2001) -
Heart, you old torch singer, I can feel you flutter against my palm.
Fiction book (1999) -
You know, torch singers and jazz, and the English expression is 'off-color' -- an off-color comedian.
Fiction book (1993) -
The talented torch singer captivated the audience with her heartfelt performance about lost love.
-
During the festival, the torch singer sang a poignant song that resonated with many who had experienced unrequited love.
How Sentimental
- Archaic
1
7.9
3
8.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
torch + singer
The meaning 'a singer who performs sentimental "torch songs"' cannot be derived from the literal constituents 'torch' (a portable light) and 'singer' (a performer). This is based on a lexicalized idiom ('torch song') and requires prior cultural/lexical knowledge; an average B1 learner who only knows the basic words would not predict the sentimental/romantic sense.
Etymology
Torch singer comes from torch songs, which are sad love songs about 'lost' or 'unrequited' love. Imagine someone keeping a torch burning for a past lover; that image explains why a torch singer is a singer who performs tender, heartbroken songs.