grand affair
1
4.4
- noun
:
gran evento
- Even Jeanne remarked how sorry everyone was that Paul and I had eloped and not given them the same opportunity to plan a grand affair.
Examples
-
Every year, the city organizes a grand affair to celebrate its anniversary with fireworks and parades.
-
Her birthday party turned into a grand affair, with elaborate decorations and a live band.
-
Her hat was quite a grand affair with a veil that covered the lower half of her face.
Fiction book (1991) -
This time around, in its 5th edition, the launch of IPL was a very grand affair.
Blog text (24) -
And then Jorge and Crystal were back at his place, and they were grief-stricken. Yes, it actually came over them like a contagion, and they were crying. Somehow, they had gotten the rock, and they were smoking it, and they were making these rash promises like their marriage would be a grand affair, with a reception that would
Fiction book (1994) -
The charity gala was a grand affair, attracting celebrities and dignitaries from around the world.
Synonyms
901
2.5
A formal event that follows traditional rules for a special occasion
267
3.7
A formal social event with food, music, and speeches
167
3.3
A formal party after a ceremony to welcome guests
146
6.3
A public show with costumes and performances that celebrates a theme or history
75
3.7
A public religious ceremony with formal rituals
74
4.2
A formal social event such as a party or ceremony
72
3.7
A large formal party with entertainment, often to raise money for charity
38
2.0
An important occasion when people come together, like a wedding or concert
37
7.5
A large, exciting show with big acts and fancy stages
37
3.0
The most important event in a show or public gathering
6
5.2
A large, impressive show with bright effects and fancy scenes
6
4.7
A formal event to mark or honor a special day
3
2.8
An event where people meet to celebrate or spend time together
1
6.0
A fancy formal party with entertainment to celebrate or raise money
1
4.9
A formal gathering with planned rituals to mark an important event
A formal party or ceremony where many people meet
Antonyms
How Elaborate
37
7.5
1
4.4
901
2.5
942
3.1
∞
1.0
203
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'an important or elaborate event' is directly and transparently composed from 'grand' (magnificent, splendid) + 'affair' (a formal or social event). This is a straightforward, compositional collocation that a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer; while 'affair' has other senses (e.g., romantic affair), contextual cues (e.g., 'wedding') disambiguate the event sense.
Etymology
Grand affair comes from using grand to mean 'big' and 'splendid' and affair to mean a 'happening' or 'event'. So the picture is of a big, fancy event, which is why it means 'an important or elaborate event'.