Synonyms: Examples of ASL to English translation possibilities
Attributing Qualities to Others:
1. My mother will not let me go to your party. She is so mean.
2. These are mean streets.
3. My neighbor is so mean spirited. She will complain and report on me over slights.
4. That was a vile joke you played on your little brother!
1. My mother is pretty strict.
2. I strictly adhered to the diet.
3. Strictly speaking, there is no guarantee.
1. My aunt has a sweet disposition.
2. I got a sweet job offer.
3. She was sweetly smiling when she uttered those hateful words.
4. You do take your own sweet time coming to class.
5. My brother is sweet on the girl next door.
1. I was so lazy today. I just lay on the couch watching TV for hours!
2. Bob has a lazy eye. He will need an operation to correct it.
3. She lazily signed her response.
4. Some people think sloths are lazy but they are really just slow.
1. I am so happy to see you today.
2. After the earthquake collapsed their home, the couple was happy to be alive.
3. My niece is always happy.
4. After 2 years of court battles, they were happy to get a good settlement.
1. My boyfriend is a very jealous lover.
2. You will go to Hawaii for vacation, I am so envious of you.
3. I do resent the fact that you thought I told on you.
4. Some people are just jealous of our good fortune.
1. Wow, your boyfriend is so polite.
2. I like courteous people.
3. My son is so well-mannered for a 4 year old.
4. I have to be civil to him because he is my uncle but he can be so vulgar sometimes.
1. You are so brave to jump out of a plane!
2. It was courageous of that young man to save the little boy from drowning.
3. Soldiers in the Roman army were fearless.
4. The 3 Musketeers were gallant gentlemen.
5. I don’t believe chivalry is dead.
1. My grandmother is so wise.
2. It is wise to save your money for a rainy day.
3. Oh I am sure your boss will be reasonable and let you leave early.
4. Bob is a very rational man.
1. Slow down, or you will choke on the food!
2. As people age, they tend to slow down in their daily activities.
3. Oh brother this driver is so slow!
4. The dancer’s movement is slow and deliberate.
5. I unhurriedly strolled through the park.
1. Independence finally, I am living on my own.
2. You must make your own decision regarding the vote independent of others.
3. In the U.S. people are considered independent adults at age 18.
1. My aunt is so soft-hearted. She will welcome any strays. Be they people or animals.
2. My heart softens when it comes to puppies.
3. Mom bawled out Mary for coming home late then her heart softened after Mary cried.
4. Oh my grandpa may look grumpy but he is a real softie.
1. Sometimes my brother acts silly around my friends.
2. Don’t be silly, it is ok to stay here.
3. That was a silly idea!
4. I felt silly when I found myself the only one wearing fancy clothes when everyone else
were wearing jeans at the party! I’m going to kill my friends for lying to me.
1. John has a right to be boastful about his accomplishments. He’s is a true rags to riches
story.
2. Don’t be too boastful. It is not an attractive attribute.
3. Bob boasted about the size of the fish he caught. He is really exaggerating.
1. Look at that beautiful dress.
2. What a beautiful baby.
3. She has a beautiful personality.
4. This is an attractive tie.
1. My brother has a very sunny disposition.
2. Anya is sad. Let’s go cheer her up.
3. The cheerleaders are very cheerful.
4. His inspiring story cheered us up.
1. My daughter is shy around strangers.
2. I shy away from horses. I am really scared of them.
3. Don’t be shy, you may have a cookie.
1. I often become fearful after watching a horror movie.
2. After being bit, my dog is now fearful around other dogs.
3. I am sorry but this coffee is really fearfully strong for me!
1. Some people act tough but often they are really scared inside.
2. Wow, what a bold statement you made!
3. We were emboldened to fight for our rights.
4. You think you are tough, huh?!
1. You are so stubborn!
2. I stubbornly stuck to my guns.
3. We stubbornly tugged at the stuck door and finally it flew open. Yippee!
4. Some people are just stubbornly closed-minded.
1. I am weak when it comes to chocolate.
2. I feel weak, please help me up.
3. He weakly said his name.
4. Don’t be weak, don’t change your mind because of him.
1. He’s got the smarts.
2. Harry is so smart. He entered Harvard at age fifteen.
3. Don’t smart mouth me!
4. I smarted at his insult.
1. That was a pea-brained idea!
2. Oh boy, what a pea-brain thing to do.
1. I felt sleepy this morning.
Not Famous
Complain
Big headed/arrogant
Work
Grouchy
Dependent
Cute
Good-looking/handsome