I have heard it used in a negative sense. For example, "rudeness does not become you" etc.
Is this phrase used in a positive context as well? (like "generosity becomes you")?
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The most notable use of this verb in the positive is perhaps the 1992 (I think) movie Death Becomes Her, starring Goldie Hawn, Meryl Streep, and Bruce Willis. Highly recommended.– Janus Bahs JacquetDec 7, 2013 at 14:25
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As others have answered, one meaning of "becoming" is "to look well". But it is a dated use belonging in an age and society more concerned with an image of gentility. Prince Andrew was recently derided in the media for having described his late friend Jeffrey Epstein as having engaged in "conduct unbecoming" - the allegations against Epstein having involved child prostitution and sex trafficking on an industrial scale.– WS2Jan 22, 2020 at 22:28
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"Fatherhood becomes you." --Star Trek, it means "Fatherhood fits with you" or "it's natural for you."– ZhangDec 25, 2020 at 3:28
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2 Answers
becoming can mean the obvious - changing into, growing into, happening, coming about. It also has a second meaning - "to look well"
The word started to be used in this manner in the early 14th century, from the earlier sense of "to agree with, be fitting" (early 13th century).
Similarly there is "comely", which means handsome, lovely, splendid.
Therefore, "generosity becomes you" means "generosity looks well on/is fitting on you" (essentially, it makes you look good). "Rudeness does not become you" means "rudeness does not look well on/does not fit you" (essentially, it makes you look bad).
You can also use the word "unbecoming" as a negative. "Your rudeness is unbecoming."
answered Dec 7, 2013 at 4:45
Become is being used in the sense of "suits you"...e.g., crime does not become you (i.e., you're a crappy criminial), "that dress becomes you" (you look good in it) etc.
It's in the dictonary as a second definition.
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1"Crime does not become you" doesn't really imply that you're bad at crime (assuming that's what you meant by "crappy criminal"), the meaning is more that engaging in crime is not appropriate behaviour.– nnnnnnJan 23, 2020 at 1:31