1

I'm reading this novel, and there's a passage I don't quite understand. It describes a heroine's character, and goes as below:]

She is a smart, gorgeous chameleon, all heart and hard angles.

Specifically, I can't figure out what "all heart and hard angles" mean. Can someone please help me?

Improve this question
2
  • Thank you, Marria, for your answer. I didn't think I would get a reply this quick. You've helped me a lot!
    – Ellie
    Commented Nov 23, 2019 at 10:09
  • books.google.com/…
    – Hot Licks
    Commented Nov 23, 2019 at 18:06

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
2

I think it refers to chameleon part of the sentence, which means instability of the character. So she sometimes can be all heart (kind and caring) and sometimes - all hard angles (cold or even hostile).

I would describe this all heart and hard angles as tsundere type of person.

Improve this answer
3
  • 1
    I agree that it's sometimes one and sometimes the other (which describes the chameleonism) , but I think it's comparing just (1) heart and (2) hard angles. To say that somebody is all heart is a very common expression. To describe somebody or something as (all) hard angles is not as common, but still common nonetheless. I have never before heard the expression heart angles.
    – Jason Bassford
    Commented Nov 23, 2019 at 14:43
  • Thank you, have updated the answer.
    – Mariia Illarionova
    Commented Nov 23, 2019 at 15:24
  • Thank you Jason and Mariia for your clarification.
    – Ellie
    Commented Nov 24, 2019 at 3:02
0

"Heart and hard angles" is epigrammatic. Though heart and hard have contrasting senses, they sound alike, so juxtaposing them is a lyrical device to explain chameleon.

Improve this answer
1
  • Thank you, JMR, for your additional explanation:)
    – Ellie
    Commented Nov 27, 2019 at 12:49

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .