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lightweight at heart

English translation: someone who is truly not very serious or not very skilled

15:23 Aug 29, 2007
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Games / Video Games / Gaming / Casino / gaming, idioms, pun
English term or phrase: lightweight at heart
A is trying wants B to do a training game:

A: Okay, here are the rules. I'll choose a subject, and you have to touch that person and come back here. Since we're just practicing, you don't have to drag them all the way here. Got it?

B: Nope

A: *sigh* I knew you'd say that. I always suspected you were a lightweight at heart.

I can't pin down "lightweight at heart". Does it mean she's got "no heart", i.e. she's cruel?

Thank you!
grigua
Selected answer:someone who is truly not very serious or not very skilled
Explanation:
not sure about your specific context but "a lightweight" means someone who is either not very serious about the action or is not very skilled at it

lightweight
( n ) Someone who cannot get things done. You don't want to give a job this important to a lightweight.

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Note added at 14 mins (2007-08-29 15:38:22 GMT)
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no, I would rephrase "I always thought you were not really willing to go all the way- to be serious enough (in his opinion). my impression is that "B" is not courageous enough to play this kind of game which sounds like it requires an outgoing personality - but I admit I am unclear as to the word "touch"...do they mean touch physically? or touch - like dealing with a sensitive subject?

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Note added at 29 mins (2007-08-29 15:53:26 GMT)
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"B" did not "get it"- did not understand what he has to do - so, maybe the guy is not very bright? not very quick? not paying attention? "taunting lazy players" sounds very plausible
Selected response from:

RHELLER
United States
Local time: 13:55
Grading comment
Thank you
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +5someone who is truly not very serious or not very skilled
RHELLER
4 -1"moron"
John Alphonse (X)


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
someone who is truly not very serious or not very skilled


Explanation:
not sure about your specific context but "a lightweight" means someone who is either not very serious about the action or is not very skilled at it

lightweight
( n ) Someone who cannot get things done. You don't want to give a job this important to a lightweight.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 mins (2007-08-29 15:38:22 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

no, I would rephrase "I always thought you were not really willing to go all the way- to be serious enough (in his opinion). my impression is that "B" is not courageous enough to play this kind of game which sounds like it requires an outgoing personality - but I admit I am unclear as to the word "touch"...do they mean touch physically? or touch - like dealing with a sensitive subject?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 29 mins (2007-08-29 15:53:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"B" did not "get it"- did not understand what he has to do - so, maybe the guy is not very bright? not very quick? not paying attention? "taunting lazy players" sounds very plausible


    Reference: http://www.alphadictionary.com/slang/L.html
RHELLER
United States
Local time: 13:55
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thank you
Notes to answerer
Asker: Could this be rephrased as "I always knew that you were not very good?"

Asker: No, touching physically. It's a Nintendo Ds game, that has a touch screen. B is the player character.

Asker: The last sentence appears when the player chooses not to do the training game. Its aim is probably to taunt lazy players.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Nibus: yes - a novice
1 min
  -> thanks Nibus but this is not a novice
agree  NancyLynn: I'd go beyond novice; I'd say this definition is closer to someone who doesn't care to put much effort into the activity.
7 mins
  -> hi Nancy! yes, of course, it's all about attitude :-)
agree  Alexander Demyanov
36 mins
  -> thanks Alex :-)
agree  Alfa Trans (X)
12 hrs
  -> hi Marju :-)
agree  Elena Aleksandrova
1 day 2 hrs
  -> thanks, Elena :-)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
"moron"


Explanation:
I believe Person A is frustrated by the ineptitude of Person B for not understanding the directions after having explained them. I am thinking "lightweight at heart" is maybe a hard-to-translate comment on mental prowess more than physical ability. I think any derivative of moron would be appropriate!

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Note added at 2 days6 hrs (2007-08-31 21:55:27 GMT)
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Person A is responding to what was spoken, which was an answer of "Nope." Therefore it seems to follow that Person A's response was based on having to repeat himself because Person B didn't understand. The term "lightweight at heart" seems just a misuse of English in translation, or it's just poor writing. If we had a few sentences beyond what was given this may help to clarify the meaning.

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Note added at 3 days37 mins (2007-09-01 16:00:58 GMT) Post-grading
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Alain, whether or not the character is understanding Person A, Person A is still referring to Person B as a moron, even if it is a taunt. I understand, Person B is not falling for the trick perhaps, but that doesn't change the nature of the comment directed toward him. "A" is taunting him for his perceived lack of understanding even if it is a trick to say yes. I believe you are right about the context, but the statement is what it is, and Person B's intelligence is being insulted regardless of how you want to interpret "lightweight at heart" or the fact the question was perhaps designed to deceive Person B. Just because B doesn't want to do it does not automatically infer that A did not call him a moron. Regardless, of Person B's understanding and game intent, he is being taunted for his answer of "Nope".

John Alphonse (X)
United States
Works in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Alain Dellepiane: Nope, it's lazy videogame writing: player chooses no > character declines > other character taunts. - Character A has no problem in understanding at all, he just doesnt want to do it, therefore I disagree with "moron", like everyone else on this page :)
2 days 2 hrs
  -> Well, then it sounds like you agree more than disagree with my comment. It makes little sense logically therefore I suggested it was poor writing...
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