# "Apropos" does not mean "appropriate" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 2, 2001, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487 "2001-03-02T11:07:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2001, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487/1 "2001-03-02T11:07:52Z")
Nope. It means “opportune” or “with regards to.” It is not a synonym for “appropriate.” Please stop using it that way. You know who you are. Thank you, and good night. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2001, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487/2 "2001-03-02T11:20:36Z")
Did you get another fax back, phil? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2001, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487/3 "2001-03-02T11:47:34Z")
I really don’t care what it means… I love how it looks on paper and sounds when said, so I’ve been known to spontaneously apropos add it in somewhere for no good reason. I’m the same way with “yuppy”, “lozenge”, and “underpants”. ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2001, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487/4 "2001-03-02T11:59:14Z")
Well, I’d say that the way you summed that up in the OP was… Appropriate. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2001, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487/5 "2001-03-02T15:58:47Z")
Is it a contraction, or is it possessive? Think before typing, and then use “its” or “it’s”, as apropos. Er…🙂 ---
**Author:** ![inor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f475e1/32.png) [@inor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inor)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2001, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487/6 "2001-03-02T16:10:36Z")
Well, I for one, am just sick and tired of my dogs shedding all over the place. I can’t wait until the damn shedding season is done. Christ in a sidecar… ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2001, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487/7 "2001-03-02T16:51:14Z")
Apropos of nothing, just now there suddenly appeared to me a yuppie sucking on a lozenge, wearing only underpants and riding in a sidecar. Who shall I shoot first, Inor, Spoofe, or PLD? ---
**Author:** ![inor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f475e1/32.png) [@inor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inor)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2001, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487/8 "2001-03-02T17:10:48Z")
Well, **DDG** , apropos of the opopo, I really don’t think you should be getting your yuppy ass underpants in such a bunch that you feel you need to bring up the topic of violence. Take a lozenge or something, willya? [perky voice] Now, apropos to what I was saying earlier, I jsut hate it. I only have this one shopvac, and I have to clean the filter _everytime_ I vacuum, at least bi-monthly… [/voice] :d&ring before pl and ddg _both_ shoot his ass:: ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2001, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487/9 "2001-03-02T17:38:25Z")
In the same vein, “durable” is a three-syllable word. It does not rhyme with “gerbil.” Unfortunately, the person to whom this is directed and who abused my ears repeatedly yesterday by referring to a “derbil power of attorney” does not read this board. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2001, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487/10 "2001-03-02T18:04:37Z")
Strategery! Nucular! Preserverance! And, lest we forget: Subliminable! ---
**Author:** ![inor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f475e1/32.png) [@inor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inor)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2001, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487/11 "2001-03-02T18:29:26Z")
> [@](#): > > derbil power of attorney not that I smoke anymore, but this was like good hawaiian dope- a creeper, and it jsut hit about a minute ago… nucular- Dude! it’s newk- **ya** -ler. fuuuck man! anybody see pl sitting at his desk, lookin like inspector cleuseau’s(sp) boss when he’s getting all twitchy, weeping, and wanting to absolutely _blow up_ the good inspector? ---
**Author:** ![Surgoshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Surgoshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surgoshan)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2001, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487/12 "2001-03-02T21:02:38Z")
Well, yes and no to the OP. My French dictionary defines apropos as aptness. [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com) says apt is 1. Exactly suitable; appropriate Which can be mapped onto aptness. Of course, [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) defines apropos as > [@](#): > > ap·ro·pos (pr-p) > adj. > > Being at once opportune and to the point. See Synonyms at relevant. > adv. > At an appropriate time; opportunely. > By the way; incidentally: Apropos, where were you yesterday? > prep. > With regard to; concerning: Apropos our date for lunch, I can’t go. So… Homer: Nucular. It’s pronounced “new kew lar”. ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vampire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Space\_Vampire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vampire)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2001, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487/13 "2001-03-02T21:58:22Z")
I thought I was the only person that this was driving insane. I think this word is actually misused more often than it is used properly. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2001, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487/14 "2001-03-02T22:04:45Z")
From: [http://www.ultralingua.net/dictionary/index.php3?letters=apropos](http://www.ultralingua.net/dictionary/index.php3?letters=apropos) 1. apropos By the way; “apropos, can you lend me some money for the weekend?”; Synonyms: incidentally 2. apropos adj Of an appropriate or pertinent nature. 3. malapropos adj Of an inappropriate or incorrectly applied nature. Now, drop the pretentiousness and indignation and step away from the keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2001, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487/15 "2001-03-02T22:37:43Z")
This OP proposed this proposition with an open, professional, opinion promising proof of English options. For that I give mad props ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2001, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487/16 "2001-03-03T00:24:46Z")
Sorry, Hastur, but no. Because the word “appropriate” is used in the definition does not make the words synonyms. A very simply exercise will demonstrate this: 1. That attire is simply not appropriate for the office. 2. That attire is simply not apropos for the office. The first one is correct; the second is the kind of pseudo-grammatical silliness uttered by people who say, “Mom gave it to she and I.” They are not interchangeable in usage, and any decent editor will tell you that. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2001, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487/17 "2001-03-03T01:00:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Nucular. It’s pronounced “new kew lar”. It doesn’t take a nucular scientist to pronounce “foilage”. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2001, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487/18 "2001-03-03T01:13:45Z")
Well, as long as we’re getting all nitpicky… > [@](#): > > **Duck Duck Goose:** Who shall I shoot first, Inor, Spoofe, or PLD? Try **whom.** 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2001, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487/19 "2001-03-03T01:25:58Z")
My college professer used the word “orientate” several times yesterday. Gah. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2001, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487/20 "2001-03-03T02:03:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Smeghead \* > \*\*My college professer used the word “orientate” several times yesterday. Gah. \*\* Oooh, I hate that one. It’s like “irregardless.” \ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apropos-does-not-mean-appropriate/56487.md?page=2)