When I think “compact build,” I think a lotta man packed into a small space, which is to say burly, but not tall or hulking.
Others have told me they read it as meaning skinny.
Opinions? Authoritative responses?
This is more of an IMHO thing. Off we go!
Michel J. Fox
Tom Cruise
Dusten Hoffman
Shorter than adverage. Neither fat or skinny. They can probibly spell good too.
SHORT.
I’ve always taken that phrase to describe men who are built like Olympic gymnasts-very strong, but not very big; lots of muscle in a smaller sized body.
I have to agree with robinh. If someone’s small, they have a small build. Compact tells me there’s a lot in a little space…such as, a 5’4" ripped bodybuilder.
Tom Berenger.
Fireplug. Like he’d be normal if he was stretched out, or fatter if he hadn’t been compressed.
I’m six feet tall.
There are guys that I’m amazed to find are shorter than me, smply because they don’t “come off” as being short. They “come off” as being big, powerful, muscular, etc…and then come up to my shoulder.
Compact build.
Exactly…“Husky”