Dictionary of English - nice

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Used of people, nice means 'pleasant', 'affable' (except of young women, where it also means 'conventionally well-behaved'). In other contexts nice has been so overused as a vague term of approval that it has become almost meaningless.

It is often better to be more specific: a delicious meal; a comfortable (cosy, spacious, beautiful) house; a pretty (funny, appropriate) birthday card.

Sometimes, however, the vagueness of nice is useful: that's a nice hat is all that is needed to pay a compliment, and a more specific word might reveal that your opinion of the hat's good points is not the same as the wearer's.

The red, white, and black tricolour formed the basis of the flags of both North and South Yemen. Effective date: 22 May 1990. >>