Apparently the going antonym for "Midas touch" is "reverse Midas
touch", often used in reference to a certain US politician. Not to
name names, but someone suggested "Bush tinge" could also be an
alternative.
Someone else pointed out that the Midas touch was actually a curse for
king Midas: sure, everything he touched turned to gold, but that
include food and drink and his daughter, then surmising that the
"reverse Midas touch" would have to be a good thing (though most
people assume that the journalists who use the expression mean that
anything touched turns into ... "manure").
"Abhorrent" seems like an extreme antonym for "charismatic", but maybe
that describes how some people find your Prime Minister.
Are you drafting a letter to "The Times"?
Cheers, Larry
On Jun 11, 9:14 am, Probo <bryanclough...@googlemail.com> wrote:
I'd go for "repugnant" as a rough antonym for "charismatic".
Perhaps a "disastrous touch" would be the opposite of a "Midas touch".
Or perhaps we can coin a new idiom by saying he has the "Gordon
touch". Or we can continue Myo's theme by saying "Everything Brown
turns to, turns to brown".
Actually, at first glance I read your request as being for an acronym
rather than an antonym, so I offer you this:
Interesting slant, Myo. I think blandness and total lack of
compelling attractions *are* the opposite of charisma. Seems like you
are attaching a quality of likability to it that is not in my mind. I
think a person can be charismatic (possessing strong personal
magnetism or charm) without being likable, admirable, or morally
pleasant. That's what my word choices were meant to reflect.
Tryx
On Jun 21, 2:13 am, myoarin <lawre...@fogelberg.de> wrote:
Maybe you are right, but I do feel that a person "possessing strong
personal magnetism or charm" will by that definition be seen/felt to
be "likable, admirable or morally pleasant" (without getting involved
with religious contexts).
But it's Bryan's choice.
Cheers, Myo
On Jul 5, 4:09 am, Archae0pterYx <m...@amyces.com> wrote:
> Interesting slant, Myo. I think blandness and total lack of
> compelling attractions *are* the opposite of charisma. Seems like you
> are attaching a quality of likability to it that is not in my mind. I
> think a person can be charismatic (possessing strong personal
> magnetism or charm) without being likable, admirable, or morally
> pleasant. That's what my word choices were meant to reflect.
> Tryx
> On Jun 21, 2:13 am, myoarin <lawre...@fogelberg.de> wrote:
> > Greetings Tryx, Good to see you back.
> > Rather bland opposites to charismatic, in my opinion, but maybe a lady
> > doesn't have a such feelings and a word for them.
> > I like Roger's repugnant and would add loathsome and detestable.
> > Regards, Myo
> > On Jun 21, 9:21 am, Archae0pterYx <m...@amyces.com> wrote:
> > > I like these to convey the opposite of charismatic, even if they are
> > > not true antonyms:
> > > undistinguished
> > > nondescript
> > > inconsequential
> > > colorless
> > > bland
> > > (noun rather than adjective) nonentity
> > > Tryx
> > > On Jun 12, 8:19 am, eiffel <roger.bro...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > If you don't mind turning nouns into adjectives, you can use
> > > > "effluent" creatively.
> > > > ...his effluent handling of the economy...
> > > > ...to heap effluent praise upon his achievements...
