slab-sided

A tall, slab-sided man leans against a fence post.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Tall and thin: "slab-sided" describes a person who is very tall and thin, often in a way that is awkward or lanky.
   • Having flat sides: Used literally to describe something with flat, slab-like sides.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The slab-sided figure of the basketball player towered over the crowd. (The tall, thin athlete was strikingly lean.)
  • The old barn had slab-sided walls that stood sturdy against the wind. (The barn had flat, board-like sides.)

Advanced Usage

• "slab-sided" as a descriptive term: Often used in informal or literary contexts to emphasize extreme thinness.
  • He was a slab-sided cowboy, all elbows and knees. (A tall, lanky cowboy with a lean physique.)

Variants and Related Words

• Slab (n): a flat, thick piece of material.
  • The butcher placed the meat on a slab of marble. (A flat, solid surface.)
• Slab-sidedness (n): the quality of being tall and thin.
  • His slab-sidedness made him an ideal candidate for the rowing team. (His lanky build.)

Synonyms

• Lanky: tall, thin, and awkwardly built.
• Gawky: awkwardly tall and thin, especially in movement.
• Lean: thin and muscular, without excess fat.

Related Idioms

• A beanpole: a very tall, thin person (informal).
  • He grew into a beanpole after his teenage growth spurt. (A tall, skinny young man.)
• All skin and bones: extremely thin.
  • After the illness, she was all skin and bones. (Very thin and gaunt.)