tact

/tækt/

Thân thiện

She handled the difficult question with great tact.

Definition

Noun: 1. Consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense: The ability to say or do the right thing in social situations without upsetting or offending people. It involves sensitivity, diplomacy, and skill in handling delicate matters.

Usage and Examples

• General Use: Used to describe a person's skill in interpersonal communication.

  • She handled the complaint with great tact and professionalism.
  • He lacks tact and often makes blunt, hurtful remarks.
  • Diplomats must exercise tact in international negotiations.

• With Verbs:

  • to have/show/display tact
  • to use/employ tact
  • to lack tact

• With Adjectives:

  • great/considerable/immense tact
  • characteristic/usual/customary tact
  • social/political/diplomatic tact

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• Tact is often contrasted with bluntness or rudeness. It implies not just politeness, but a thoughtful awareness of other people's feelings and the nuances of a situation.
• It is considered a soft skill crucial in leadership, customer service, and diplomacy.
• The concept can be described as knowing to say, to say it, and to say it.

Variants and Related Words

• Tactful (adjective): Having or showing tact.
  • It wasn't very tactful of you to mention her weight.
• Tactfully (adverb): In a tactful manner.
  • She tactfully changed the subject.
• Tactless (adjective): Lacking tact; insensitive.
  • A tactless comment.
• Tactlessness (noun): The quality of being tactless.

Synonyms

• Diplomacy: Skill in managing negotiations and relationships.
• Discretion: Good judgment and carefulness in speech and action.
• Sensitivity: Awareness of and consideration for the feelings of others.
• Delicacy: Tactful consideration, especially in avoiding embarrassment.
• Finesse: Impressive delicacy and skill in handling a situation.

Antonyms

• Bluntness: The quality of being direct to the point of rudeness.
• Tactlessness: Lack of tact.
• Indiscretion: Lack of good judgment or care in speech/action.
• Clumsiness (in social contexts): Awkwardness in dealing with people.

Idioms and Phrases

• A tactful silence: Choosing not to say anything to avoid causing offense.
  • Sometimes, a tactful silence is better than an honest opinion.
• To have the tact of a bull in a china shop: (Humorous/Idiomatic) To be extremely clumsy or tactless in social situations.
  • When discussing feelings, he has the tact of a bull in a china shop.

Học thuật

Noun

1. consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense

Từ đồng nghĩa

• tactfulness