Why do we say "a big ugly cat" and not "an ugly big cat" according to the order of adjectives (opinion first then size)?
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Does this answer your question? What is the rule for adjective order? – FumbleFingers Jan 17 '20 at 15:07
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This has actually been asked here before, but wrongly closed as a duplicate. The 'duplicate' did not ask for the reason the 'order' is such as it is. – Edwin Ashworth Jan 17 '20 at 15:07
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What about The Big Bad Wolf**? or ablaut reduplication: chit-chat, flip-flop? Do they follow this rule? – aesking Jan 17 '20 at 15:08
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... But the 'Ugly Great Giant' and an 'ugly great ditch'? Often, 'how it sounds' is a significant factor. – Edwin Ashworth Jan 17 '20 at 15:10
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1Context can make all the difference. Absent context, we'd probably say *the big bad thumb* sounds more "natural", but not in something like He's got a badly infected swollen thumb. Luckily, he's left-handed, and the bad big thumb* is on his right hand, so he can still write properly*. – FumbleFingers Jan 17 '20 at 15:41
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1Because that is the way English works. No other reason. – Colin Fine Jan 17 '20 at 17:56
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Why is entirely opinion based. – Jason Bassford Jan 18 '20 at 16:20