"Notoriety" is only "famous for bad"?
I found the following dialog in comic:
-Excuse me, do we pay the bill up front or will you bring it to the table?
-Oh heavens! Pish posh! To serve the gentry has been an honor, ma'am! The notoriety alone is so valuable that to charge you would be a crime.

It is more like "notoriety" means "famous for good" in the context of the whole comic , can it be?

Question

"Notoriety" is only "famous for bad"?
I found the following dialog in comic:
-Excuse me, do we pay the bill up front or will you bring it to the table?
-Oh heavens! Pish posh! To serve the gentry has been an honor, ma'am! The notoriety alone is so valuable that to charge you would be a crime.

It is more like "notoriety" means "famous for good" in the context of the whole comic , can it be?

Answer

This is a subtle play on words. Notoriety means famous is a bad or sketchy way. The waiter is lightly mocking the person getting the bill.

Answer

I think this is a misusage of "notoriety". The comic may have meant "publicity" instead.

Answer

For some reason, "notoriety" typically means fame in a positive way, while "notorious" typically means fame in a bad way. If I had the option of being notorious for something, or gaining notoriety for something, I'd choose notoriety.

Answer

"Notoriety" often means "fame for bad things", but not always. Sometimes "notoriety" is just fame. For example,

"J. S. Bach achieved considerable notoriety as a music composer."

Answer

Looking at how they're speaking, it seems like a long time ago when it may have had a different meaning. Now I would say it means "known for something bad." (He's notorious for being late, etc.)

Answers · 9

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