Elan vs. Dash — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 8, 2024
Elan connotes enthusiasm and distinctive style, while dash implies speed and a sudden, energetic movement.
Difference Between Elan and Dash
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Elan is often associated with flair and a vibrant, enthusiastic style in performing any activity, whereas dash refers to a quick, sudden movement often used to describe actions in sports or emergencies. Both terms suggest energy but differ in their expression and context. Elan is more about the spirit behind the action, while dash is about the action's speed and urgency.
In terms of emotional expression, elan involves doing something with zest and unique charisma, while dash suggests a brisk, spirited action that is more about pace than style. This distinction makes elan suitable for describing artistic or creative performances, and dash appropriate for physical activities requiring quick reflexes.
Elan is used to describe an impressive, often artistic skill executed with great enthusiasm and confidence, whereas dash is typically associated with physical speed and can imply a brief, targeted effort toward a specific end. This highlights how elan carries a connotation of sustained style and energy, contrasting with the transient, purpose-driven nature of a dash.
When considering their usage in language, elan often appears in contexts related to personality and style, such as "She sang with great elan." In contrast, dash is used in more physical or immediate contexts, like "He made a dash for the door." This usage underscores the stylistic versus kinetic energy each word conveys.
While elan can be associated with a continual display of vigorous spirit in various activities, dash is often used to describe a single, quick movement. Thus, elan embodies a lasting impression, and dash focuses on a momentary burst of speed.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Lively energy and style
Sudden quick movement
Connotation
Enthusiasm, style
Speed, urgency
Typical Usage
Artistic or charismatic performance
Physical, immediate actions
Duration of Impression
Sustained and lasting
Brief and focused
Example Context
Performances, personal style
Sports, emergencies
Compare with Definitions
Elan
Distinctive style and confidence.
She walked into the room full of elan.
Dash
Sudden action.
He made a dash for the door as it started to rain.
Elan
Artistic flair.
The dancer's routine was executed with tremendous elan.
Dash
Energy in action.
The puppy's dash around the yard was adorable.
Elan
Zestful performance.
The chef cooked with an elan that impressed everyone.
Dash
Quick, decisive act.
She added a dash of salt to the soup.
Elan
Dynamic enthusiasm.
He played the piano with great elan.
Dash
Rapid movement.
He made a quick dash to catch the bus.
Elan
Charismatic expression.
His speech was delivered with considerable elan.
Dash
Brief burst of speed.
With a dash, she crossed the finish line.
Elan
Enthusiastic vigor and liveliness.
Dash
The dash is a punctuation mark that is similar in appearance to the hyphen and minus sign but differs from these symbols in length and, in some fonts, height above the baseline. The most common versions of the dash are the en dash –, longer than the hyphen; the em dash —, longer than the en dash; and the horizontal bar ―, whose length varies across typefaces but tends to be between those of the en and em dashes.
Elan
Distinctive style or flair.
Dash
Run or travel somewhere in a great hurry
I must dash, I'm late
I dashed into the garden
Elan
Uncommon spelling of élan
Dash
Strike or fling (something) somewhere with great force, especially so as to have a destructive effect; hurl
The ship was dashed upon the rocks
Elan
Ardor inspired by passion or enthusiasm.
Dash
Used to express mild annoyance
Dash it all, I am in charge
Elan
A feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause);
They were imbued with a revolutionary ardor
He felt a kind of religious zeal
Dash
An act of running somewhere suddenly and hastily
She made a dash for the door
Elan
Distinctive and stylish elegance;
He wooed her with the confident dash of a cavalry officer
Dash
A small quantity of a liquid added to something else
Whisky with a dash of soda
Elan
Enthusiastic and assured vigor and liveliness;
A performance of great elan and sophistication
Dash
A horizontal stroke in writing or printing to mark a pause or break in sense or to represent omitted letters or words.
Dash
Impetuous or flamboyant vigour and confidence; panache
He has youthful energy, dash, and charisma
Dash
Short for dashboard
An indicator on the dash tells you what gear you are in
Dash
To move with haste; rush
Dashed into the room.
Dashed down the hall.
Dash
To strike violently; smash
Waves dashing on the rocks.
Dash
To break or smash by striking violently
The ship was dashed upon the rocks.
Dash
To hurl, knock, or thrust with sudden violence
Dashed the cup against the wall.
Dash
To remove by striking or wiping
Dash tears from one's face.
Dash
To splash; bespatter
Dash water on one's face.
Dash
To write hastily. Often used with off
Dashed off a note to the dean.
Dash
To drink hastily. Often used with down
Dashed down a glass of milk.
Dash
To add an enlivening or altering element to
A speech dashed with humor.
Dash
To affect by adding another element or ingredient to
Ice cream that was dashed with rum.
Dash
To destroy or wreck
Our hopes were dashed by the news.
Dash
To discourage or dispirit
"This discouraging information a little dashed the child" (Charles Dickens).
Dash
To damn.
Dash
A swift, violent blow or stroke
Knocked the books to the floor with an impatient dash of his hand.
Dash
A splash
Threw a dash of water on my face.
Dash
A small amount of an added ingredient
A dash of sherry.
Dash
A quick stroke, as with a pencil or brush.
Dash
A sudden movement; a rush
Made a dash for the exit.
Dash
(Sports) A footrace, usually less than a quarter-mile long, run at top speed from the outset.
Dash
A spirited quality in action or style; verve.
Dash
Either of two symbols, an emdash or an endash, used in writing and in printing.
Dash
In Morse and similar codes, the long sound or signal used in combination with the dot and silent intervals to represent letters or numbers.
Dash
A dashboard.
Dash
(typography) Any of the following symbols: ‒ (figure dash), – (en dash), — (em dash), or ― (horizontal bar).
Dash
(computing) A hyphen or minus sign.
Dash
(by extension) The longer of the two symbols of Morse code.
Dash
A short run, flight.
When the feds came they did the dash.
Dash
A rushing or violent onset.
Dash
Violent strike; a whack.
Dash
A small quantity of a liquid substance etc.; less than 1/8 of a teaspoon.
Add a dash of vinegar.
Dash
A slight admixture.
There is a dash of craziness in his personality.
Dash
Ostentatious vigor.
Aren't we full of dash this morning?
Dash
A dashboard.
Dash
A bribe or gratuity; a gift.
Dash
A stand-in for a censored word, like "Devil" or "damn". (Compare deuce.)
Dash
The dashboard of a Tumblr user.
Dash
(intransitive) To run quickly or for a short distance.
He dashed across the field.
Dash
To leave or depart.
I have to dash now. See you soon.
Dash
(transitive) To destroy by striking (against).
He dashed the bottle against the bar and turned about to fight.
Dash
(transitive) To throw violently.
The man was dashed from the vehicle during the accident.
Dash
To sprinkle; to splatter.
Dash
To ruin; to destroy.
Her hopes were dashed when she saw the damage.
Dash
(transitive) To dishearten; to sadden.
Her thoughts were dashed to melancholy.
Dash
To complete hastily.
He dashed down his eggs.
She dashed off her homework.
Dash
(transitive) To draw or write quickly; jot.
Dash
Damn in forming oaths.
Dash his impudence! Who is that scoundrel?
Dash
(euphemistic) Damn!
Dash
To throw with violence or haste; to cause to strike violently or hastily; - often used with against.
If you dash a stone against a stone in the botton of the water, it maketh a sound.
Dash
To break, as by throwing or by collision; to shatter; to crust; to frustrate; to ruin.
Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
A brave vessel, . . . Dashed all to pieces.
To perplex and dashMaturest counsels.
Dash
To put to shame; to confound; to confuse; to abash; to depress.
Dash the proud gamester in his gilded car.
Dash
To form or sketch rapidly or carelessly; to execute rapidly, or with careless haste; - with off; as, to dash off a review or sermon.
Dash
To erase by a stroke; to strike out; knock out; - with out; as, to dash out a word.
Dash
To rush with violence; to move impetuously; to strike violently; as, the waves dash upon rocks.
[He] dashed through thick and thin.
On each hand the gushing waters play,And down the rough cascade all dashing fall.
Dash
Violent striking together of two bodies; collision; crash.
Dash
A sudden check; abashment; frustration; ruin; as, his hopes received a dash.
Dash
A rapid movement, esp. one of short duration; a quick stroke or blow; a sudden onset or rush; as, a bold dash at the enemy; a dash of rain.
She takes upon her bravely at first dash.
Dash
Energy in style or action; animation; spirit.
Dash
A vain show; a blustering parade; a flourish; as, to make or cut a great dash.
Dash
A mark or line [-], in writing or printing, denoting a sudden break, stop, or transition in a sentence, or an abrupt change in its construction, a long or significant pause, or an unexpected or epigrammatic turn of sentiment. Dashes are also sometimes used instead of marks or parenthesis.
Dash
The sign of staccato, a small mark [ ] denoting that the note over which it is placed is to be performed in a short, distinct manner.
Dash
A short, spirited effort or trial of speed upon a race course; - used in horse racing, when a single trial constitutes the race.
Dash
Distinctive and stylish elegance;
He wooed her with the confident dash of a cavalry officer
Dash
A quick run
Dash
A footrace run at top speed;
He is preparing for the 100-yard dash
Dash
A punctuation mark (-) used between parts of a compound word or between the syllables of a word when the word is divided at the end of a line of text
Dash
The longer of the two telegraphic signals used in Morse code
Dash
The act of moving with great haste;
He made a dash for the door
Dash
Run or move very quickly or hastily;
She dashed into the yard
Dash
Break into pieces, as by striking or knocking over;
Smash a plate
Dash
Hurl or thrust violently;
He dashed the plate against the wall
Waves were dashing against the rock
Dash
Destroy or break;
Dashed ambitions and hopes
Dash
Cause to lose courage;
Dashed by the refusal
Dash
Add an enlivening or altering element to;
Blue paint dashed with white
Common Curiosities
Can elan be used to describe brief actions?
Elan is less about the duration of an action and more about the style and enthusiasm with which it is performed.
What is the primary emotional connotation of elan?
Elan primarily connotes enthusiasm and distinctive style.
How does the connotation of dash differ in cooking compared to sports?
In cooking, dash often refers to adding a small, quick addition, whereas in sports, it refers to a quick, energetic movement.
Can elan apply to everyday activities?
Yes, elan can apply to any activity done with zest and a distinctive style.
What types of performances are typically described using elan?
Artistic or creative performances where style and charisma are prominent.
Is dash used metaphorically in any contexts?
Yes, dash can be used metaphorically to describe someone's style, as in "She has a certain dash."
How do elan and dash compare in terms of physical exertion?
Dash involves physical exertion and speed, while elan involves the energy of style rather than physical effort.
How does dash typically relate to physical activities?
Dash is often associated with physical activities requiring speed and urgency.
Is dash appropriate for describing long-term projects?
Dash typically implies quick, immediate actions and is less suited for long-term projects.
Which term is more likely to be used in a literary context?
Elan, due to its association with style and charisma.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
