Meaning of "precise-looking"


In George Orwell's novel 1984, Part one, Chapter IV, there is a sentence:



In the corresponding cubicle on the other side a small, precise-looking, dark-chinned man named Tillotson was working steadily away.



I've looked up 'precise' in dictionaries, but still cannot understand what a precise-looking man is like. Can you guys help?



Answer



He is "precise-looking" in the sense that he has been precise in every step of how he presents himself -- his hair, his skin, his clothes. You won't find lazily-brushed hair on him.


Just imagine a person like that sitting with short, thoroughly brushed hair, in a nice dress shirt tucked in with a belt and loafers, sitting with a half-frown on their face as they faithfully do their work. That's the kind of image that Orwell is conjuring up.


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