When you call a man dapper, you mean he is dressed in a neat, careful way. His clothes look clean and well chosen, his hair is tidy, and he looks as if he took time that morning. The word often paints a small or thin man, not a big, heavy one — a little man in a sharp jacket, maybe with polished shoes or a hat. It is a warm, slightly old-fashioned compliment. People still say it, though it can sound like something a grandparent would say, or like praise with a small smile in it. You almost always use it for men; for a woman it would sound odd or joking. Though actually, it is not the same as handsome. A dapper man might not be movie-star good-looking. He is just put together. In everyday talk people sometimes stretch it: “You’re looking dapper tonight” can simply mean “you dressed up nicely,” even if the person is not small.