Frenchie Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 It's apparently probably because I am French but I'd like to be called eye candy [:$] I find it s a lovely phrase... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 It's not offensive, but I would suggest that it says more about who uses the word they they think... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just john Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 [quote user="Pads"]why do they have to be anything , why cant they just be ladies ??[:)][/quote]vis-à-vis Little Britain, If I were a girlie I think I would rather be called Totty than a 'Lady'[8-|] Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meg Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 Is it an age thing??? I don't think i've ever been referred to as a lady! (if i did, i'd look round for who they were referring to.......)I'm quite happy to be totty for a few more years...[:)].. and always felt the term was a compliment. Maybe could be seen as a bit sexist....but as I refer to good looking men folk as eye candy, all's fair! But yep, to the lovely ladies/women on here it may seem insulting? I think the worse insult to a lady/woman is to be called 'her indoors'....[+o(] Any man referring to his 'lady' like that deserves a slap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patf Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 Meg - Ithink it's an age thing too. My sister was around when womens lib. was at its height and gets very hostile and fierce about names like totty. Whereas I just missed it and am certainly not in that category now. So perhaps your age group are more laid back about it, having had all the battles fought and won by the previous generation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacqui Too Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 I wouldn't mind being called 'Totty' as long as it was being said by a 'Hunk' [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoddy Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 'her indoors' - I really don't like that. I dislike even more 'the wife' as though she was a cupboard or a chair. What's wrong with 'my wife' ?I don't care for 'eye candy' either; it sounds American to me.Isn't English glorious; if I could distinguish all these nuances in French I'd really think I was getting somewhere.Hoddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 [quote user="Meg "]I think the worse insult to a lady/woman is to be called 'her indoors'....[+o(] Any man referring to his 'lady' like that deserves a slap. [/quote]Now you see this is exactly where we sexes diverge [8-)]To me saying 'er indoors is a frivolous but completely harmless term which is neither derogatory nor infers disrespect and is no more than a variation on saying "The wife/My wife" or "The OH" or "The Missus" or "Mrs Ern" or "SWMBO" etc. etc.Actually Meg truth is I do quite like a good slap, but we'd best not go there I think [:$] [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 [quote user="Russethouse"]there is no history of men having to fight for equality[/quote]We gave up the fight centuries ago when we realised we could never be your equals [:-))] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meg Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 [quote user="ErnieY"]To me saying 'er indoors is a frivolous but completely harmless term which is neither derogatory nor infers disrespect and is no more than a variation on saying "The wife/My wife" or "The OH" or "The Missus" or "Mrs Ern" or "SWMBO" etc. etc.[/quote]Again, maybe a generation thing?? Just makes me think of a wench tied to the kitchen sink serving the men folk. Nowt wrong with that i guess, just not my style!! Next time you could always vary it by saying the bit of totty indoors......[:D][quote user="ErnieY"]Actually Meg truth is I do quite like a good slap, but we'd best not go there I think [:$] [:D][/quote]All you men folk need a good slap occasionally. Keeps you in your place. [Www] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gluestick Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 I rather liked John Mortimer's Rumpole character's term and the correct grammar: "She whom must be obeyed!"The word "Lady" used when the word "Woman" is correct, is surely a sort of class affection thing?Rather the same as saying "Toilet" instead of "Lavatory"?In my simple mind, the word "Totty" implies attractive women and is thus not derogatory.Does anyone know its root? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoddy Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 I think Mortimer was quoting from 'Elizabeth and her German Garden' by Elizabeth von Arnim in which Elizabeth always refers to her husband as 'He who must be obeyed".It is a long time since I read it though.No idea about 'totty'.Hoddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tottyThere are three choices - take your pick............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 [quote user="Russethouse"]http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tottyThere are three choices - take your pick............[/quote]If you scroll down, there are actually four. I'm the warm one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 To reverse the debate I dont like it when a woman refers to her partner as "my other half" not because it is derogatory but to me (and I do come from mars) it suggests that she considers herself to only be half a person without her partner, I never hear it used by a spirited/independant woman.Mind you if a man says its OK except most of them should be saying my other 95%[:)]At the 50th wedding anniversary of the parents of my spirited/independant close female friend, her father said in his speech that he more than anyone was correct to call his wife "my better half"[kiss].Is there an equivalent French phrase to "mutton dressed as lamb"? - I bet these ladies are flattered to be referred to as "totty" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEO Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 JR wrote about the phrase " mutton dressed as lamb" Here is another two from the same " family" " fur coat and no drawers" "all mouth and trousers" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 'all Brylcream and no socks' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchie Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 I thought it was " fur coat and no knickers " [blink] [:$] [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Framboise Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 Along the same lines was my Grandad's particular favourite description of a certain type of woman..... "Red hat and no drawers" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weedon Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 I can see where Frenchie is being confused, as she may be wondering how drawers comes into it. For my part, the saying includes the word knickers, not drawers. This may have to go to a vote.Hands up for knickers[B] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacqui Too Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 [quote user="Weedon"]Hands up for knickers[B][/quote]Knickers [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchie Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 I'm sure I heard " fur coat and no knickers" in Liverpool.. [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 But are there any French equivalents of "mutton dressed as lamb" meaning someone past their "à consommer jusqu'au" date dressing as a teenager?Dont the other sayings with draws, knickers etc denote someone dressing and/or acting beyond their means/station?My mate says "caviar but no curtains"Actually I think it was "kippers and posh curtains" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 There is one French idiomatic phrase that springs to mind, meaning to have ideas above one's station.Though I am not quite sure I am allowed to say it here, so I hope the mods will do their job and edit it if necessary."pêter plus haut que son cul"Edit: I see the profanity filter has already done it, so that means the English term for a blind alley, a cul-de-sac, is too rude for this topic... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchie Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 Oui, " péter plus haut que son c*l " .............................. [blink] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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