I'm looking for a word that one could use by itself as one would use "cute" or "adorable" in a sarcastic, emasculating manner.
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I'm writing a paper about weightlifting and wanted to touch on the fact that many of my good friends have commented over the years on my "cute little girl calves." We're meat-heads, insulting each other is what we do.– brockMay 18, 2014 at 23:47
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Already answered then.– tchrist ♦May 18, 2014 at 23:53
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2That doesn't answer my question. While "...esoteric rude words to use to commit verbal violence upon one another" is the topic, my aim is to find a succinct way of summarizing - a word that can stand without context - in order to avoid a more laborious, wordy use of "cute."– brockMay 19, 2014 at 0:08
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I dunno, using words androjocular-emasculatrically seems pretty close to what you want.– tchrist ♦May 19, 2014 at 0:32
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Surely 'cute' already fits your requirement.– OldcatMay 19, 2014 at 19:20
8 Answers
The use of 'twee' might be evirating
Twee: affectedly or excessively dainty, delicate, cute, or quaint
The term precious is often used in an ironic and derogatory manner
Affectedly dainty or overrefined: precious mannerisms.
How about girly-man? As in Hans, who might comment on Franz's girly-man calves? Of course I refer to Hans and Franz (We are here to pump you up!) of SNL.
I think pretty used for a boy/man or handsome used for a girl/woman.
Describing anyone as delicate is probably done so sarcastically. I would throw in elegant too.
And then unless it is a dad talking about his daughter add in treasure, jewel, gem, little diamond.
She is just such a delicate girl, you must be so proud.
How glorious she is with the little bows in her hair.
He is so little. Look how pretty he is.
And in your specific case: Look at those delicate little calves on his gem of a body. His legs are so elegant, he is so pretty.
"Sissy" or "Sissy-Boy" are the terms that jump to mind, since you don't seem to be worried about being PC.
Diddy is a version of the word 'little' which is meant to sound like a baby is saying it, or an adult is saying it to a baby in a 'baby voice'.
Did you hurt your diddy little calves?
could be said sarcastically. The expression lickle, ickle or ickle-wickle could be used in a similar way. There is also a word Diddums which means 'little one', is used to refer to a baby, and is almost only ever used sarcastically:
Did you hurt your ickle-wickle calves? Aah, Diddums!