How can one affectionately call someone who is always moaning/whinging? I am looking for a qualifier with minimal negative connotation.
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1I can think of a few that go with specific names - Moaning Lisa, for example...– MT_HeadCommented Jun 19, 2011 at 22:20
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1Does a lot of whinging go on at a whing-ding?– mgkrebbsCommented Jun 19, 2011 at 22:30
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1"Don't be a debbie downer".– victoriahCommented Jun 19, 2011 at 22:41
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1@mgkrebbs see english.stackexchange.com/questions/26935/…– Bogdan LataianuCommented Jun 20, 2011 at 0:49
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1Honestly, I think it has a lot more to do with how you say it than what exactly you're saying. Any of the answers given below, if said in anger, would have a much stronger negative connotation than if said gently or jokingly.– rintaunCommented Jun 20, 2011 at 0:50
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4 Answers
I imagine the Yiddish kvetch is sometimes used affectionately. And here's some other possibilities I can picture being said with appropriate warmth:
bellyacher
codger
crab
crankypants
croaker
curmudgeon
sorehead
squawker
answered Jun 20, 2011 at 1:10
I think the gentlest term I could think up of, was "bear":
You have been a bear all morning! Let's be happy now.
How about "Moaner"? As in:
Come, come, don't be a moaner!
There's also "whiner", or "groucho", or "grumpy" which is very gentle:
Let's not be grumpy shall we?
answered Jun 19, 2011 at 23:03
Scots would use the term stropper or stroppy:
My, you're being a wee bit stroppy this morning!
My kids are always like that. I called them "grumpy bum". Combine a negative word with a cute or positive term.
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smile. wondering which out of "grumpy" and "bum" is supposed to be the cute positive term, though!– hawbslCommented Jun 20, 2011 at 8:37
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