http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We > > **The patronizing "we"** > > The patronizing we is used sometimes > in place of "you" to address a second > party, hinting a facetious assurance > that the one asked is not alone in his > situation, that "I am with you, we are > in this together". A doctor may ask a > patient: And how are we feeling today? > This usage is emotionally non-neutral > and usually bears a condescending, > ironic, praising, or some other > flavor, depending on intonation: > "Aren't we looking cute?"