So I’ve got this co-worker with huge, beautiful, expressive brown eyes, in which she takes justifiable pride, and lately I’ve taken to calling her “Banjo Eyes” once or twice a week.
To a response of “Huh?”
To which I respond, “‘Banjo Eyes’. It means eyes as big as the sounding board of a banjo. It was Eddie Cantor’s nickname. He was an entertainer with these big eyes, you see. Also Barney Google. He was a comic strip character. Who had big eyes.”
Anyway. If YOU (male or female) had big, pretty eyes, and I called YOU “Banjo Eyes,” would you think it was a nice thing? Or would you belt me across the room?
I need to know, because this co-worker happens to have a black belt in aikido.
Yeah, that’d be really-- odd. Plus, I would be totally skeeved out by a coworker who has a pet name for me (even “sweetie” or “beautiful” would give me the oogies). But hey, maybe you work in an office where that thing is ok.
Comparing a pretty girl to this is not flattering (imho).
I think it’s kind of cute but I would need it explained to me. I’m not that hip with the banjo lingo. Obviously nobody’s ever called me that. Someone called me harmonica eyes once and I karate chopped him in the face, but that’s another story.
You co-worker is a socially awkward fellow who was trying to make small-talk. He must have read (or more likely seen on TV) something about Eddie Cantor recently. He was trying to be witty and out-smart you.
He does not realize such comments are inappropriate at the workplace.
Only you can determine if the guy is weird-and-creepy or weird-but-harmless.
Uke called the girl “banjo eyes.” Your interpretation…well…from what you wrote I’m not exactly sure what you understood. I don’t know who this socially awkward fellow that you’re referring to is, because he’s not in the story.
Anyhow, Eddie Cantor is scary looking. I wouldn’t take “banjo eyes” as a compliment, either.
I might consider it possible to be a compliment (although a weird one), until the moment you brought Barney Google into it. Comparing my eyes to Barney Google probably would not go over too well with me.
Any compliment that has to be explained (people just don’t use this one anymore) isn’t immediately taken as a compliment. Plus, then once she finds out its a compliment, it will turn into a flirt in her mind. I’d back away from that one.
By the way, I’m all for reviving retired slang. But you’ll have to educate the masses.
Sounds creepy to me, like something a dirty old man would say, whether he was trying to be charming or lascivious. In any case, I’d never say anything like that in a work environment.
