# Cute is for bunnies! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 1, 2001, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-is-for-bunnies/70801 "2001-07-01T04:05:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2001, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-is-for-bunnies/70801/1 "2001-07-01T04:05:03Z")
Zyada insists on saying I’m “cute”. She says that when a woman describes a guy as cute, she really means she’d like to throw him on the floor and tear his clothes off. While I have no objection at all to being thrown down and forcibly disrobed by the right person (in fact I admire the sentiment!), it seems to me that she’s misusing the word. Merriam-Webster gives “2 : attractive or pretty especially in a dainty or delicate way” as the only relevant definition. Dainty? I don’t think so! She should say “hot” or “sexy” or something like that. “Cute” is for bunnies! Comments? ---
**Author:** ![bunnymom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c4cdca/32.png) [@bunnymom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bunnymom)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2001, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-is-for-bunnies/70801/2 "2001-07-01T04:12:59Z")
As a bunnymama I feel qualified to answer this one. “Oh, how _cute_!” - Meant for bunnies. “Ooh, he’s **cute** …rowr…” Meant for guys. Unless its coming from a girl bunny, then I guess it means both. ---
**Author:** ![Fairy\_Princess\_Kitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fairy\_Princess\_Kitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fairy_Princess_Kitty)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2001, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-is-for-bunnies/70801/3 "2001-07-01T06:46:23Z")
I agree with **threebunnymama** I always call guys either cute or yummy Neither label sounds very macho, both very girly, but it means the same thing to me as “sexy” or “hot” Just MHO Kitty ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Dead\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecb155/32.png) [@Living\_Dead\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Dead_Girl)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2001, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-is-for-bunnies/70801/4 "2001-07-01T09:41:31Z")
Well, I’ve gotta disagree. I use “cute” to describe adorable boy-next-doors types - not the hot and sexy take-me-now guys. But that _is_ just me, so I wouldn’t take it personally **rjk** … the majority of women would mean it as a compliment. ---
**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2001, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-is-for-bunnies/70801/5 "2001-07-01T11:50:57Z")
You’re complaining about girls calling you “cute?” Dude, be happy and find something else to bitch about, ok? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2001, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-is-for-bunnies/70801/6 "2001-07-01T12:07:03Z")
I always interpreted the word “adorable” as a VERY good sign … or that’s how I probably would interpret it if women ever used it to describe me. Kinda rare. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2001, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-is-for-bunnies/70801/7 "2001-07-01T12:16:23Z")
There’s a definate difference to me between “cute” and “rip your clothes off sexy”. Cute is more the boy-next-door, take-you-home-to-meet-Mama-and-then-we’ll-snuggle. David Duchvany (I can never spell that right) is cute. “Hot & sexy” is more I-can’t-keep-my-hands-off-of-you-and-I-might-take-you-home-to-meet-Mama. Later. Much, much later. Adrian is Paul is _rowl_ sexy. ---
**Author:** ![DVous\_Means](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DVous\_Means](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVous_Means)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2001, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-is-for-bunnies/70801/8 "2001-07-01T15:13:49Z")
I remember someone once saying that cute meant “ugly, but interesting.” …puts a whole new slant on the word… ---
**Author:** ![Elenfair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cc9497/32.png) [@Elenfair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elenfair)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2001, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-is-for-bunnies/70801/9 "2001-07-01T15:15:16Z")
Come on schmoopie, cutie-pie, lovie-dovie, puppyboy… Sweetie-bunny… Punkin… _gag_ I’m making myself sick. Forgive me while I run to the bathroom to puke. :::: making quick exit :::::: ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2001, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-is-for-bunnies/70801/10 "2001-07-01T15:36:19Z")
Hey! I have never used any of those words to describe rjk. Or anyone else for that matter. :blech: ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2001, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-is-for-bunnies/70801/11 "2001-07-01T18:58:29Z")
**3b mama** and **Kitty** , I see the distinction, but there’s way too much room for confusion. Nobody could get confused by something like “Omigod! He’s so hot!!!” I just thought I’d see what others think, **flyboy**. I’m not really complaining, exactly. **Living Dead Girl** and **Arden** , how _you_ doin’? **Elenfair** , you brought it on yourself. And if I beat you to the bathroom, too bad for you. “Cute” was bad enough! And last, **Zyada** , you’d better _not_ use any of those words! I’ll have to run off with LDG or Arden! ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2001, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-is-for-bunnies/70801/12 "2001-07-01T19:17:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjk \*\*\* > Zyada, you’d better _not_ use any of those words! I’ll have to run off with LDG or Arden! > \*\* Well, I did try to get you to engage in some serious snugglebunnies once. But that’s a Bloome County reference, so it’s cool! Really! > [@](#): > > \*\ ***3b mama** and **Kitty** , I see the distinction, but there’s way too much room for confusion. Nobody could get confused by something like “Omigod! He’s so hot!!!” > \*\* I’ve never known another _woman_ who would be confused by the usage! And do you mind if I consider you cuddly? And that cuddly makes me horny? > [@](#): > > \*\* > I just thought I’d see what others think, **flyboy**. I’m not really complaining, exactly. > \*\* Ha! Then why do you glare at me when I call you cute? > [@](#): > > \*\* > **Living Dead Girl** and **Arden** , how _you_ doin’? > \*\* Ahem! :tap, tap, tap: ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2001, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-is-for-bunnies/70801/13 "2001-07-01T22:00:59Z")
hmmm…cute, in my opinion, only applies to males that are young and look it. Any male over 30 (or even a mature looking male in his 20’s) can’t be cute. Males of any age can be “hot” but older ones can’t be cute, nor can younger ones be “handsome”. Actually, the same is pretty much true for females too. Were someone so inclined to think I was attractive, I think they’d use cute rather than beautiful, since I look a lot younger than I am. Jewel is cute in the “you were meant for me” video, Audrey Hepburn was beautiful in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and both were the same age at the time of the tapings… ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-is-for-bunnies/70801/14 "2001-07-02T01:24:26Z")
Ooops, thought this was about **BunnyGirl**. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-is-for-bunnies/70801/15 "2001-07-02T06:06:32Z")
Thanks for the support, **elfkin**! There’s just one thing: Audrey Hepburn was _always_ beautiful! ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-is-for-bunnies/70801/16 "2001-07-02T06:23:08Z")
With reference to guys, “cute”, for me, is just an adjective that means attractive, without being specific. As in, “So who was that cute guy I saw you with last night?” More specific terms would be “beautiful”, “hot,” “gorgeous”, and “handsome”, in ascending order of machismo. However, any of these terms can be applied to any man on second reference. (As in, once you’ve established that Nagisa Kaworu is beautiful, you can then describe him as hot, gorgeous, or handsome without being mistaken.) ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-is-for-bunnies/70801/17 "2001-07-02T06:25:30Z")
Note, too, that “cute” doesn’t work if it’s modified. I wouldn’t usually say, “He’s sooooooo cute,” or “I wish I were cuter”. I’d use one of the more specific adjectives listed above (“He’s sooooooo beautiful.”) ---
**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-is-for-bunnies/70801/18 "2001-07-02T15:40:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by thinksnow \* > \*\*Ooops, thought this was about **BunnyGirl**. > > Carry on. \*\* 😃 😃 😃 😃