Good grief, man, have you never seen the Rankin/Bass Christmas special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”? Clarice tells Rudolph, “I think you’re cute.” And Rudolph goes nutso and is the first in his reindeer practice class who can actually fly, and he yells “I’m cuuuuute! She says I’m cuuuuuuuuute!”
Sheesh. Ask her out.
This mostly, though my personal tastes gravitate towards pecs and arms.
Cute = attractive face
Hot = attractive body
Fully clothed standing in front of a woman and she says you look cute: good
Naked and standing in front of a woman and she says, “Awww, ain’t that cute.” Not so much.
I’ve talked to several guys who are bothered by being called cute, and would prefer to be described with terms like “attractive,” “manly,” “handsome,” “cut,” “ripped,” “chiseled features” (okay maybe not the last one…)
Anyway, I try to avoid using it, because it bothers a non-zero number of guys, and because I avoid using generic adjectives as much as possible anyway. But the few times it slips out, I never mean it in an underhanded baby-chick-cute manner. I always mean it positively.
Cute being good depends on context, but this is definitely a good context. It is one thing for a girl to tell you you’re cute and another for her to tell another girl she thinks you’re cute. I can’t imagine this being a negative.
See if you can find an opportunity to chat with her a little after work or something. Sounds like you don’t really know each other? But I bet she will be friendly if you try to strike up a conversation.
Lad here. Almost universally good, but depends on context.
The only time it isn’t good is when a guy is referred to as “cute” in the way a puppy dog is. I.e., implying that the dude is well meaning and/or nice, but not shaggable. Sometimes used in a defensive posture.
Girl A: I think Terrence is kinda creepy.
Girl B: Aww, no, he’s cute!
If it gets said that way, you might as well add “bless his heart” in there too.
I work in a different area than her so don’t see her all that often (in that kind of more than acquaintances but not quite friends area). Just to clarify further on context, she told that to another lad friend of both of ours (who was trying to get into her knickers at the time, she put the kibosh on that shortly after). But still, hot piss. Might wait a little while so as not to seem insensitive (although he’s not too bothered, he’s one of those types who likes a different lass every week) then ask her out. They say you shouldn’t get your honey where you get your money, but they also say feint heart never won fair lady.