Well then I guess “sloppytits” is right out.
“Old sport”.
My dad always addressed others as “Sir” and “Ma’am.” Took me years to learn that there is no better way to address anyone.
I get variations on this from time to time. 
For some reason, the mental image of a white dude walking into a classroom and exclaiming, “Hey HOMECHEESE!” is really, really hilarious.
Vwhy not a chicken?
(You hadda expect that one)
I’m reminded of some movie where two guys are faking an argument as a distraction. One bumps into the other.
“Watch it, buddy”
shove
“I’m not your buddy, pal”
Shove
“I’m not your pal, friend”
Shove
“I’m not your friend, buddy”
Shove; etc.
That older dude on Murphy Brown: Slugger, Tiger, Killer…
Sinatra-esque: Pally, Buddy-Boy…
Am I misunderstanding the purpose of this thread? You were in that other thread objecting to assumed familiarity by retail staff and now you start a thread asking how to perpetuate it yourself?!! You hate being called “Big Guy” but you have no problem addressing women you don’t know as “gorgeous”?
Is this Opposite Day?
The words you are looking for aren’t necessarily hypocorisms, but they probably overlap somewhat. Here’s what I found by a quick Google search on “list of hypocorisms”:
Guys: Sparky
Gals: Toots
I use “babe” with females a lot. I think it only works because I’m female.
Heh. I’m a guy but I used to use “babe” semi-ironically. I once asked a bartender/friend to send a drink to “the babe at the end of the bar”. I thought I was being very clear, but she gave the wrong woman a drink from me and I had a difficult time extricating myself from the situation.
On a side note, don’t let anyone who’s ever been to prison call you “boss”. It’s an ex-con’s way of insulting you. “Boss” backwards is “SSOB”, for “Stupid Son Of a Bitch”.
Now you’ve gone and done it! GrandWino is known to carry a shiv! Look out, Little Big Man!
Inmates can tend to make any term insulting, so it pays to have a thick skin if you deal with them regularly.
I’m sorry, sweet-cheeks, but “babe” as a term of endearment for women shows a significant degree of disrespect, in my humble opinion. “Toots” is definitely a better way to express blandishment toward the fairer sex…and I say that as a guy who knows what broads like.
“Toots” works with gals of all type: strangers, acquaintances, nickel throwers, private masseuses, nuns…the whole kit and caboodle. I even called my dearly departed nana by that name: “Hey, toots! How ‘bout parkin’ your big keister in the kitchen and throwin’ some flapjacks on the griddle already!” Aw, that nana, she was a good ol’ broad! May she rest in peace.
Huh. Wouldn’t that mean you’re the opposite of a stupid son of a bitch?
That has all the hallmarks of an urban legend.
The oddest term of address from someone I didn’t know when I was in the UK (along with all the ones mentioned above) was:
chap
Thanks chap. Can I help, chap.
:eek:
Good chap I get, and use. But the above phrases were really odd.