# What does the word "vixen" mean, in your opinion, when applied to a woman? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 20, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072 "2012-08-20T17:27:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072/21 "2012-08-20T20:27:29Z")
Sexy, sexually aggressive, and trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072/22 "2012-08-20T20:29:39Z")
It means a girl I want to know. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072/23 "2012-08-20T20:29:58Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > Probably the Russ Meyer influence. Nah, you’re thinking of an _Ultravixen_. We’re just talking about the standard model. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072/24 "2012-08-20T21:37:36Z")
Reading nothing but the thread title: A vixen is a woman who is very sexually attractive but not completely trustworthy; she may be completely untrustworthy. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072/25 "2012-08-20T22:06:23Z")
Clever and roguish, a gamine with an edge of steel. Bright eyes and a flash of teeth in a fleeting, slightly unnerving grin. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072/26 "2012-08-20T22:33:35Z")
As long as she’s not a minx… ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072/27 "2012-08-20T23:31:48Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > For some reason that I can’t reference, I think of an attractive woman who actively uses her physical attractiveness to influence weak minded men. Very well put. I’m inclined to mention big boobs also, but that might just be the Russ Meyer influence from my childhood showing its influence. ---
**Author:** ![Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speak_to_me_Maddie)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072/28 "2012-08-21T03:12:00Z")
A sexy woman who uses her feminine wiles for ignoble purposes. I also tend to picture a curvy, redheaded, middle-aged woman, Christina Hendricks type. Her character in Mad Men is pretty much the perfect example of a vixen in my mind. I’m surprised at the OED definition too. Time for an updated entry. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072/29 "2012-08-21T06:37:55Z")
It means she’s got red hair and a pointy nose of course. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072/30 "2012-08-21T06:49:20Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > It means she’s got red hair and a pointy nose of course. Like [this](http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb57889/disney/images/7/73/Robin-hood-disneyscreencaps.com-5196.jpg)? Now there’s a real vixen! ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072/31 "2012-08-21T07:41:13Z")
Without reading the thread, the image that came to mind was Bette Davis. So, “the kind of women Bette Davis usually played”. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072/32 "2012-08-24T10:14:24Z")
See, if I ran across that expression, I wouldn’t even know. I think it’s one of those metaphorical words that means different things to different people. Maybe something like, “a tiger in bed”? Or something else? Maybe people in my region just don’t use the word? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072/33 "2012-08-24T14:02:30Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Without reading the thread, > > the image that came to mind was Bette Davis. So, “the kind of women Bette Davis usually played”. I can only remember [Bette Davis](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTtpDwrKaxo) as an evil, evil, hag. She just played that role too well for me to remember her any other way. A vixen is very sexual, very hot, and very much in charge of her own self. Madonna, perhaps, if she were slightly less overt about wanting to rule the world. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072/34 "2012-08-24T14:29:16Z")
If one of my friends told me that a “vixen” was about to enter the room I’d immediately imagine a super hot girl in renaissance fair garb. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072/35 "2012-08-24T15:51:20Z")
I think I’m far enough down in the thread to forgo the spoiler box. I’ve always thought that the definition of a vixen was a woman that is not to be trusted (attractiveness notwithstanding). A female criminal, perhaps, who’s not been caught or convicted. I also understand the more sensual definition you guys have given, perhaps a product of movie trailers, etc. e.g. “_See our hero tempted to fail by the beautiful vixen_.” Note: I’m an old guy. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072/36 "2012-08-24T16:08:40Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I picture a woman who’s sexy and sly. > [@badger5149](#): > > Sexy sly, cunning but not really evil. I’ll endorse those. I don’t see it as decidedly derogative, or else it wouldn’t be employed in the Russ Meyer manner. It implies some fox-like independence and slyness–but maybe more for self-amusement than selfish manipulation. And since foxes are physically gorgeous animals, there’s the implication that that the woman is visually fascinating, even if not beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Corcaigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Corcaigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corcaigh)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072/37 "2012-08-24T17:23:27Z")
Didn’t read the thread I’d say a “vixen” was a smart, sassy woman, who’d outsmarted a man in some way, shape or form, can’t call her a bitch cos that would suggest she’s evil, so vixen is the next best thing. but that’s just what I reckons, being a woman. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072/38 "2012-08-24T17:59:37Z")
I wonder how it tracks the connotation of calling a woman a “fox”? Did “foxy” used to mean “ii-tempered”? Or did it \*always \*mean clever and sexy? ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072/39 "2012-08-24T20:21:56Z")
Hypersexual type of woman. Though the first thing I think of when I hear “vixen” is a female fox. (I love that word. Vixen vixen vixen). ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072/40 "2012-08-24T20:52:56Z")
I think of ‘an agressively seductive woman, sexually manipulative’. Had no idea it meant ‘PMSing for the third week in a row’!! 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-word-vixen-mean-in-your-opinion-when-applied-to-a-woman/632072.md?page=3)