Would you be complimented to be called a doll?

puzzle

Thu, Sep 28 2023, 1:49 am

And why?

ETA: What about in modern Hebrew? Are there different connotations?

Last edited by puzzle on Thu, Sep 28 2023, 4:06 am; edited 1 time in total

DrMom

Thu, Sep 28 2023, 2:10 am

I think it's kind of weird.

Sounds like something that a 1920s gangster would call his girlfriend.

BadTichelDay

Thu, Sep 28 2023, 2:18 am

I'd be mortally offended. It sounds belittling and objectifying to me. I want to be taken serious, I've been an adult for a long time and cuteness is absolutely not on my self-expression list.

2cents ↓

Thu, Sep 28 2023, 2:23 am

Meh. It's just an expression. "Thanks a million, you're such a doll". I'd appreciate the compliment and move on.

writinggirl

Thu, Sep 28 2023, 3:30 am

Sounds syrupy and patronizing to me. Unless you’re in the South.

Busybee5 ↓

Thu, Sep 28 2023, 3:35 am

My Aunt says doll sometimes, like the expression above. How are you doll? And then ask me a question or whatever. I don't mind that she does, but for random people is weird imo

banana123 ↓

Thu, Sep 28 2023, 5:20 am

puzzle wrote:

And why?

ETA: What about in modern Hebrew? Are there different connotations?

In English, no, absolutely not.

In Hebrew it's used to connote cuteness and almost only in the context of a child. So yes. Unless you are referring to a puppet, but that's different and it's said differently.

↑ banana123

Thu, Sep 28 2023, 5:20 am

2cents wrote:

Meh. It's just an expression. "Thanks a million, you're such a doll". I'd appreciate the compliment and move on.

Are you British or South African?

ima_bima

Thu, Sep 28 2023, 6:24 am

Depends. Are we talking Barbie doll or Cabbage Patch Kid?

scintilla

Thu, Sep 28 2023, 6:37 am

It's totally cultural. If someone is calling you a doll, 99% chance they are from or have been exposed to a culture where that's just another way of saying that you're nice. It doesn't have any weird connotations. I live in Brooklyn but grew up elsewhere where it's a normal compliment and I definitely say it sometimes. Generally when someone has been really nice to me, gone out of their way for me, done a favor etc it's not something I would say just about appearance or similar.

SnowLeopard

Thu, Sep 28 2023, 7:21 am

Okay.
Think about a nice South African lady saying the following: Thanks, you are such a doll!
Vs.
An older guy with slicked hair and a raspy voice: come ‘ere doll.

Mommyflower

Thu, Sep 28 2023, 7:45 am

It's Frum speak and totally acceptable in many circles (used differently from creepy, gangster guys), said mostly by women. I couldn't picture a frum man calling a woman a doll.

kenz

Thu, Sep 28 2023, 7:56 am

It just means you’re such a sweetheart- definitely a compliment if said by an otherwise normal person.

↑ 2cents

Thu, Sep 28 2023, 8:38 am

banana123 wrote:

Are you British or South African?

Lol. No. Flatbush.

mommy3b2c

Thu, Sep 28 2023, 8:40 am

Sure. Why not ? Ive been told I look like a doll, and it sounds like a compliment to me . And if someone says to me ,” you’re such a doll !” Then they are telling me I’m nice, so that’s a compliment too.

44now

Thu, Sep 28 2023, 8:50 am

No, I hate when people call me that. A doll is a stuffed idiot.

zaq ↓

Thu, Sep 28 2023, 9:12 am

In my lexicon, as in that of 2cents, a doll is an exceptionally nice person, somewhere between a good egg and an angel. I even apply the term to men, but not in their hearing because they think it means an attractive woman.

I would be offended if someone tried to get my attention by calling me "hey, doll." That's another thing entirely.

↑ zaq

Thu, Sep 28 2023, 9:19 am

Now if someone called me a Barbie doll (which would never happen as I most resemble Raggedy Ann), I would take that to mean that they consider me shallow, vain and empty-headed.

Queen Of Hearts

Thu, Sep 28 2023, 9:40 am

Usually telling someone they're a doll is intended as a compliment. Unless its some creepy guy on the street (which is technically an unwanted compliment).
So yes, I would take it as a compliment.

↑ Busybee5

Thu, Sep 28 2023, 9:44 am

zaq wrote:

Now if someone called me a Barbie doll (which would never happen as I most resemble Raggedy Ann), I would take that to mean that they consider me shallow, vain and empty-headed.