Those people closest to me know how I feel about this word and I haven’t felt I needed to really voice my opinion on the matter until now. The following list provides acceptable examples of use.. in my opinion:
“What a cute puppy!”
“That’s such a cute little cottage.”
“Your baby is really cute.”
“What a cute little boy/girl.”
“That was a cute story [about a little puppy who lived in a cottage with a little boy/girl owner].”
Have you found the theme? Things that are little, young, or fairy tale related… maybe a stretch but you get the idea. It’s rare that ‘little’ doesn’t follow ‘cute’ whatever the phrase. Have you noticed that? “That’s a cute little ______” but never “that’s a cute massive________.” Sorry – doesn’t work, hence the next list of examples of how not to use ‘cute.’:
“You look so cute!” said to a university student in her early 20’s who is 5′10 and wearing a poorly fitted floral skirt, tights and sandels, cream knit hat and hornrim glasses by her almost clone.
“That’s super cute!” said by a university student about a sweater and tie combination she saw someone wearing.
“What a cute little calendar.” Dude…it’s a calendar – granted, it has ‘cute little kittens’ but still… grrr.
Lesson: cute is a nothing adjective that should be banned from the vocabulary of all females in the early teens to late twenties. “Cute” can only be used to describe small things but not grown women trying to look like they are 8 years old. “Cute” should be used as a last resort descriptor when you cannot think of a more creative or accurate word. An exception: when you’re trying to compliment a new parent on their baby and it is either truly cute or so homely you just can’t tell if it is cute but still need to be polite.
3 Comments
January 12, 2009 at 3:39 pm
lol, i know exactly what you mean. I hate being called cute. It’s annoying, because I don’t like to be that little cute girl. But then again, I’m also guilty of saying it that way too : )
January 13, 2009 at 2:45 pm
[...] to class! If you’re going out – fine. Wear cute shoes (this is an exception to the rule: Cute is allowed here!), but please!… only if you can actually do them [...]
April 17, 2009 at 8:42 am
[...] and shunning those people who are trying to be “cute” when they’re not. BAH! It’s like karma biting me in the butt. “Ha HA! That’ll teach you to be [...]