Need an American Word / Phrase

[jon.hayworth]

Following on from Workmates another transatlantic translation problem I need solving.

In England we have a word "TWEE" it means "over the top dainty or quaint" - maybe - "An adult who is inapprpriately childish"

What word do you use in American english to express the same idea.

Thanks in advance

jon

 

[tenyari]

Immature.

Honestly, I don't think we have a -slang- term for this. What we make slang about and what you make slang about is often different.

 

[Quasimodem]

As tenyari said, it is difficult to supply a term, as there does not seem to be an exact duplicate.

Exploring, I found:

twee >adjective (tweer, tweest) Brit. excessively or affectedly quaint, pretty, or sentimental.
-ORIGIN representing a child's pronunciation of sweet.

Quaint can be alternately: old-time, fantastic or grotesque

Pretty can mean attractive, or fair.

Sentimental can be touching, compassionate, maudlin, and even schmaltzy.


think we need a more exact reference to which meaning you wish to employ.

In the mean time, thanks for the word.

 

[M.A.Thompson]

"An adult who is inapprpriately childish"

We call him Mister President.

 

[Madame Manga]

I vote for "cutesy-poo".

MM

 

[karmadog]

I don't know. Frou-frou? A feminine drink with lots of fruit garnishes and a little umbrella is a foo-foo drink. I think that got bastardized from frou-frou. I've never heard either term applied to a person. Frou-frou is usually used for home decor or art.

A man might be described as light in the loafers, but that also implies that he's homosexual.

It's tough translating from English to American.

 

[lizthewizz2000]

More possibilities

I think there are a few possibilities here, though each leading down a different path. I'm not sure how American they are, but they came to mind when reading your request.

One would be the word "Prissy" - where someone is very particular and dainty - for example, the two brothers on "Frasier"

Another would be "Diva" - usually used for a person who is spoiled and has to be doted on.

Finally, an insult that is used on occasion would be "prepubscent" meaning immature and unable to deal with being an adult (ie "you prepubscent jerk! all you think about is me, me, me"

Wishing you well in your story!

Liz

 

[deliciously_naughty]

I think liz might be the closest to giving you what you're looking for.

I might also add

immature...as in you immature jerk, you'd rather play video games than take me out to dinner

I've also just out and out called exes children. You fucking child, you think the world revovles around you.


A word of advice...a male is rarely called a diva unless he's gay. I've never heard it attached to a straight male. A woman or a gay man can be a diva. But that's just my experience

 

[jon.hayworth]

Thank you everyone for wracking your brains for the correct word.

The context I was using it in was two characters discussing a Xmas Party at a S&M Bondage Club. And the character is in effect saying it is inappropriate / childish / mainstream this is before the character proposes a better solution.

I hope if ever any of you are ever trying to write dialogue for a Brit that you will feel free to call upon me.

jon

 

[deliciously_naughty]

Thank you everyone for wracking your brains for the correct word.

The context I was using it in was two characters discussing a Xmas Party at a S&M Bondage Club. And the character is in effect saying it is inappropriate / childish / mainstream this is before the character proposes a better solution.

I hope if ever any of you are ever trying to write dialogue for a Brit that you will feel free to call upon me.

jon

Oh, in that context, I'd call the party lame . It's a lame idea

 

[jon.hayworth]

Thank you DN -

Oh, in that context. I'd call the party lame. It's a lame idea

I shall use the word LAME it sounds right.

jon

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Twee

Twee's okay here, if a bit rare. I've seen it in the New Yorker a few times, which seems to be how a lot of good words get into American English (Like "louche" and "fey", a couple of good ones.)

Probably the closest synonym I can think of offhand is "precious", but it's a poor substitute for twee.

---Dr.M.

 

[Cuckolded_BlK_Male]

"In England we have a word "TWEE" it means "over the top dainty or quaint" - maybe - "An adult who is inapprpriately childish"

Those are two entirely disparate notions. By far the most common American slang adjectives to describe the first idea would be faggy or queer. In American, queer has almost lost its meaning of generally odd, and almost always refers to some male who's poncing about.