to NOT want the cashier in bloody Waitrose to refer to women as 'birds'?

[Queen0fFeckingEverything]

Picking up some shopping today, whilst wearing an (admittedly slightly daft but very effective) cowgirl hat, the cashier said to me "Nice hat" to which I replied "Thanks" and carried on packing my shopping.

Then he said "Nice hair too, mind you must get boiling in this weather". I went mmmmmmhhmmmm carried on packing my shopping in the normal manner of a harassed mother of a toddler at 3.10pm.

And THEN he said "I've only ever been with one bird with dreadlocks you know", like I fucking care or something, and WINKED at me [ugh]

[WorraLiberty]

What in particular don't you like about 'bird'?

I don't like it either but it is a regional thing.

I live bordering East London and 'bird' is quite a common expression

Just as 'hen' is quite a common expression Oop North

[ClaraOswald]

Ok, the wink takes it into ohmyfuckingGodfuckoffyouweirdo territory.

Seriously inappropriate in that setting to be discussing women he has had sex with. With a customer.

[ANormalOne]

I'd be more annoyed at him discussing his sex life with you and the wink, than the use of 'bird'.

[ANormalOne]

Oh, but I dislike men who call their girlfriends their 'bird' it's common around where I live and it gets right on my tits.

[lottiegarbanzo]

Um, I'd be far more unhappy that he was talking about you in the context of his sex life. Did he think he was propositioning you? I'd be making a complaint about that actually.

[ThisReallyIsNotSPNopeNotAtAll]

I dont get the problem with using the term 'bird' I use it.

The wink was weird though

[Justfornowitwilldo]

Creepy weird man.

[Justfornowitwilldo]

I'd want to dettol my shopping. I'd worry where his hands had been ...

[ANormalOne]

I'll clarify that I don't like it because I don't like the way people pronounce it, imagine someone screeching, 'me bird' in a really Scouse accent. I'm a Scouser myself but it's like nails down a chalkboard.

[Queen0fFeckingEverything]

Oh god I HATE being referred to as a bird It's not nice! It's disrespectful and tacky.


I have no idea if he was propositioning me. Hope not.

Whole thing was just a bit icky.

[BMW6]

Was it Gene Hunt working undercover?

Jeez, I thought that died with the dinosaurs!!

[x2boys]

lived near Manchester my whole life therefore oop north never heard any one referred
to as hen?

[YouStayClassySanDiego]

He sounds like a right arse, that would piss me off too.

Give him the death stare next time or just avoid him.

What a plank!

[TabithaStephens]

He was probably just trying to be friendly.

[Laquitar]

This word is on my top hate list. I really really can't stand it.
YANBU OP.

[Wibblypiglikesbananas]

My old English teacher used to say that women are only called birds because of the worms they pick up... I've always quite liked that as a comeback.

[usualsuspect]

Doesn't bother me.

[Queen0fFeckingEverything]

Yes its so easy to confuse 'trying to be friendly' with 'sounding like a sexist sleaze'....

[LadyBeagleEyes]

Hen is more Scottish than Northern I think.
Regional words don't bother me at all, I'd also be more bothered that he told you he'd only had one woman with dreadlocks, along with his sleazy wink.

[Mrsrobertduvall]

I would report him.
We don't expect that in Waitrose.

[burberryqueen]

sleazy old sleazepot.......
not too bothered about 'bird' in general tho'

[pigletmania]

That behaviour was more Asda than waitrose, what will the older pearl clutches say?

[Feminine]

I think by the time I'd dropped my green coin in to my chosen slot, I would have forgotten all about it!

[MrsPresley]

You should have told him that women are called birds because of all the worms they pick up

[Technotropic]

In fairness, 'I've been with' can also mean 'I've been out with' so he may not have been blurting out his sexual conquests to you.