To think that this was rude

[bonnyisfat]

Today I was wearing a tunic and leggings and was standing waiting for a bus when a lady stood behind me and loudly said 'OOH look at them bonny legs'

Would you have wanted to tell her to shut up? So embarrassing and rude.

So basically in your mind you think she said "Ooh what fat legs"???

"Bonny" where I come from means "pretty" or "pleasing to the eye". I have never heard it used to mean "fat".

Where I'm from Bonny means pretty and is usually used by older people, I work in a nursing home and get "ooh what a bonny face"

They're saying you have nice legs and were not saying anything at all about being fat

I am from the north where 'bonny' means pretty, however I now live in Lincolnshire where 'bonny' means fat.

Nah bonny is definitely fat here (not Scotland.) I'll concede it's a 'nice' way of saying fat but it is still fat.

She also added 'I suppose you need em on your feet all day' (don't want to drip feed but why would she say that if she meant "pretty"?)

Plus, my legs are fucking awful, they honestly are

Well I guess it depends where you live then OP but I have never known it mean fat only attractive

Bonny does not mean fat !!

Oh well after your second comment maybe she was being a tad rude..

I guess if she used "Bonny" to mean fat then yes, that was a bloody rude thing to say.

Bonny means fat here too. Along with "sturdy" "healthy" "solid". Always said about girls/women meaning fat. Never boys. When boys its a compliment to be sturdy/solid/healthy.

If she meant pretty I can't see how she'd have added 'you need them on your feet all day.'

Plus, you wouldn't say randomly someone had pretty LEGS, surely, I mean, a face, hair, yes.

Bonny doesn't mean fat, anymore than "you look well" means "you look fat".

Sometimes there really isn't an agenda, and words just mean what they mean

I'm in the East Midlands and have never known 'bonny' mean anything other than a nice way of saying fat or chubby. I wouldn't have taken it as a compliment! I had no idea that it means pretty in other areas of the country!

So it could have been bonny legs, or bunny legs, or bandy legs, or bony legs OR she could have been talking to her friend Bonnie about, well, legs

Love it.

I'd love bonny legs. I think I'd have grinned broadly and engaged her in a convo, I love auld lasses that say stuff like "bonny legs"

Sorry to be so blunt but am I going to be the only one to ask why you were wearing leggings in the first place if you yourself admit your legs are awful?? My legs are not pretty and so I would never been seen out in leggings.

I'm familiar with it being used as pretty because of the kids nursery rhyme about tying up
bonny brown hair, but it is definitely a synonym for chubby, fat here.

Lucky you MrsDeVere never happened to me but then my legs are NOT my best feature!

"Why the fuck are you wearing leggings you bonny legged auld cah?"

This is the thread that keeps on giving

Comfiest for work 2016.

Bonny doesn't mean fat, anymore than "you look well" means "you look fat".
Sometimes there really isn't an agenda, and words just mean what they mean

It does in some areas.

why you were wearing leggings in the first place if you yourself admit your legs are awful??

Wtf shouldnt she wear leggings? Awful legs or no! Should she be protecting the general public from such a hideous sight?

Plus, in fairness I look pretty bad in all clothes.

I don't really want it loudly commented on though!

Oh I'd have looked an eejit with my smiling and making nice.

I thought bonny was a nice thing. If someone called me bonny and they meant to insult me they'd be annoyed as fuck when I came off all pleased.....

Wonders what people with awful faces are supposed to do if awful is supposed to be hidden in heavy baggy fabric.