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.

Reallygiven that this woman probably sees legs every day of her life I wonder why she chose to make a remark over it.

To me bonny = fat too. My mum says " ou look right bonny" and I take offence, though she says she doesn't mean it like that.

I do know that some people say it to mean attractive though. I doubt that anyone would say it to a stranger to mean fat.

Yes it was rude

Round here it also is a compliment and one you hear a lot once the weather turns from grey to a bit of sunshine and everybody loses the thick jeans (Wiltshire and Wales)

Reminds me of my friend Ali's Granny. We were sat quietly watching TV when she exclaimed "Eeh Ali! You've legs like two great hams!" Ali responded with a cheerful "Thanks Granny!" Granny had form.

Of course bonny means pretty.
The same way that "you look well", means "you look well".

I love the sheer insanity of an MN anti-complement thread where posters vie with each to take the most innocuous comment and turn it into a heinous insult.

Or perspicacia maybe everyone is backing the op up that it wasn't the nicest thing to say but not to worry about it anyway?
Op said she was insulted which les to lots of people asking why because for them bonny means pretty for op and other people bonny means a nicer way to say chubby. Posters saying this aren't calling the op fat - why would we? We are just backing her up in her right to feel insulted - although I'm sure her legs did look fine and the lady should have kept her 'helpful' comments to herself - however if she was from another area in the uk it may be she meant pretty and op took it as fat
I don't see anyone turning compliments into heinous insults!!

I think it's the other way around on Mumsnet.

'AIBU to be insulted this woman spat in my face and called me a bitch?'
'YABU. Spitting in faces is a Far East Asian traditional way of greeting your friends, she was trying to be your friend.'
'You obviously reminded her of her pet spaniel. You sound like such hard work.'

'Bonny' is one of those words I'm aware has more than one meaning. It's definitely 'fat' round here (and the woman had a strong local accent) but I know it's got other meanings as in the nursery rhyme and Scarlett O'Hara's daughter - I'm sure she wouldn't have been 'Chubby Blue Butler'

It's not exactly the same as someone saying 'your legs are fat' because it's a 'nice' way of putting it but I really don't want or need anyone commenting on my legs at all.

She knew I was on my feet as my tunic made it obvious what job I do.

OP I would consider 'bonny' to be attractive as in 'bonny baby' competition- the best in show .
In your area it means fat, not in my area.

I really doubt a stranger would call your legs fat, so I am sure she meant pretty. A rather odd thing to say, but it am sure it wasn't meant as an insult.

I thought bonny meant pretty, so I probably would have turned round and thanked her

She meant chubby.

No need to comment.

This thread has cheered me up.

There's a town called Bonnybridge - is it an attractive bridge, or a fat one, eh?

Depends where it is pippistrelle

I think it's firmly in the 'attractive' zone, although I don't know if there is, in fact, a bridge or if it's pretty, so the Trades Description Act may apply.

It's the boundary between ENormas two towns. The bridge on one side is beautiful but the other side has collapsed under the groaning weight of fat feckers walking across it wearing leggings.