To hate the word 'bubbly' as a descripton of demeanour/behaviour?

[user1466795981]

This adjective grates on me - it is ALWAYS used to describe women - usually young women - have you EVER heard it in relation to a man.

It also, in some circumstances can have slight connotations of immaturity.

No, I've never seen it as a euphemism for fat either. A bit dim, maybe, but not fat.

Bubbly has always been a patronising term for me. Totally vacuous with cork-screw blonde hair is what I picture. Usually used as a description when a teenage girl has died. I've actually never met a teenage bubbly girl, they are all far to sweet, intelligent or angsty to come under that awful term.

I've always thought of bubbly as a way to describe someone's personality rather than their looks.

Bubbly people are usually people who describe themselves as "a bit mad" and who giggle a lot, especially at their own (lame) jokes.

They'll say "Ooh this will make you laugh!" and then go on to tell a tedious anecdote and then fall about laughing.

Maybe another word for "dumb" but well-meaning. But I've never even met a teenage girl like that tbh. Bubbly is not the same as sweet.

Bubbly to me is kind of gormless, gobby and obviously not very bright.

And yes, always a woman.

I once had a line manager who was very proud of the fact that she would weed out any job applicants who described themselves as bubbly.
I do think there are better ways to describe a persons personality tbh.

I don't think it means fat, it means nice and non-threatening.

I don't think I've ever been described as bubbly. I'm probably the opposite of bubbly tbf.

An ex-boss once said I was "formidable", which I objected to but was secretly delighted about.

I don't think it necessarily means fat. It does in my mind have negative undertones of someone who is a bit dim and probably never stops bloody talking, usually which I find quite irritating.

In some circles, I think "you look well" is secret code for "are you pregnant?"

Yanbu. I totally agree with notfabulous

I'd never connected the being chubby aspect. To me it means wittering on incessantly and giggling a lot. In other words, being terminally irritating.

id never thought of it as meaning fat before, I hate it though. "bubbly personality" "bright and bubbly"

it seems to be used when young women die, at least that's where I've noticed it the most. it bothers me because it's like a default and not a real description of a person.

i also don't like people using personality descriptors such as smiley, happy, sunny etc because for some reason it comes off as condescending to me - that a happy personality is the only good personality to have.

also noticed in OLD profiles that many many people will write things like 'happy people only!' which annoys me, happiness is a feeling/emotion, nobody can be happy all the time unless it's faked. plus there's nothing wrong with people who aren't happy.

minatiae I agree with you. If a young woman dies, you frequently find them being described as "bubbly". It's as if the person doing the describing can't be arsed to find anything else to say.

I'd hate to be described as bubbly. It's a lazy way to describe someone.

admin/secretarial positions this, in the sense that the women who've been described as bubbly have all been in non executive/policymaking roles.

I can't think of a woman in a position of responsibility who I'd describe as "bubbly". Angela Merkel bubbly? Theresa May bubbly? Thatcher? Hillary Clinton?.

No way.

Also agree with pp who mentioned the connotations between 'bubbly' and immaturity for age.

Worst is when someone on a dating site refers to themselves as bubbly!

On some sort of application form a young woman described themselves as 'bubblie'. I was picturing the person in my mind!!

To me "bubbly" comes with slightly desperate overtones- bit busty blonde middle aged divorcee with not much to offer. But yes, always a woman.

i was told recently my smile lights up the place :)

that's really lovely

here it is ;)

never thought of it as fat, either.

To me, it's giggly, talkative, friendly, etc. I guess maybe seeming a little on the superficial side, in some circumstances, but not generally derogatory or negative otherwise.

If i died and was eulogised as bubbly, I'd come back as a vengeful ghost

It's definitely got non threatening generalisation written all over it, hasn't it?

A relative of mine describes herself as "bubbly, crazy and fun!!" she is none of these

Bubbly = giggly + overweight

I've only ever known it applied to women. I'm not sure why this is important though, aren't there many gender specific terms for both men and women?

As said, I think "jolly" is the nearest male specific equivalent

Lame word to describe a woman. WTF does it mean anyway, like a bottle of champagne?

I doubt I've ever been labelled bubbly, more a fine wine that has aged well < that's not a bubbly grin BTW