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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be a bit concerned about someone about someone calling my daughter this

298 replies

Fashionista22 · 08/07/2023 20:33

We were at a family party and someone that we don’t know very well (but seems was quite friendly and nice) called my daughter a ‘saucepot’. I didn’t think much of it at the time but I googled it later and found out it was a phrase to describe someone being sexy. He’ll be at another event in a couple of weeks..AIBU to find it a bit weird and want to keep more of a distance?

OP posts:
Tessiebeare · 08/07/2023 20:45

I’ve heard this used lots to mean sassy or cheeky. I wouldn’t be worried about this at all as I didn’t know it could have any other meaning!

AnObserverInThisDarkWorld · 08/07/2023 20:46

Saucepot is a fairly old fashioned term
"Being a bit saucy" would long ago have been like saying "being a bit sexy"
But its really more become being a bit cheeky tbh

Unless he gives you any other reason to be thinking he's a creep, then don't immediately jump to him being that openly a creep

CharityJane · 08/07/2023 20:46

I’ve only ever heard it used to mean cheeky. My mum used to call me a saucepot when I was little if I was being a bit cheeky or spirited. It was always said in an affectionate way though.

ALongHardWinter · 08/07/2023 20:46

For a child of that age,I'd take it as meaning that they were cheeky.

wutheringkites · 08/07/2023 20:46

@ChineseFakeaway

I'd take it as cheeky in a Carry On film type of context - heavy with innuendo.

I'm not making a judgement about this man. I've just never heard this word used in context that isn't sexual.

Daisy95 · 08/07/2023 20:47

Loads of people call my two year old this. She is one of the sassiest confident kids ever.. they definitely mean sassy not sexy 😂 my god not every man is a paedo and I'm pretty sure if they were they wouldn't call a 2 year old sexy in front of their mother 😂😂

Diddykong · 08/07/2023 20:47

Saucy (and also saucepot) can mean sexy but can also mean cheeky as in "don't get saucy with me", which you'd probably hear delboy saying to Rodney or "you saucy git".

Anonymouseposter · 08/07/2023 20:47

Is it an older person? Mustard pot is old fashioned but used to be used to mean mischievous and cute. Could it be something like that?

Smoothiecarton · 08/07/2023 20:49

I’ve heard this used by older people to mean a bit cheeky and outspoken’ , a bit like sassy.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 08/07/2023 20:50

We've always used it to mean a bit crazy/hyper like "oh he's a right saucepot"

amispeakingintongues · 08/07/2023 20:50

Diddykong · 08/07/2023 20:47

Saucy (and also saucepot) can mean sexy but can also mean cheeky as in "don't get saucy with me", which you'd probably hear delboy saying to Rodney or "you saucy git".

This. In this context, it just means cheeky.

Even if he was a pedo i doubt he'd let you know about it in such an obvious way.

Circumferences · 08/07/2023 20:50

I think YABVU because it doesn't mean "sexy" to most people.

OwlBasket · 08/07/2023 20:51

it totally depends on his age TBH. If he’s under about 75 there’s no excuse.

The older meaning of saucy / sauce pot was cheeky / sassy / forward, and nothing sexual. Let’s say it meant ‘pleasantly challenging’. It seemed to morph over to meaning forward / provocative / sexy in the 80s and 90s. So, another shade of ‘pleasantly challenging’. The first was fine with children, the latter very obviously not.

RandomUsernameHere · 08/07/2023 20:51

lljkk · 08/07/2023 20:38

I heard that term used by someone to simply mean mixed heritage. Nothing to do with sexiness.

If that's the case then it's equally vile.

Smoothiecarton · 08/07/2023 20:51

Ha I was going to say, as above, it’s what Del Boy would say to Rodders

itsmylife7 · 08/07/2023 20:52

Is the man an older man ?
It's a very old saying for cheeky in a cute way.

Wavingnotdrown1ng · 08/07/2023 20:53

I have Irish heritage and it was definitely used when I was growing up by my Irish relatives to mean cheeky and mischievous. I only ever heard it used about children and reading this thread is the first time I have seen it used to have a sexual connotation.

Lovingitallnow · 08/07/2023 20:54

I can't imagine anyone ever saying this to a boy. Boys don't need words to describe how they stand up for themselves or articulate what they want. I'm very happy to be corrected but I have 3 boys and I don't think anyone's ever used a descriptor for them to mean independent or sassy or assertive. They usually just say isn't he great. Or he's gas.

YesLittleElephant · 08/07/2023 20:54

When I was growing up saucepot was something our grandparents and aunts and uncles said. It just meant cheeky or sassy. My grandmother would also say "don't be saucy," if I was rude or cheeky. She would also call us "saucy Anna." No idea what the Anna bit meant.

Duttercup · 08/07/2023 20:54

We say sauceboat and saucepot in my family for cute cheekiness.

Emmamoo89 · 08/07/2023 20:55

Yabu

Duttercup · 08/07/2023 20:56

Lovingitallnow · 08/07/2023 20:54

I can't imagine anyone ever saying this to a boy. Boys don't need words to describe how they stand up for themselves or articulate what they want. I'm very happy to be corrected but I have 3 boys and I don't think anyone's ever used a descriptor for them to mean independent or sassy or assertive. They usually just say isn't he great. Or he's gas.

I've called my nephew a sauceboat about once a week since he was born...

smartiestube · 08/07/2023 20:56

My granny has called me saucepot for as long as I can remember 😂I've never heard of it meaning sexy, I always thought it meant cheeky/cute.

RosaBaby2 · 08/07/2023 20:58

My grandma always called my boys "saucy" she just meant cheeky and characterful. Jeez.

adviceneeded1990 · 08/07/2023 20:58

I’ve heard it in the context of meaning sassy and/or cheeky, like my granny would say “oh she’s a wee madam.” Annoying and outdated but not meant in sexual terms? So maybe he meant something like that?