What is a 'smashing bird' ?

[plinkduet]

What does it mean when a man keeps calling you 'smashing', a 'smashing bird', whenyou chat online in facebook? He's a very close family friend of around my age (42) who I've met once or twice briefly at family functions. We get along very well and have lots in common. He once told my sister when she asked that he thought I was 'cute'.

Does any of this sound promising?! ;-)

Where i live A smashing bird means a great girl or similar Bird meaning female and smashing meaning great , fab , lovely etc :)

It means the person you're talking to remembers the 1960s. This bloke's dad must be writing it.

If you're interested in the guy, I would say yes, it's a good sign; he is saying in a rather old-fashioned way that he finds you attractive. However, go over and post that OP on the feminist boards and I guarantee what they have to say about it won't be pretty. As my excellent ex-SIL used to say, you know why women are called birds? Because of the worms they pick up. (Joke, not serious comment on your situation.)

I was going to say much what TeiTetua said!
Or it might be that he is very fond of Carry On films - its the sort of phrase you'd expect Sid James to come out with.

Agree with everyone - but would also consider that it could be a "safe" way for a possibly shy,maybe "decent,old fashioned" type man to communicate that he likes you a lot.It could feel safer for him this way,since if you don't feel the same,it could be seen as a lighthearted, good old slap on the back-type compliment....so he saves face.

Its Gene Hunt speak, from the sexist 60-70's!

Young women were known as "dolly birds". There was a ghastly Carla Lane sitcom called "The Liver Birds" about 2 singletons sharing a flat. One episode featured the lads speculating on the "vital statistics" of one of the "birds" who had entered a beauty contest at the local pub - the upshot was she had a 34" bust not a 36" bust, or some such sexist rubbish. This was prime-time BBC1!

we had a smashing bird at Christmas, there are still bagged left overs in our Freezer!
but really i thing he just thinks your fun to be around and fancies you, but his way of putting its is a bit old hat

Sorry, it means he's a bit old fashioned, the word now seems quite tame.

Sounds ok!

I think its quite nice - I can think of worse things to be called

'a "safe" way for a possibly shy,maybe "decent,old fashioned" type man to communicate that he likes you a lot' piranhamorgana

He is shy, he does have slightly old-fashioned manners but not in a sexist way, he's referred to as a 'a real Gent' by everyone. He's about 40, so wouldn't remember the 60s!

Think I might go and post it on the feminist boards too just for the malarkey

My DP calls me allsorts of Bird; gorgeous, lovely,sexy,skanky when i need a wash ... hes a bit older than yours and from up north. I love it as it invariablly comes with a cuddle

My lodger is from the North. He uses the word smashing a lot, mostly to do with his dinner. I would think it is meant as a "good thing".

See im known on my radio station and on fb and by a lot of friends as pompeybird lol (pompey cos thats where im from and bird cos its another term for female)
I dont find it sexist at all but maybe thats because its used a lot where i live :)

jusr for a sec i miss understood FB as fatbird
sorry
its like at work the "bun lady" likes the tag "trolley dolly" but ain't as keen on " tart with the cart"

I think it's hearfelt and quite nice

I'd not be vexed to be described as a smashing bird.

...mind I also

LOL batman id be worried if i was called fatbird considering as im seriously underweight due to illnesses pmsl

Implies good-looking but also fun to be with and generally a good egg (now that is dated slang) IMO - you wouldn't call, say, Naomi Campbell or Victoria Beckham that. I'd take it as a compliment (but then I fondly remember the old Mark and Lard "Bird or Bloke?" game on the radio).

Smashing?

Had no idea people still used that word!

Jim Bohen
"great smashing super time for a bit of bully"

OMG Bullseye lol how i do miss that show , TV isnt how it used to be lol

i bet some mums on here hate "take me out" and what it stands for
"no likey no lighty"

tbh i dont watch that show but then i was never keen on blind date (only ever liked the bit where they would come back from the holiday and slagged each other off) although its just light entertainment , something that you dont have to put all your energy into watching or following

What happened to light weekend entertainment like bullseye , the generation game , family fortunes (without the celebs)and wheel of fortune now its all reality TV and celeb crap which is ok to a point but they are all the same thing lol

Bring back the classics

and ditch Simon Cowell and his wannabeees

Oh god yes as much as i do like the shows i do think they have had their day its all the same bloody crap with the same bloody idiots and thats just the judges lol

It seems about who can make the biggest idiot of themselves rather than talent these days

it wouldn't bother me to be called bird in this context - I actually think you can still have feminist principles and not mind a bit of banter - trying franctically to think of a male equivalent pet name to bird.

Same as Take Me Out - its so cheesy and naff its good - not sure which sex it exploits the most. I like no likey no lighty.

Also love the star prize is hiding behind Bully (in Jim Bowen's northern accent)

It pains me that we haven't got equality but think there are deeper issues than calling someone a bird - what about women who call other women birds.

And don't want us all to be walking around with stick up our backsides - there has to be some 'fun' between the sexes. IMVHO