Honey. Sweetie. Darling. Dear. Sweetheart.
These are words that we are all familiar with. And, we’ve probably all asked ourselves, is it ok to call someone honey? Is it ok for someone else to call me honey?
We all have that friend or family member that uses them or something similar. And, heck, we probably use them from time to time, too. But, not always for the same reasons.
I’ll be the first to admit, sometimes I get really irritated when someone calls me honey. But, that might be from how I usually use the word and not necessarily the way someone else meant it.
Many words in the English language have multiple meanings, including these words. To illustrate this, I’m sharing a few of the more common definitions for the word honey.
honey[ huhn-ee ]
noun, plural hon·eys.
a sweet, viscid fluid produced by bees from the nectar collected from flowers, and stored in nests or hives as food.
this substance as used in cooking or as a spread or sweetener.
Sentence:
Jane likes honey on her waffles instead of syrup.
But, I think Websters is missing quite a few definitions. So, I’m going to help them out with my own understanding. AND, I’ll use it in a sentence.
noun
A nickname or term of endearment used when speaking to a loved one.
Sentence:
Have a good day at work, Honey.
noun
A nickname or term of endearment for any incredibly cute baby or animal.
Sentence:
You are such a sweet little puppy. Do you want me to scratch your belly, honey?
Used to describe a romantic partner.
Sentence:
My honey loves it when I where these jeans.
noun
A nickname used to soften the humiliation someone feels when you point out something stupid they have done.
Sentence:
Oh, honey. The food in a hotel’s mini fridge is not free.
Honey, all cars need to have oil changes or this is what happens.
noun
A nickname used to converse with a child that doesn’t know you. Allows communication without setting off the stranger danger siren in their head.
Often used to replace the phrase ‘hey, kid’.
Sentence:
Here’s your mitten, Honey. You dropped it on the sidewalk back there.
noun
A nickname used to warn someone that you are angry with them or with a situation and that they should avoid confrontation with you.
Sentence:
(1) Listen, Honey. You’d better stop talking right now.
(2) Honey, you have no clue who you’re talking to.
noun
A nickname used to be condescending, often in combination with sarcasm.
Sentence:
Sure, honey. It’s been 2 months, but he’s still going to call you back.
noun
A nickname for younger women/girls used by older men that enjoy getting the stink eye from the targeted female.
Sentence:
Why don’t you smile, honey. You look so pretty when you smile.
noun
A nickname for younger women/girls used by unidentified male. Often seen as a reliable indicator that the person using the word is a pervert.
Sentence:
(1) You are too pretty to be sitting here alone, Honey.
(2) Can I buy you a drink, Honey?
noun
A nickname used for any person they ever interact with.
Sentence:
Here’s your change, honey.
noun
A socially accepted nickname used by elderly people for anyone that is younger.
Sentence:
Honey, can you help me find the butter? I think I might be wearing my husband Earl’s glasses. I can’t seem to find anything. I have a grandson about your age. You know, he’s just the smartest boy you ever met. He doesn’t come and see me much anymore. He has such an important job that he can’t get away. Did I tell you how smart he is?
noun
A nickname used as an anger management tool. While studies have shown it to be contraindicated, it is still widely believed by the public to ease tempers of both parties during a confrontation.
Sentence:
Honey, when I said, we need to clean our rooms today, we didn’t mean me.
Now, I’m not saying don’t use the words honey, sweetheart or darling. I’m all for free speech. I abhor censorship of any kind. And, to be transparent, I use those words sometimes.
Just be aware that if you are not part of my immediate family, chances are, I’m not using the word honey in any way you’d want to hear it.
Because of that, when someone says it to me, I have to remind myself that other people may be using a different definition than I am. Sometimes, it is ok to call me honey. Sometimes, it’s really not.
As much as I think they belong there, I don’t think any of these definitions will ever make it into Websters. But, hey, you never know, right??
–[mäm-mə] [ˈgēk]
