Things I’ve Learned About The Good Old U S of A From Watching Films And Telly

[riaz]

What I meant was I never heard it in the context being discussed now, as a substitute for the posterior. However, I am sure it is the diminutive for Frances.

I assume her name is Fanny? In which case, no - because it her name, and doesn't refer to a lady part.

I am confused now. It is OK to call somebody Fanny if it is her name, but to call someone that if it is NOT their name is rude.

 

[RoryA]

Yep. Same with ****.

 

[kgkev]

An american fanny is not an rude as an English Fanny (which as cornflake girl says is very rude)

but I suppose it would be acceptable to call a baby fanny (although old fasioned)

I seem to remember Enid Blyton always had a fanny in her books.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanny

Fanny / fannie short for Francis.

 

[cornflakegirl]

Yep. Same with ****.

Except you might call someone a **** to be offensive, but I don't think you would call them a fanny?

Of course, telling someone to stop fannying about isn't really rude at all.

 

[Patience]

No - the rudeness is just in what it means. It isn't really an insult - but a rude word for a certain part of a girl.

 

[RoryA]

Except you might call someone a **** to be offensive, but I don't think you would call them a fanny?

no, 'fanny' wouldn't be the word I'd use.
'fannying about' and 'dicking around' are pretty much interchangeable though.
I personally don't think that fanny is a particularly rude word, but maybe that's just me.

 

[Patience]

no, 'fanny' wouldn't be the word I'd use.
'fannying about' and 'dicking around' are pretty much interchangeable though.
I personally don't think that fanny is a particularly rude word, but maybe that's just me.

Yeah - there are certainly at least two synonyms that are significantly ruder, (which I think you have alluded to!) One of which I consider to be the most offensive word in the English Language.

 

[cornflakegirl]

Do you really? I don't think I do - mainly because it's just a synonym for vulva, so ultimately, how rude can that be? I think terms that are explicitly derogatory about a person's character are actually much worse...

I don't think fanny is rude either. Just a bit coarse.

 

[Patience]

I had this discussion with someone at work once, and the reason I gave was that it is BECAUSE it is a synonym for vulva that I find it offensive, but maybe for different reasons. If someone uses the word then the intention surely is to be offensive. I find it insulting, as a woman, that someone would choose a word that essentially means what it means to be so offensive.

Does that even make sense? In my head it did. :-S

 

[cornflakegirl]

No
We need to reclaim it