little lady
Small female child
Little lady is a patronizing term of address for a woman or girl, typically used by men.
The diminutive "little" combined with the formal "lady" creates a condescending effect, suggesting the speaker views the person addressed as less capable or less serious than an adult.
Now calm down, little lady.
While sometimes used affectionately with children, when directed at adult women it often carries sexist overtones and is likely to cause offense.
Affectionate name for beloved
- darlingBeloved person or pet
- dearTreasured or costly
- preciousHighly esteemed, greatly valued
- angelDivine winged messenger
sunshine · buttercup · sweetie · poppet · princess · honey · pumpkin · treasure
Young female person
- childPerson before puberty
- youngsterPerson of tender years
- offspringBiological descendants produced
- kidChild or young goat
tot · firstborn · baby · youngest · eldest · only child · daddy's girl · granddaughter
Treating someone as inferior
- dismissiveShowing contemptuous disregard
- diminutiveVery small, or nickname form
- infantilizingTreating as incapable
- demeaningCausing loss of respect
sexist · paternalistic · disrespectful · old-fashioned · chauvinistic · outdated · offensive · mansplaining
sweetheart
Affectionate name for beloved
angel · sunshine · buttercup · sweetie · poppet · princess · honey · pumpkin · treasure · doll
girl
Young female person
kid · tot · firstborn · baby · youngest · eldest · only child · daddy's girl · granddaughter · niece
patronizing
Treating someone as inferior
- dismissiveShowing contemptuous disregard
- diminutiveVery small, or nickname form
- infantilizingTreating as incapable
demeaning · sexist · paternalistic · disrespectful · old-fashioned · chauvinistic · outdated · offensive · mansplaining · tone-deaf
- girlsgirl, lass, lassie, miss, missy
- gender stereotypesboys will be boys, pink for girls, blue for boys, man up, strong men
- nicknamesnickname, pet name, alias, handle, moniker
- condescensionpatronizing, talking down, talk down, superiority, smugness
little ladyYour Honor
Judicial title of respect
Your Excellency · madam · ma'am · Ms. President · Dr.
little, lady, belittle, ladies, ladylike, littlest, littler, belittling, belittlement