[HPFGU-OTChatter] Usage in British English of the word "Honey"

[Neil Ward]

John:

::puts on Dramatic Flair Cape::

> Reading through Sunday's chat script just now, I encountered some
suspicion
> about the usage in British English of the word "honey" as an endearment.
> ::sniff:: IIRC, I told Ebony while Brit-proofing that Brits don't use it.

Neil tugs off John's Dramatic Flair Cape, throws it on the floor and stamps
on it, hands it back, and then says:

Honey isn't *that* common and it's not used in quite the same way as in the
US, but it is used.  Ironically, it's often a sort of cod-American use, and
that's the sort air-kissy way a lot of gay people would use it.  It can be
used as a more sincere term of endearment though.  My secretary - not a
lesbian or a Ricki Lake fan the last time I asked -  often calls me honey or
'hon' if she thinks I'm doing too much (and 'hun' if she thinks she's doing
too much).  I guess it's not used in the loud "Honey, I'm HOME!" sense
though.  Alternatives would vary: darling, sweetheart, love, pet, dear(est)
or babe, depending on your age.

Okay, I'll shut up...

Neil
________________________________________________

"We made a connection/A full on chemical reaction
Brought by dark divine intervention/Yeah, you are a shining light"
[Ash, "Shining Light"]