How is silly billy used?
Posted by buddhamelt@reddit | AskABrit | View on Reddit | 142 comments
I'm a Mexican American and don't know much about the culture. A friend that's a young lady was a bit down and I told her I had a hard time at work but I would talk to her soon and I said love you dude. To be nice she said it once when she was drunk and you know I used te quiero because it's a more platonic use of the word ik she isn't into me her messages are too lacking for it to be flirtatious. anyway I said ttyl love you dude and she said love you silly billy talk soon ik being called silly billy. I mentioned she reminded me of this show I watched a character on there that's his catchphrase and she said oh okay well you are a silly billy. If anyone knows what it's comparable to in American culture or better yet Mexican culture it would be appreciated. I want to know if I sould jab back or give a little nick name back but silly billy has no meaning to me.
beobabski@reddit
It means “I acknowledge that you are deliberately acting in a way that is contrary to normal behaviour, but it doesn’t necessarily warrant formal chastisement, mostly because I love you very much and don’t want to hurt your feelings, but also because the behaviour is likely not malicious, and may indeed just be playful.”
4me2knowit@reddit
It’s positive you daft ha’porth
(You daft half penny’s worth) also endearing
atticdoor@reddit
It's entirely fond- the sort of thing a doting grandparent might call a grandchild if they keep pretending to be a Pikachu.
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
Thanks so it's a wholesome term more than a jabby one
4me2knowit@reddit
Definitely it’s loving and positive
Healthy-Tap7717@reddit
Yes 100% there is no jabbing here. Endearment more so
AnxiousAppointment70@reddit
We often call people a Muppet in the same way.
Lazzlewazzle@reddit
In my experience (north-east) muppet is only used negatively, essentially a synonym for idiot.
fifegirl79@reddit
Muppet can be used slightly insultingly, though, depending on tone. If you angrily called someone a silly billy, you'd sound ridiculous. Even more so if you called them an effing silly billy.
ayyglasseye@reddit
In an effort to be more professional I'll now be calling my colleagues f*cking silly billies
AnxiousAppointment70@reddit
Numpty is another good one
Munchkin_Baby@reddit
It’s a term of endearment 💯
ShutUpBaby-IKnowIt69@reddit
Correct!
GrimQuim@reddit
I use it with my kids all the time, if they're being daft and hurt themselves I'll fondly say "that's what you get for being a fucking silly billy"
PeeTheOff@reddit
Considered saying the same, for when you are being ‘daft’ - just hoping OP doesn’t ask what daft Means 😂
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
What does daft mean lol
Nigglym@reddit
...being a silly billy...
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
Mamon 😂
yellowsubmarine45@reddit
Daft means stupid. But in a really affectionate way that is in no way meant insultingly.
Like, if you thanked someone profusely for agreeing to do a tiny favour they were absolutely happy to do, they might say 'don't be daft' or 'of course I will, silly billy'
Embarrassed_Put_7892@reddit
I like the term daft apence
AnxiousAppointment70@reddit
Or "daft 'a'p'orth" short for daft half penny worth
Embarrassed_Put_7892@reddit
I’ve just had this same conversation with my husband! That’s a new eggcorn for me!
chaosfollows101@reddit
Oh my god. 37 years young and I just learnt what a'p'orth actually means. Never seen it written (or explained) and just put it down as one of those odd things your parents said... 🤯
KarateGirl1021@reddit
I always assumed it was “daft apeth” and something to do with being an ape till I saw this!
AnxiousAppointment70@reddit
As in pennorth meaning penny worth and "ruining t' ship for 'a'porth o' tar"
timbono5@reddit
A person might call their friend “you daft bugger” in an affectionate way when they’re being a bit stupid.
Crivens999@reddit
Too right. Cunts… ;)
MolassesInevitable53@reddit
Wow, you use the F word when speaking to your grandkids?
yellowsubmarine45@reddit
I strongly suspect that this person is not from the US. We Brits, and also our antipodean cousins are not afraid of the word fuck.
MolassesInevitable53@reddit
I am British/kiwi. I am not afraid of the word 'fuck'. I probably use it far to much. But I do not use it to, or within the hearing of, children. Especially not my grandchildren.
GrimQuim@reddit
Only when they're being silly wee cunts.
Useful-Basil-7340@reddit
Howling at this 😂
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
I can tell I would like you
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
Oh.. so kinda jabby
Desperate-Cookie3373@reddit
No, there is no jabbiness there- cunt is often used as a term of endearment in the UK, particularly (but not exclusively) by Scots.
EsotericSnail@reddit
OP - do not under any circumstances call anyone a cunt. There’s a razor’s edge difference between the situations when it’s charming to call someone a cunt and when it’s horrifically offensive. Native Britons can easily get it wrong. Second-language speakers shouldn’t even try it.
nonsequitur__@reddit
I agree. Do not use that word. Although people on Reddit like to say we throw it around all the time, most people in much of the UK absolutely do not do so in everyday life. I know someone who lost their job for writing “c u next Tuesday” on social media. Not the word cunt, they actually wrote c u next Tuesday. I hear it possibly once or twice a year and in company where we know everyone else will be cool with it. For most people it’s the one swearword that you don’t say even with people you are happy to swear around.
Pineapple_JoJo@reddit
Nooo no not jabby at all!
matomo23@reddit
No.
-HermanTheTosser@reddit
That was a very specific example
You were the pikachu child, weren't you?
atticdoor@reddit
I was nearly 20 when Pokémon first came to my country.
imtheorangeycenter@reddit
I've been too old for Pokémon three times now
-HermanTheTosser@reddit
Sorry -
*Pikachu adult
Wraithei@reddit
Child friendly equivalent of dickhead (when used in an endearing context)
Miss_IAmAlwaysRight@reddit
Silly Billy = Silly goose Hope that helps
Vland0r@reddit
she probably doesn't want to say "dude" because it just generally feels weird to a brit. so she goes with "silly billy" instead. It's not flirtatious, she's just calling you "dude", friend, pal, "wey"
Goldf_sh4@reddit
Its, mild, sweet and affectionate.
jd2000@reddit
Similar to silly sausage
Optimal_Caramel256@reddit
The only time I remember this phrase being a catchphrase was when Mike Yarwood was impersonating Dennis Healey . Hope this makes things clearer!
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
No,no it did not but thank you lol
Peanut0151@reddit
I think it's probably the equivalent of her saying 'you're sweet'
Legitimate_Fudge6271@reddit
Yeah, this actually answers OP's question. People saying it's only used for children are just confusing OP. The text is positive, don't worry.
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
No I figured it was just didn't understand thank you this makes more sense I was forced into a world that was merciless and i tried so hard to make my gangster father proud and i mean gangster not what you see nowadays so now I try to be as kind as possible in all aspects of life idk if that will absolve me but I feel like a better more confident man
Legitimate_Fudge6271@reddit
Good job mate - keep at it! If you want to impress her, you should call her a "silly sausage" next time she says something funny or cute.
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
I will, but we don't have that kind of relationship sir just friends from across the internet
ALittleNightMusing@reddit
You sound like a good dude. I hope you have gentler days ahead of you.
Peanut0151@reddit
Good luck, man
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
Thank you sir 😁
smileystarfish@reddit
It's a gentle term of endearment in the context of your conversation.
That said, in general it's weird to "jab back".
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
But can you explain further because in my culture saying love you in sad situations is common
plastictomato@reddit
En ingles nos usamos “love you” solo para familiares o íntimos—eso es uno de las cosas que me gusta mucho sobre las culturas hispanohablantes🥲 Y “silly billy” es un poco como decir bobito/a…te quiero también, bobito. Es cordial☺️
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
I feel like she doesn't like when I say te quiero
plastictomato@reddit
En Español? Es posible que no sabía el significado y cuando usas Google o sitios similares, todos lo traducían como “I love you”. En inglés no hay una forma de “I love you” para amigos, todos son los mismos, y por eso quizás ella creyó que estabas flirting?
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
No I told her what it means every translation and how I use it
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
Yeah I just told her I would message her in a time frame and she liked my comment passed that time frame... so I told her about my day and that I would get back to her she deals with a lot so I just wanted to add a love you she says it first but I grew up around very stoic and evil people I think she knows love you makes me a lil uncomfortable because I use to say te quiero which is a very platonic way of saying love you we definitely don't use I and I'm trying to be better with that word so I might of over used it
EconomicsPotential84@reddit
It's definitely playful and a sign of endearment, kinda like calling someone a goof.
Salty-Selection-4351@reddit
This will probably confuse the issue because I don't have any definite amercanisms other than the couple already sugested (maybe Doofus). It is definately G rated which is why most people are saying it would be said to a child. It's slightly more afectionate and less sugestive of an intelectual deficit than: nugget, barmpot, plank, donut, ding dong, dingbat, dipstick, dipshit, turnip, tool, moron. cupid stunt. twit, twerp, doorstop, doorstep, plantpot, teapot. To emphasise the level of stupidity and idiotry with less endearment, add prefixes such as: you total... or you complete and utter...
socksdadsandsleaze@reddit
It's very affectionate and not meant to cause any offence. Silly Billy, silly sausage, daft bat. Etc. In American culture it maybe translates as goofball? In Mexican Spanish the Internet tells me it's menso or zonzo.
chloe_h76@reddit
I wouldn't personally compare it to "daft bat", I would find it very offensive to be called that. It's not all that far off "cloth-eared bint" (Basil Fawlty) imo. Maybe it's less offensive depending on tone of voice when it's being said
socksdadsandsleaze@reddit
Absolutely, tone will always play a huge part in reception and perception. Daft bat wasn't offensive at all where I grew up, it was as innocent as silly sausage or silly Billy, but I guess location plays a part too.
chloe_h76@reddit
Yeah also I can't help hearing it in my ex husband's voice, which adds a dimension of derision and malice - his insults played a big part in my decision to leave him 😅 so I'm a bit biased
socksdadsandsleaze@reddit
Oh gosh, yes, I appreciate that the memory can darken the reception.
No_Sport_7668@reddit
It’s affectionate.
Can be used if you’ve done something mildly daft, but in a cute way. Maybe you got the wrong end of the stick about something and then realised.
itsboleynbird@reddit
It’s a playful way of telling someone off. Oh you silly billy didn’t you know that . As an example
No_Job_515@reddit
how do u not know u silly billy
ThatBlokeYouKnow@reddit
Stupid cunt for kids
gemgem1985@reddit
It's the same thing as calling someone a sausage, it's a harmless thing. No malice. I don't think Americans have a similar thing. I suppose a " bless your heart" type of thing idk.
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
No ma'am I'm from Texas if you say bless your heart to someone you might get a chair thrown at you
Low_Understanding_85@reddit
Why?
yourmomsajoke@reddit
It's southern US for Mrs browns boys "that's nice".
At least that's how I've had it described to me 😂
Low_Understanding_85@reddit
Sorry, you've mistaken me for someone who has watched Mrs brown's boys.
yourmomsajoke@reddit
My late father in law was a cultured, intelligent man. Somehow, towards the end he grew to love Mrs browns boys. It wasn't even his mind that was going, it was his heart.
Anything I know about that show came from him. I had to have that's nice explained to me too 😅 I'm sure it felt like a long afternoon to him.
TheRemanence@reddit
It's passive aggressive. I think it used to be nice and can be in some contexts but has very much evolved to "you're a fucking idiot."
Low_Understanding_85@reddit
Well bless my heart for not realising this.
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
It's extremely sarcastic and basically means you're a fucking dumb ass
gemgem1985@reddit
Oh, well I don't bloody know then.. ( but that is kinda what I was saying, she was gently patronizing you, without being hostile, not chair throwing worthy though.)
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
Yeah no bless your heart is very much an insult but thank you I more or less get it
nonsequitur__@reddit
I always thought an American “bless your heart” was a passive aggressive assassination, as opposed to us saying “bless your heart”, “bless them” etc as a sympathetic comment.
beseeingyou18@reddit
"Ay, que tontito eres!"
Uintgotnofuckinyeezy@reddit
As a brit that works in a shop, I use it when I can't call the customer a cunt. Hope this helps.
ShutUpBaby-IKnowIt69@reddit
Everyone's heard someone be called a silly goose? Same thing.
Its entirely affectionate, no need to jab back, giving her a similar nickname would be the socially acceptable thing to do, maybe something similar from your own culture!
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
Noo my culture is unreasonably passionate or extremely crass we have a very thick skin so the equivalent would me mamon which means cock sucker but is actually a playful way of saying jokester or goof ball my mom calls me a cock sucker at least once a week 😂😂
socksdadsandsleaze@reddit
I'm crying laughing at that 😂😂😂
ShutUpBaby-IKnowIt69@reddit
Hahahaha that's hilarious, if i were you I'd 100% go with that but she could take it the wrong way depending on her sense of humour 😂
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
Thank you tho
Competitive_Time_604@reddit
She's affectionately describing you as a 'silly billy' rather than giving you a nickname, by doing so she's framing that part of the conversation as non-serious, making sure the 'love you' was seen as platonic. There might also be an inference that she finds you funny.
week5of35years@reddit
its like one of the levels of alternates for the word "idiot"
1) Awh bless... kind of funny thing... think toddler tripping over
2) Silly Billy.. minor stuff no one died
3) Daft.. word used before all those You tube video's redefined it
4) Idiot.. direct and to the point
5) What a t**t - both foolish and idiotic
DNBassist89@reddit
Did you ever watch South Park? Remember how Big Gay Al used to call people a "silly goose"? It's basically that.
It's a term of endearment. You're silly and you make her laugh, basically.
Green_Sprout@reddit
It's 99.9% always meant in a fond way and usually reserved when someone you care about does something harmlessly dumb or hurts themselves doing something dumb, like when a kid falls and skins their knee. It's a zero malice way of calling someone an idiot.
Zealousideal-Clue-84@reddit
You made her uncomfortable so she made a joke
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
I mean I don't think that's true but I do that alot I have AUHD how did you come to that conclusion to be clear I don't believe you but I want to pick your brain more
cowplum@reddit
British culture is very stoic in comparison to Latin America, so any conversation around emotions and / or display of vulnerability is often followed by a comment about being silly. It's done as a semi justification and way of defusing the tension in the situation. I think 'tontito' would be the closest translation to 'silly billy', it means the opposite of stoic or rational, but it's something that's said from a place of love. You would say it to someone who is being overly sentimental or letting their emotions show through, as a way of showing empathy while helping dispell the tension and move the situation away from an emotionally charged state by reminding you that emotions are silly things.
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
I seee ok yeah no I'm mexican passion is important to us we don't hold back to do so makes you look kinda weak and the sensitive nature of our emotions is usually defused by a close bond and extrem insults
nonsequitur__@reddit
Yeah it’s the opposite here, traditionally emotions = weakness, stiff upper lip and all that. Try to imagine a king or queen of England crying, or raging with anger, etc. It’s definitely changing but if your friend is British she probably isn’t used to platonic male friends communicating with her like that so is setting a boundary/friend zoning whilst acknowledging that she likes you and you said a kind thing.
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
No not raging out more like if you don't say what you mean your a pussy other than when my grandfather died i haven't cried in years also laughed at my uncle when he was whimpering like a baby i looked like an asshole at the funeral but a man a man at stand still fighting his emotions crying with his head held high not hiding is more the way we roll we rage but will roast tf out of people around us the funnier the better not in a barking manor or trying to intimidate others if we are silent in a bad interaction know in few moments everyone around will know how we feel we are people of action of example we love deeply and we fight even harder
she's usually the one that says love you it's platonic just wanted to acknowledge her and what she's going through so I can get to her when I had the time
Desperate-Cookie3373@reddit
^This^
Helpful_Effort1383@reddit
It's a non-offensive way of saying "well that was a bit daft". Brits love an insult that's not actually an insult.
Here's a ranking of some words or phrases that are used to point out someone's stupidity (ranked from least to most offensive):
Silly Billy/Silly Sausage Dozy Mare Numpty Knobhead Daft Sod Blithering Idiot
Big jump
Stupid Cunt
WinkyNurdo@reddit
To be honest I usually go with you silly cunt from the outset!
ilovechickendippers@reddit
My girlfriend calls me a silly billy when im being a dumb cunt
blank_magpie@reddit
“Silly billy” is what I would call one of my 6/7 year old pupils if they make a small mistake or something.
“Mr Magpie I thought the question said circle all the non-unit fractions”
“Oh you silly billy, don’t worry just correct your mistake”
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
Okay this makes more sense to me
OxEyeDaisy888@reddit
I think in your case she might be trying to emphasise the platonic nature of the “love you” 😇
nonsequitur__@reddit
I agree. I think she’s saying she likes you and is acknowledging you but is making it clear that this is completely platonic.
Srapture@reddit
I've never heard an adult say it, honestly.
n3m0sum@reddit
It's an entirely affectionate term for when someone has made a small mistake, or done something silly, or mildly humourous.
The exact meaning can change with context.
In the context if a child making a small mistake. It's way of letting them know they've made a mistake, but aren't in trouble. You've put your shoes in the wrong feet, Silly Billy.
In the context of you making a mild joke at your friend's expense. I would say it was an affectionate acknowledgement of your joke.
Carnationlilyrose@reddit
This.
ChronicleFlask@reddit
It’s like “doofus”. It had more or less dropped out of use, but it’s had a bit of a resurgence with gen alpha. The meaning hasn’t changed, though. It’s still a gentle, “I love you but that was a silly thing you just did,” like… oh… knocking over something someone has just told you to move, for example.
lordrothermere@reddit
Doofus remained strong through the 90s and beyond where I'm from. Likewise silly billy. It's just young people are more likely to have gentle, non-swearing jibes applied to them than older folk, for whom there's a magical universe of swearing at one's fingertips.
matomo23@reddit
And Gen Z. My nieces and nephews say it, encouraged by us as millennials though who didn’t want it to go! And yes I call my daughter a silly billy now too. It’s not going anywhere thankfully.
BearanArt@reddit
"Your powers are useless on me you silly billy."
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
Yesssss that's the venture broos my dude
KatVanWall@reddit
Similar British endearment - ‘you’re daft as a brush!’
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
This makes less sense to me than silly billy
SuuperD@reddit
Informal of Silliam Billiam.
Garbanzififcation@reddit
Don't sweat it. It's good.
But be under no illusions here ... It also reminds you that you are 100% in the friend zone.
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
Yeah no I know we talk to each other about each of our relationship stuff I am not some lame there was some stuff at first but because of situations I stopped with the flirtation and she stopped because of stuff I won't mention here (her bisness not anyone else's) but I do enjoy chopping it up with her
MrRWhitworth@reddit
An affectionate term for an idiot
matomo23@reddit
It really isn’t.
MrRWhitworth@reddit
It really is.
TheRemanence@reddit
Much softer than that. It's if you've done something stupid, not that you are stupid
matomo23@reddit
Nah because even idiot can be used playfully.
MrRWhitworth@reddit
Not to a child. Which is where I’d use Silly Billy
matomo23@reddit
Yes that’s true.
buddhamelt@reddit (OP)
Lol
pooch_fire@reddit
So yeah it is used often when talking to kids, imagine they drop an egg and smash it you might say 'never mind, silly billy'. But I do sometimes say it to my husband if he says something wrong that might be silly or wrong but I don't want to make a big deal out of it embarrass him so I'd say 'no you silly billy'. You'd definitely never use silly billy as a jab or in a mean way. We reserve the word cunt for that, not to be confused with 'silly cunt' where we're jokingly being sarcastic. I mean if someone looks you dead in the eye and says 'cunt' you'd better run!
To be honest with Brits it's often the way we say things rather than what's said.
Hamsternoir@reddit
It's at the mild end of the scale like daft apeth or dozy bastard.
Saxon2060@reddit
"goof ball". Implying you're being unserious in a cute way.
BrowsingOnMaBreak@reddit
It’s generally used when someone is being goofy or silly in a way that’s not as harsh as stupid - so you call them silly playfully. (It can sometimes be used in a ‘bless your heart’ way if someone says it really patronisingly, but it’s normally too cutesy of a saying to be used in that way).
I’ve used it recently in this scenario:
farfetchedfrank@reddit
It's usually what you would say to a child when they've done something a little bit stupid, but without any malice. Sometimes, you'd call them daft or silly sausage instead
FragileBird90@reddit
It's like when someone is being a goof.
When my daughter or toddler son and being funny, like pretending to fall over and generally trying to make me and their dad laugh, I'll say you're being a silly billy.
It's kind of affectionate I guess. If someone was being a dick or I didnt like them, I wouldn't call them a silly billy.
Frosty_Term9911@reddit
It’s a playful, childlike term. You’d only ever really have it being used towards kids or much older people towards younger adults. You wouldn’t really here it used between peers unless in a tongue in cheek way. It’s also not that common in current vernacular. Very much a term of previous generations.
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