An American’s guide to tea (FAQs)

I find that often an objectively offensive word is used as a term of endearment amongst friends - not sure if that is a British thing or not!

There's a theory that men have a hard time saying things like, "Dave, you are a swell guy and I like you a lot" so they use banter and semi-insults to express these things without actually saying them.

As for whether the term is offensive - it is, though not at expletive level offensive, but more a word used in a sneering manner I suppose! However, as a PP has discovered that does not preclude using the word to describe a friend in a joking way. I find that often an objectively offensive word is used as a term of endearment amongst friends - not sure if that is a British thing or not!

Totally this. DH's BFF's last name is "Hunt" and pretty much everyone refers to him as the "C word" that rhymes with that, which we would pretty much NEVER DO in the US. And they all seem to think it is hilarious.

As for whether the term is offensive - it is, though not at expletive level offensive, but more a word used in a sneering manner I suppose! However, as a PP has discovered that does not preclude using the word to describe a friend in a joking way. I find that often an objectively offensive word is used as a term of endearment amongst friends - not sure if that is a British thing or not!

We certainly do that in the US, though with different terms.  It's not uncommon for women to greet their female friends by calling them a b***h.  Words take on a whole other connotations in different situations which is quite interesting.