I hate being called "madam". Mostly this happens at restaurants by waiters, and it makes me cringe. I just wondered if I am alone in this, or if most us felt the same about it.
I'd much rather be addressed as "Madam" than "there".
As in "Hello, there", which I often get in dress shops. I always reply by saying " My name's not 'There', "but the assistants are seldom intelligent enough to understand my point.
No-one has called me babe.....yet....... and lived. I cringe when I hear women say to their partners 'come on babe, are we going out babe', and the piggy like partner trots after her.
In France you know you're starting to look older when you get referred to as madame and no longer mademoiselle. It would be very impolite here to be not acknowledged as either and for monsieur for the men.
jomigl; you could always refer to your wife as 'mon épouse'...
I don't like to be called 'mate' but above all I hate to be called ' darling'.
The next most annoying thing is being asked " and how are you today ? "
especially by cold callers who are trying to rip you off anyway.
I get my own back by asking them how they are ,have they had a nice holiday or I go on and on about the weather. W