What does “too precious” mean?

[Anonymous]

I’ve heard people complain about other people being too precious. I don’t think I get the current tone of the word and how it’s used negatively. Examples please?

[Anonymous]

High-maintenance, fussy

[Anonymous]

Sickly sweet.
False.
See also: bathos.

[Anonymous]

Need more context there are multiple ways to interpret this both positive and negative.

[Anonymous]

You won’t go out for a walk or a coffee or school drop-off without makeup; too precious.

[Anonymous]

Its like they're trying too hard to act sweet or demure and its not authentic.

[Anonymous]

Acting like a toddler

[Anonymous]

I think of it as someone who is too sensitive, easily offended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve heard people complain about other people being too precious. I don’t think I get the current tone of the word and how it’s used negatively. Examples please?

Dumb people not using the phrase correctly and trying to create a new meaning. That's all.

[Anonymous]

It depends; we need the context. I think of it in 2 different ways.

Person A: I hand-write all my thank-you notes on vintage stationery using a fountain pen. It just feels more authentic.
Person B (dry tone, eyebrow raised): Too precious.
Basically meaning you’re trying way too hard to be special, and it’s cringe.

Person A: My daughter insisted on wearing fairy wings to her first day of preschool and told everyone she was there to spread magic.
Person B (grinning, hand on heart): Too precious.
Means adorable beyond words, still the same phrase, but the tone is affectionate instead of snarky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends; we need the context. I think of it in 2 different ways.

Person A: I hand-write all my thank-you notes on vintage stationery using a fountain pen. It just feels more authentic.
Person B (dry tone, eyebrow raised): Too precious.
Basically meaning you’re trying way too hard to be special, and it’s cringe.

Person A: My daughter insisted on wearing fairy wings to her first day of preschool and told everyone she was there to spread magic.
Person B (grinning, hand on heart): Too precious.
Means adorable beyond words, still the same phrase, but the tone is affectionate instead of snarky.

Bolded, probably a touch of A too. Your kid did not do anything original or that cute. And she "insisted" means you didn't really care, thought she was too precious, or don't parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends; we need the context. I think of it in 2 different ways.

Person A: I hand-write all my thank-you notes on vintage stationery using a fountain pen. It just feels more authentic.
Person B (dry tone, eyebrow raised): Too precious.
Basically meaning you’re trying way too hard to be special, and it’s cringe.

Person A: My daughter insisted on wearing fairy wings to her first day of preschool and told everyone she was there to spread magic.
Person B (grinning, hand on heart): Too precious.
Means adorable beyond words, still the same phrase, but the tone is affectionate instead of snarky.

I read it in the celebrity news today. If I mention the name it’ll derail the thread. I don’t watch TikTok and I know certain words take on new meanings with the younger generations that confuse us old millennials. When I hear “precious” I think of the second example, as in a kid being cute. But it’s used negatively and I didn’t really get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends; we need the context. I think of it in 2 different ways.

Person A: I hand-write all my thank-you notes on vintage stationery using a fountain pen. It just feels more authentic.
Person B (dry tone, eyebrow raised): Too precious.
Basically meaning you’re trying way too hard to be special, and it’s cringe.

Person A: My daughter insisted on wearing fairy wings to her first day of preschool and told everyone she was there to spread magic.
Person B (grinning, hand on heart): Too precious.
Means adorable beyond words, still the same phrase, but the tone is affectionate instead of snarky.

Bolded, probably a touch of A too. Your kid did not do anything original or that cute. And she "insisted" means you didn't really care, thought she was too precious, or don't parent.

Oh, for sure, but I know someone who would absolutely think this was the most precious thing in the world (no sarcasm). But yes, sometimes it could be a combo of both A and B.

[Anonymous]

When I was in my early 20s, I did things like drinking raspberry liqueur out of a thimbleberry while wearing a medieval dress that I'd designed and made. I also had a unicorn stick horse, same. You can't get much more precious than that! Fortunately, I lived by myself in the woods, so not many people were subjected to my preciousness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends; we need the context. I think of it in 2 different ways.

Person A: I hand-write all my thank-you notes on vintage stationery using a fountain pen. It just feels more authentic.
Person B (dry tone, eyebrow raised): Too precious.
Basically meaning you’re trying way too hard to be special, and it’s cringe.

Person A: My daughter insisted on wearing fairy wings to her first day of preschool and told everyone she was there to spread magic.
Person B (grinning, hand on heart): Too precious.
Means adorable beyond words, still the same phrase, but the tone is affectionate instead of snarky.

Well, you have lost most DCUM readers. They have trouble with context.