cutesy-wootsy

English

Etymology

Reduplication from cutesy; compare fuzzy-wuzzy, palsy-walsy.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈkjutsiˈwutsi/

Adjective

cutesy-wootsy (not comparable)

1. (informal, mildly derogatory) Cute in an affected or excessive way.
   • 1969, Philip Roth, “The Most Prevalent Form of Degradation in Erotic Life”, in Portnoy’s Complaint‎^[1], New York: Vintage, published 1994, page 233:

     Why didn’t I marry the girl? Well, there was her cutesy-wootsy boarding school argot, for one. Couldn’t bear it. “Barf” for vomit, “ticked off” for angry, “a howl” for funny, “crackers” for crazy, “teeny” for tiny.

   • 1995, Corinne Holt Sawyer, chapter 8, in Ho-Ho Homicide‎^[2], New York: D. I. Fine, page 79:

     […] our pink ladies seem to think we’d like nothing but cutesy-wootsy cards with soppy messages and pictures of kittens and babies in rompers […]