'Life is for living, cupcake'

[shootingstar]

Nora didn't push it. In fact, she was quite relieved. It made it easier to watch Last Chance Saloon without any further awkwardness. And the Newfoundland stopped licking her ear and rested its head on her knee and Nora felt - well, not happy exactly, but not depressed either.
And yet , as she watched Ryan Bailey tell his on-screen love interst that 'Life is for living, cupcake' while simultaneously being informed by Dylan that he was thinking of letting another dog sleep in his bed ('He cries all night. He wants his daddy'), Nora realised she wasn't too enamoured with this life.
(The Midnigt Library by Matt Haig, episode Dinner With Dylan?)

What does the author want to express by using the word "cupcake" in the sentence in question? I know its literal meaning, but in this case it must have a supplementary meaning in my opinion.

 

[5jj]

Cupcake used to be a common term of endearment.

 

[Skrej]

Many terms of endearment are related to sweetness.

Off the top of my head I can think of 'cupcake, sugar, sugar pie, sweetie, sugar, honey, honey pie, and honey bun', but there a many more.

There's an old joke along these lines that goes like so:

A young newlywed couple are dining with family. The young man needs some sugar, so he says "Can you pass the sugar, sugar?" The new bride blushes and passes the sugar.

Not do be outdone by the younger couple, his father says to his wife "Pass the honey, honey."

Without missing a beat, the old grandfather turns to his wife of 50 years and says, "Pass the milk, cow!"

Alternate versions have the old man stating: "Pass the tea...bag" or "Pass the bacon, pig". Other versions have the grandma uttering the bacon line.

 

[jagodarojek]

Many terms of endearment are related to sweetness.

Off the top of my head I can think of 'cupcake, sugar, sugar pie, sweetie, sugar, honey, honey pie, and honey bun', but there a many more.

There's an old joke along these lines that goes like so:

A young newlywed couple are dining with family. The young man needs some sugar, so he says "Can you pass the sugar, sugar?" The new bride blushes and passes the sugar.

Not do be outdone by the younger couple, his father says to his wife "Pass the honey, honey."

Without missing a beat, the old grandfather turns to his wife of 50 years and says, "Pass the milk, cow!"

Alternate versions have the old man stating: "Pass the tea...bag" or "Pass the bacon, pig". Other versions have the grandma uttering the bacon line.

Are there similar humorous or ironic terms of endearment in English-speaking cultures today?

 

[Skrej]

Yes, there are hundreds (if not thousands) of such terms - too many to create a comprehensive list on here. People also invent their own terms or pet names. I'd imagine their are regional variations as well.

Type 'English terms of endearment' into a search engine to get an idea of some of the more common ones.

 

[jutfrank]

Cupcake used to be a common term of endearment.

I think it probably still is.

 

[shootingstar]

Pass the milk, cow

Pass the bacon, pig