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Phrases your mother used

(233 Posts)
nanna8 Wed 10-Feb-21 06:47:12

My Mum used to say a lot of things but a couple I remember particularly are
‘You’re a long time dead’ i.e. enjoy yourself whilst you can and
‘If you can’t say anything good about someone, don’t say anything at all’
Pretty cluey some of the older ones .

claresc0tt Thu 11-Feb-21 11:01:50

That's only two things certain in life … death and taxes

Nellie54 Thu 11-Feb-21 11:02:20

Mother and Grandma used to refer to a person ‘ they are as mad as Dick’s hatband’! No idea who Dick was, Grandma was born near Worksop. Always wondered who Dick was!!

Copes283 Thu 11-Feb-21 11:03:00

When we came in from the cold "take your coat off, or you won't feel the benefit" As a child I had no idea what she meant! Now I say it to my grandchildren... just to keep the tradition alive!! (when I see them that is!)

Pearlsaminger Thu 11-Feb-21 11:03:10

Upon doing something she thought dangerous.. Eg walking along our garden wall...

‘If you fall down and break your legs, don’t coming running to me for help!’ Huh?! confused

Another was... ‘Well I’ll go to the foot of our stairs..’ More confusion grin

cossybabe Thu 11-Feb-21 11:03:48

My mother used to say "never love for money, but only love where money is"

Teddy123 Thu 11-Feb-21 11:07:01

"there'll be tears before bedtime" was one of my mothers favourites. No doubt we were being noisy and having fun.

Omaoma57 Thu 11-Feb-21 11:07:16

If wishes were horses then beggars would ride?

Wong Thu 11-Feb-21 11:09:08

She’s not just straight hair and curly teeth. Work that one out!! Also an elderly relative that used to refer to sex (very rarely mentioned) as ‘all that funny business down below’. Love it - hilarious!!!

Jaxie Thu 11-Feb-21 11:13:34

It’ll come to you all.
A man on a galloping horse wouldn’t notice that.
A good soldier never looks behind.
Cry more you’ll pee less.
He/ she is pure veg.
A nod’s as good as a wink to a blind donkey.
It’s only one after her death I realise what a wise old owl she was; if only I could tell her.

Jaxie Thu 11-Feb-21 11:15:19

I’ve just remembered another: Better a drunkard than a gambler, and better a gambler than a man who chases other women. Unfortunately my father fell into the third category.

Shawlands2000 Thu 11-Feb-21 11:17:20

"If I'm spared. " and "I'm hingin thegether." were two of my mum's favourites.

Witzend Thu 11-Feb-21 11:20:06

‘That hair!’
My mother had a real thing about long, curly-messy hair just hanging, like that of Rebekah Whatshername around the time of the News of the World scandal.
She’d say it wherever she saw it - in the street, on TV, or in a photo. Even, once, about a close friend’s hair in her wedding photo, which did upset me a bit. I felt like coming out with the time-worn, ‘If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all,’ which, funnily enough, she never used.

However it still turned into a family joke - between me and dds, anyway.

Her other oft-repeated was, ‘We were damned hard up!’
Which to be fair they were in the earlier years, but we really didn’t need telling time and time again.

BusterTank Thu 11-Feb-21 11:20:32

If your arse was made of glass , it would of been broken ages ago .
I'm fed up not hard up .
She thinks her shit doesn't stink that one .
I would rather been blown up than shown up .
I suppose her poo smells like roses .
Fur coat and no knickers that one is .

Kate51 Thu 11-Feb-21 11:21:36

She would steal your eyes and come back for your eyelashes.
If the wind changes your face will stay like that.
It's not eating any corn ( if you had more of something stored than needed at the time )
If you dont stop crying I will give you something to cry about.
What's for you wont go bye you

Alioop Thu 11-Feb-21 11:23:09

'When the wind blows your face will stay like that' if she caught you pulling a face.
'Eat your crusts and you will have curly hair'.

Dustyhen2010 Thu 11-Feb-21 11:24:27

My mother would say 'Be sure your sins will find you out'. I was always worried about doing anything wrong while growing up as this saying was often true!
I also remember an aunt's friends description of large ladies. 'She has a bow window at the front and a washing bine (wash tub) at the back'.

Davida1968 Thu 11-Feb-21 11:26:18

"Take your coat off, or you'll not get the benefit..." (Meaning: take your coat off when indoors, because otherwise you won't feel the warmth of it, when you go outside.)
And: "There's nowt so queer as folk..." (Very true, IMO!)

granjan66 Thu 11-Feb-21 11:32:52

"You look like you've been dragged through a hedge backwards" when I hadn't combed my hair .

mauraB Thu 11-Feb-21 11:34:00

Many sayings and I use them myself sometimes.

Bad workmen always blame their tools.

If anyone kidnapped you they would drop you at the first lamp-post. (I thought she meant I was heavy but I was as thin as a rake)

We went all round the Wrekin. (I don't know where that is)

Tell the truth and shame the devil.

Honi soit qui mal y pense, My father's saying when Mum accused him of drinking.

Oh that if this too solid flesh would melt. (When Mum was dieting)

Out, Out, damned spot! When she was doing the washing.

springishere Thu 11-Feb-21 11:34:45

A lot of these plus: "It'll all end in tears" and "She's/he's as common as muck". My father's: "Ne'er cast a clout 'til May is out". Never did discover whether it was the blossom or the month.

lovebeigecardigans1955 Thu 11-Feb-21 11:35:54

"You'd laugh to see a pudding crawl" to myself and sister when we were particularly giggly and no doubt irritating teenagers. We never understood it - how can a pudding crawl?

"He/she looks as if they've been dragged through a hedge backwards" when someone looked a bit unkempt.

Gwenisgreat1 Thu 11-Feb-21 11:43:56

'Cry and you'll cry alone'

Mamma7 Thu 11-Feb-21 11:44:32

This makes me smile because only yesterday DD told her DD to “pick her feet up” when she was upstairs at my house. My Mum used to say it to me all the time.... I obviously morphed into my mother at some point years ago! ?

Mamma7 Thu 11-Feb-21 11:46:59

Apologies if this has been mentioned already but I’ve always loved... “That’s dangerous, don’t come running to me if you break your leg” I’ve got loads like that from my Mum ?

TLVgran48 Thu 11-Feb-21 11:49:57

A face only a mother could love.....on payday