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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 .

Mild Thu 11-Feb-21 10:22:14

You may have a bone in it ' said if I had a pain in arms or legs.
' You are sure to die after it' if you felt ill. Both worried me as a young child.

Summerwine48 Thu 11-Feb-21 10:13:56

There is enough blue sky to make a sailors suit it’s going to be a sunny day

Hellogirl1 Wed 10-Feb-21 22:10:46

In my teens I used to fasten my belts as tight as I could get them, my grandma said I was tied up like a rice bun. I never did see a rice bun!

Shandy57 Wed 10-Feb-21 22:03:09

I remember when I started experimenting with make up, and my Mum said my eyes looked like 'p((sholes in the snow'. Disgusted me then, disgusts me now!

Hellogirl1 Wed 10-Feb-21 22:01:48

All fur coat and no knickers, my grandma`s way of describing someone who thought they were better than us.

Cherrytree59 Wed 10-Feb-21 21:52:48

Marydoll ditto 're coming up the Clyde. smile

And whenever times were a bit difficult......
I can picture her now, hands on hips ' we will be fine, just remember we are Clyde built'.



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nanna8 Wed 10-Feb-21 21:52:34

This will probably get censored here but

No man wants second hand goods to marry

ixion Wed 10-Feb-21 21:50:48

Have you got a clean hankie?

Jaxjacky Wed 10-Feb-21 21:45:59

Have you got clean underwear on in case you get run over.

Grannybags Wed 10-Feb-21 20:52:37

My Mum complained of a "clashy back end" day. I think she meant running all over the place but not getting much done

Also " clever as Dick's hat band" When I asked why was it clever she said because it went twice round his hat and tied in a bow at the back!

Bellanonna Wed 10-Feb-21 20:42:27

Never cast a clout till May is out

Marydoll Wed 10-Feb-21 20:39:07

^Do you think I came up the Clyde on a bike/ banana boat?

Same meaning as above.

GrannyLaine Wed 10-Feb-21 20:26:03

"I wasn't born riding a bike up the river"
meaning "don't make me out to be a fool"

Blossoming Wed 10-Feb-21 19:26:08

Mind the roads.

Mamissimo Wed 10-Feb-21 19:19:36

"Do you want a smack?"

I never did but I got a few.....I'm glad that's changed!

MamaCaz Wed 10-Feb-21 18:56:42

Don't wish your life away!
(Said when one of us was impatient for some future event.)

SisterAct Wed 10-Feb-21 18:41:54

Good things come in little packages

tidyskatemum Wed 10-Feb-21 16:58:10

I say a lot of these, never mind my mum!

ayse Wed 10-Feb-21 16:42:43

I recognise so many of the other sayings as well. What a lovely reminder

ayse Wed 10-Feb-21 16:41:39

All behind like a cow’s tail.

All round the pig market.

Come on, slow coach!

What did your last servant die of?

boheminan Wed 10-Feb-21 16:39:20

When I came home after playing outside for the day, my mum would tell me I was 'as black as Newgate's knocker'

V3ra Wed 10-Feb-21 16:35:16

It's my Grandma's sayings I remember more:

"Dear me, let us be elegant or die," when getting ready to go out.

"A blind man would be glad to see it," if something homemade hadn't turned out particularly well.

"Ah well it's wet and warm," about a mediocre cuppa.

A lovely lady, always in the kitchen cooking!
RIP Grandma 1900-1980 ?

Jillyjosie Wed 10-Feb-21 16:24:30

'Hunger is a good sauce'. 'You've made your bed, now lie in it'. 'House devils and street angels'. 'What is to be, will be'. 'You can't put an old head on young shoulders'.

Luckylegs Wed 10-Feb-21 16:22:05

My mum didn’t encourage you to stay in bed or do it herself “you die in bed”!

If you asked what’s for tea on a Sunday (after your Sunday dinner) the answer was “catch as catch can”. In other words get something yourself.

“Put t’wood in’t hole” - shut the door. “Were you born in a barn?” - shut the door. There’s a theme here!

Mollygo Wed 10-Feb-21 16:11:30

Auntiflo we always knew we were really ill when mum came out with the ‘death warmed up’ one. ?