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Favourite expressions you use a lot (lighthearted)

(83 Posts)
Sallywally1 Fri 13-Mar-26 06:29:09

I say
Each to their own
Your going to reap what you sow
Not to worry, worst troubles at sea!

Apparently my grandmother who I never met used to say ‘it’s better than a poke in the eye with an umbrella!

Magenta8 Fri 13-Mar-26 07:01:24

My mother's variation of your grandmother's saying was 'it's better than a slap round the face with a wet kipper.'

NotSpaghetti Fri 13-Mar-26 07:12:16

"A poke in the eye with a sharp stick" is the variant I inherited.

This is the first time I've really thought about it! grin

teabagwoman Fri 13-Mar-26 07:22:35

Let me and my heart take counsel for war is not of life the sum.

Greyduster Fri 13-Mar-26 07:25:55

“Well this won’t get the bairn a new coat” when you need to stop idling and get on with something.

JMcB Fri 13-Mar-26 07:46:19

One of my favourites:-
Not my circus, not my monkeys!

ViceVersa Fri 13-Mar-26 07:50:24

JMcB

One of my favourites:-
Not my circus, not my monkeys!

This is one I'm trying to use more and more these days!

Mel1967 Fri 13-Mar-26 07:54:25

This won’t get the baby a new bonnet ⬆️
It is what it is

JackyB Fri 13-Mar-26 07:54:32

My Nanna used to say "On dear, six o'clock and no baby washed!" , meaning that it was getting late.

My DGD, whose first language isn't English, pointed out that I say "Fair enough" a lot.

LadyGracie Fri 13-Mar-26 08:03:12

Ey up.

It’s like Paddy’s market in here.

Nowt as queer as folk.

cornergran Fri 13-Mar-26 08:23:05

Two from my parents.

It will all come out in the wash

Worse things happen at sea

MartavTaurus Fri 13-Mar-26 08:25:47

Onwards and upwards.

C'est la vie

RosiesMawagain Fri 13-Mar-26 08:29:23

Better than a poke in the eye with a blunt stick.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Fri 13-Mar-26 08:39:24

It’s a bit of a curate’s egg.
One volunteer is better than ten pressed men (one of my late mum’s sayings which I like).
It never rains but it pours.
“Does it matter?”
Where there’s a Will there’s a relative (another of mum’s).

kittylester Fri 13-Mar-26 08:40:34

'To think own self be true' currently as the grandchildren all seem to having to choose 'options' of one sort or another.

fancyflowers Fri 13-Mar-26 08:45:55

It's 'marra te bonny. ' This was a favourite saying of my mother. It means six of one and half a dozen of the other, or, 'it doesn't really matter.'

Also, 'it's like Piccadilly Circus' when complaining about the amount of traffic.

You're a long time dead.

Use a bit of elbow grease.

kittylester Fri 13-Mar-26 08:56:12

Should proof read and my phone should stop getting above itself.

'To thine own self be true' obviously.

teabagwoman Fri 13-Mar-26 09:53:28

Another one I grew up with. ‘I love lumpy custard!’ Derivation unknown but said of anyone who was being a doomsayer. Somehow it’s stuck.

Fallingstar Fri 13-Mar-26 10:03:17

How long is a piece of string
We’re a long time dead
You don’t get owt for nowt
What a bundle of bothers

Fallingstar Fri 13-Mar-26 10:05:25

And not forgetting my mum’s favourite ‘it’s like Fred Karno’s circus’

ViceVersa Fri 13-Mar-26 10:09:14

'Put the big light off, it's like Blackpool Illuminations in here!'

Vintagewhine Fri 13-Mar-26 10:33:41

No pockets in a shroud! Used to justify any expenditure which might be deemed unnecessary.

Magenta8 Fri 13-Mar-26 10:36:10

My mother used to say we were like 'Casey's Court.'

Visgir1 Fri 13-Mar-26 10:36:33

"Actions speak louder than words"

Cossy Fri 13-Mar-26 10:38:08

Each to their own
Back in the day
You’re a long time dead

And a couple I cannot possibly put on here as I’d be banned for life!