Favourite expressions you use a lot (lighthearted)

Dorisdodar

My husband says 'put your leg in bed' when he wants to walk arm in arm....anybody else heard this?

Never! That’s a new one to me.

Happy as Larry in our house.
And "Put wood int'hole" for shut the door.

My dad used to say, "Go on. Give the cat another goldfish!" meaning you should allow yourself some little treat or indulgence. I caught myself saying it recently and everyone looked at me absolutely uncomprehending. It loses its immediacy when you have to explain!

"Like a lost dog at a fair" was how my mother described anyone wandering aimlessly about not actually doing anything or going anywhere.

Another one I use a lot ( again to grandchildren) is ‘ Do you think it’s outside you’re in?’ if the noise level is too high.

We always heard as happy as Larry (rather than Harry)

My grandfather said “Let the dog see the rabbit” when he couldn’t quite see something in front of him and he wanted too . I remembered him saying it when reading to me and my head got in the way of the book.

There’s no pockets in shrouds (as in no point in hoarding your money, you can’t take it with you.)

My husband says 'put your leg in bed' when he wants to walk arm in arm....anybody else heard this?

When I was an infant teacher and multiple children needed my attention I used to say “ one dog, one bone”
They had no idea idea what I meant but often fell about in hysterical giggling!

"And pigs will fly."..meaning there's no chance of whatever it is happening
" happy as a coo lying in shite" meaning obviously the person is happy

"Come out, it's not a chip shop!"

Said to us as children, mostly by our grandparents, if we were seen picking our nose.

I have used it with all my grandchildren because it amuses me, and it seems a shame to let it die out 😁

Magenta8 My mother also used to say ‘it’s like Cases Court ‘ in this house.’ Apparently, Casey’s Court was a music hall turn where both Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel performed.

It was the best butter! - when things go wrong from Alice in Wonderland , the March hare I think
As happy as Harry - who was Harry?
Born in a barn
Put the wood in’t door - both if we let a draught in.

Some poor soul might be described as “a long string of misery”.
“…..since Dick docked” i.e. a long time.

There’s a silver lining round the every cloud. My DGM would say that when something went wrong.

"The apple didn't fall far from the tree" and "she didn't lick it off the wall" (both referring to children inheriting parents' traits/habits!).

boheminan

'she's all fur coat and no knickers' (mum's favourite)

Yes and red hat no drawers 😲
Not that I say that of course but a fave with older family members, also that won’t get the baby a new bonnet.
Apparently I say oh dear! Quite a lot according to DD’s. Now and then 🤦🏻‍♀️ FFS.

Fallingstar

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

I had "Fred Karno's army" and " this won't get the baby bathed"( when dawdling).
Also " a little of what you fancy does you good".

Oh well, we're here for a good time not a long time!
Often used to justify profligate spending.

Fish hooks and jelly babies!
Used by my later mother in place of swearing [especially if children were present.]

Happy as a flea at a fair. And many of the others.

teabagwoman

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.

Doomsayers were described by my father as "Right lot of Job's comforters."

My retort to doomsayers is "Cheer up, it might never happen!" which was also commonly used in my childhood.

Lots of those above but one which is used regularly here is "as much use as a f..t in a windsock"! Although for some reason, the parents of an friend transposed 'windsock' for 'curtain pole'!

I can’t be arsed
This too shall pass
Really !
Two left feet

I’m not as green as I’m cabbage looking is my favourite.
My FiL always said: Time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted, and that has stuck with me too.
I use sayings all the time though, bits of speech from favourite TV and cinema, song lyrics etc. - don’t know why.

Yes Ziplok I missed that one ‘where there’s muck there’s brass’.
A saying that definitely harks back to the cotton industry is ‘he/she is stuck for bobbins’ meaning bored.
My mum and nana used this.

From my Mum

They couldn’t stop a pig in a poke. If she saw someone with bow legs! I’m assuming poke is an alley between houses, probably Northern

It must be so much easier getting old if you’ve always been ugly! Said whilst peering into a mirror aged about 80

NotSpaghetti

"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!

That’s my family version too!

Fallingstar

Brass monkey weather
He/she has a brass neck
Brassed off

Not sure what it is with ‘brass’ in Lancashire where I was raised.

Also - slightly rude - ‘he/she has a face like a tup’s arse’ a tup is a ram.

There’s also the saying “Where there’s muck, there’s brass”,
( brass referring to money).
Probably goes back to the days of heavy industry and the woollen/cotton mills.

I wouldn’t like to quote my most frequent one, generally targeted at the most intensely annoying radio ads on Classic FM before I turn the volume right down to nothing.

The Viking Cruises woman is just one on the receiving end of my very unladylike oaths.