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Favourite expressions you use a lot (lighthearted)

(84 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!

Oldnproud Fri 13-Mar-26 16:20:01

"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 😁

polomint Fri 13-Mar-26 17:26:39

"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

storynanny Fri 13-Mar-26 17:43:55

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!

Dorisdodar Fri 13-Mar-26 17:45:18

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

TwiceAsNice Fri 13-Mar-26 17:47:56

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.)

Daddima Fri 13-Mar-26 17:53:04

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.

Scribbles Fri 13-Mar-26 20:18:16

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.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Fri 13-Mar-26 21:51:43

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.

NotSpaghetti Fri 13-Mar-26 21:57:46

dalrymple23

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'!

...or in a colander...

Jaxjacky Fri 13-Mar-26 22:06:57

‘Xx has a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp’
‘Is the tide out?’ cuppa not full up.
‘It’ll all end in tears’

travelsafar Fri 13-Mar-26 22:33:32

If the sky was dark with rain clouds my mum would say ' its as black as Newgate's knocker' I never did find out what it meant though.

Margiknot Fri 13-Mar-26 22:38:56

You are better as a door than a window ( you are standing in the way).
Were you born in a barn? ( shut the door- it’s draughty in here!)

Fallingstar Fri 13-Mar-26 22:44:34

travelsafar

If the sky was dark with rain clouds my mum would say ' its as black as Newgate's knocker' I never did find out what it meant though.

This is an expression referring to a knocker on Newgate Prison’s door through which prisoners would enter this particularly grim London prison.

Lilypops Fri 13-Mar-26 22:44:45

If it’s for you,it won’t go by you ,

Grannybags Fri 13-Mar-26 22:51:52

Bye, he was as fit as a lop! (Yorkshire accent) If someone had died unexpectedly.

Sallywally1 Sat 14-Mar-26 02:12:39

I forgot, another favourite of mine is

What comes around, goes around. I have personal reasons to quote this!

JMcB Sat 14-Mar-26 05:35:51

Loving reading these i can hear my (late) parents saying most of them! However when I use any now I usually follow with "as my Mum would say" and also realised my children don't use any of them! Is it just me?

Fallingstar Sat 14-Mar-26 07:19:51

Sallywally1

I forgot, another favourite of mine is

What comes around, goes around. I have personal reasons to quote this!

Yes I say that too but can’t remember it being passed down by my parents.
Another saying that I can’t remember them saying but I say a lot is ‘there is no such thing as a free lunch’.

seasider Sat 14-Mar-26 07:55:49

We used to say “what goes around comes around “
“As much use as a chocolate fireguard”
I have always driven older cars . A neighbour once said to me “third class riding is better than first class walking “
I often repeated that one to my children grin

Shel1951 Sat 14-Mar-26 12:22:05

Jaysus if he eats that he'll fart fire and drive cows....my irish mammy

Granniesunite Sat 14-Mar-26 12:50:03

There’s a shower in the glen.

When the children were getting a bit boisterous meaning there will be tears soon!

Daddima Sun 15-Mar-26 04:10:24

Scribbles, my saying for a treat or indulgence is, ‘ To Hell wi’ poverty, put another pea in the soup’, or ‘ gie the cat the canary’.

SpinDriftCoastal Sun 15-Mar-26 07:19:13

Different strokes for different folks.
Same old, same old.

SusieB50 Sun 15-Mar-26 07:22:06

My dad used to say “ you’re captain of the all is lost brigade” when things weren’t going well.

hollysteers Sun 15-Mar-26 12:19:28

Shel1951

Jaysus if he eats that he'll fart fire and drive cows....my irish mammy

😂