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What weird phrases do you use?

(89 Posts)
vampirequeen Wed 15-Feb-17 20:08:28

Today I found myself saying, 'Kind words butter no parsnips'....what?????? I know what I mean when I say that but lets be honest it doesn't make sense when taken in isolation.

Does anyone else use daft/odd phrases like this?

Angib Wed 15-Feb-17 20:15:58

In the supermarket the other day the checkout assistant asked how I was, it had been a very windy day and I said I feel as though I've been dragged through a hedge backwards and he replied I haven't heard that expression in years.

grannypiper Wed 15-Feb-17 20:43:53

Angibi use that one all the time

Lisalou Wed 15-Feb-17 21:56:43

Angibi, I use that one too! I cant think of any really daft ones i use right now, but no doubt I do.

Ana Wed 15-Feb-17 22:18:48

I can think of a great many that my grandparents used, but I don't myself.

The 'dragged through a hedge backwards' one is well-known everywhere, I think.

Grannyknot Wed 15-Feb-17 22:27:47

I say "It's like Christmas Day in the workshop" which doesn't mean a thing to anyone else but me - it harks back to when I worked for Caterpillar when I was 19 and often had to go to the huge workshop to ask something or speak to someone on the shop floor, and invariably all the young mechanics would down tools and someone would shout "It's Christmas Day in the workshop" no matter that it was March, or June or any day but Christmas Day ? and we'd all laugh, me a bit shyly. So for me it means happy times and youthful fun.

Daft, I know. But I still say it.

harrigran Wed 15-Feb-17 22:42:04

My mother used to say to me " your cheaper to keep a week than a fortnight " I find myself saying this to family if they have splurged on something expensive.

harrigran Wed 15-Feb-17 22:43:15

you're even.

Chewbacca Wed 15-Feb-17 23:16:02

On very windy days, my dad used to say "it's windy enough to blow the teeth off a saw". I still smile when I think of it.

ninathenana Thu 16-Feb-17 08:48:36

Mum used to say "Fanny's got 'er 'at on" if someone was voicing a strong opinion.

Charleygirl Thu 16-Feb-17 08:56:56

Hells bells and buckets of blood was used a lot in my neck of the woods in my youth.

Alima Thu 16-Feb-17 09:00:24

I like that one nina. Can it be used for either gender as I have someone in mind!

hildajenniJ Thu 16-Feb-17 09:51:28

When I complained about my plain looks, my mother used to say, "you'll pass in a crowd". It was no consolation though.
If Dad was going somewhere by himself (a rare occurrence) and we asked where he was going his reply was usually, "to the back of beyond, where they clog ducks". confused
When asked how long anything is going to take, I've been known to answer "as long as a piece of string".

sunseeker Thu 16-Feb-17 10:11:00

If the wind was particularly strong my father used to call it a "lazy wind" - didn't go round you, went right through. If I ever asked how I looked before going out he would say "no-one's going to stop a galloping horse to look at you"

KatyK Thu 16-Feb-17 10:11:12

My granddaughter used to giggle when I said 'Well I'll go to the foot or our stairs'. I also use the 'hedge backwards' one and when I look in the mirror I sometimes say to DH 'I look like the wreck of the Hesperus' (can't spell that) or 'I look like Dracula's revenge' confused

KatyK Thu 16-Feb-17 10:11:51

foot OF our stairs I mean!

gillybob Thu 16-Feb-17 10:22:17

I am familiar with a few of the sayings above but have never heard "Fanny's got 'er 'at on" I love it ninathenana smile

When my eldest GD is being nosy (she is a bit of a gossip just like her lovely mum) I say "oh, I see, mrs Nosy couldn't come so she sent you then"

Me and the three DGC also have a weird saying where we compare things to Frogs. As in Crazy as a Frog, silly as a frog, happy as a frog etc. I can't remember how it came about, but apparently "Frog" is a very high scale of measurement . confused

Grannyknot Thu 16-Feb-17 11:12:36

I'v remembered by FIL saying "loppy lugs" because I have one SIL who always has to know everything that's going on. He also used to say about her "There's no show without Punch!" smile

judypark Thu 16-Feb-17 12:42:58

If my Gran saw anyone who had bandy legs she would say " He couldn't stop a pig in an entry".

GillT57 Thu 16-Feb-17 13:13:41

My dad used to say that someone could eat an apple through a tennis raquet if they had prominent front teeth.

Swanny Thu 16-Feb-17 13:34:55

I use 'Someone's got a bee in their bonnet' but prefer nina's version!

When asked where I'm going or where I've been I often say 'There and back to see how far it is'

Or if I'm 'idling' when I should be 'doing' then it's 'Well this won't knit the baby a new bonnet'

I can remember silencing someone (in confusion) with 'You can argue till the cows come home but it won't change anything' grin

Rigby46 Thu 16-Feb-17 13:52:32

'Sod that for a game of soldiers'

varian Thu 16-Feb-17 14:16:56

My great-granny would describe a short fat person as "easier to jump over than walk round"

Greyduster Thu 16-Feb-17 14:35:56

when my mother was particularly frustrated by someone or something she use to mutter about it being as much use as Fred Karno's Army!

Rigby46 Thu 16-Feb-17 15:36:03

My grandma used to say 'Fred Carno's Circus'