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AIBU?

'MAT LEAVE'

50 replies

Northernlurker · 31/07/2011 22:37

AIBU to HATE HATE HATE the use of the term 'mat leave'. As in 'I was on mat leave', 'I am going on mat leave', 'my wife is on mat leave' 'I'm back from mat leave'

Aaaaaaaargh it sets me teeth on edge!

It's maternity leave or parental leave or time at home b/feeding and eating chocolate. It has NOTHING to do with carpets!

I can't bear it. I was at a friend's yesterday and somebody said 'Oh that was just before I went on mat leave' and I wanted to bludgeon her with a cake slice.

AIBU?

OP posts:

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sixlostmonkeys · 31/07/2011 22:38

yabu and possibly rather bored...?

BeerTricksPotter · 31/07/2011 22:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GreenEyesandHam · 31/07/2011 22:40

NO.

I hate it as well.

I pronounce it 'm'ternity' anyway, so it sounds do wrong. At the very least it should be MUT LEAVE

DaisySteiner · 31/07/2011 22:40

Hahahaha, I'm with you on that one, it bugs me too. Not as much as the phrase 'matty leave'. I openly admit that I am totally unreasonable and get far too worked up about things like this. I think we're both BU

LoopyLoopsTootyFroots · 31/07/2011 22:40

Do you mean a slice of cake or a cake slicer?

Northernlurker · 31/07/2011 22:41

Exactly BTP - especially not to a naff short little sound that means something totally different. Ugh!

sixlostmonkeys - you use the term don't you? Just watch out for me and my cake slice

OP posts:

StealthPolarBear · 31/07/2011 22:42

NorthernLurker is that you?
And I find it highly amusing that you both started and finished your post with AIBU? "Unreasonable" is fairly long but the other words are short
Unless you're talking about people saying it? I would type it but never say it oh no

StealthPolarBear · 31/07/2011 22:43

Does that cake slice have any crumbs on it?

ButterflySally · 31/07/2011 22:43

Are you equally distressed by other abbreviations, such as sat nav?

YABU... People abbreviate things.

MatthewWrightOffTheTelly · 31/07/2011 22:43

YABU.

Though if someone ever says Matty Leave near me I will have to borrow your cake slice.

YouDoTheMath · 31/07/2011 22:44

I have to admit, although I'm slightly ashamed to do so, that I agree. But I'm a bit extreme in that it bugs me when people say uni instead of university, or my friend who says her child's birthday is "ninth of Jan" rather than January.

Yes, I fully expect to get flamed...

I wish I could lighten up - but I blame the primary school teacher who drummed it into me all those years ago that abbreviated words were not acceptable!

sixlostmonkeys · 31/07/2011 22:49

No, I don't say mat leave. I have never said mat leave. I never had mat leave...
(I had the baby then went straight back to work in t'mill)

mat leave, mat mat mat...... put that cake slice down!!!

StealthPolarBear · 31/07/2011 22:49

Did he/she say "DON'T ABBREVIATE"?

EdithWeston · 31/07/2011 22:52

Just wondering - do you also say eg "influenza" in full, every time?

It's a similar example, as it's four syllables taken down to one for everyday use. And (doesn't work as well on page as out loud) influenza is nothing to do with whether you flew.

CarnivalBizarre · 31/07/2011 22:58

I could quite easily murdered a friend with a cake slice yesterday when she asked if I was 'goin down the chazzer to get some bargains'

The 'chazzer' is her term for the charity shop AAARRRGHHHHH

DO NOT ABBREVIATE !

big issues with abbreviation

YouDoTheMath · 31/07/2011 22:59

Pretty much. I remember "television" being one of her favourites. I still say it today!!!

sixlostmonkeys · 31/07/2011 22:59

these people on 'mat' leave? Do they put the baby in a 'pram'? :)

StealthPolarBear · 31/07/2011 23:05

no but they might put the bubs in there

Northernlurker · 31/07/2011 23:06

I abbreviate lots of things - just not this word in this way.

I like sat nav.

It's just mat leave that turns me all peculiar. 'Matty leave' I am glad to say has never crossed my path but if it does the cake slice will be swishing!! (Yes - thing you slice cake with not slice of said cake.)

OP posts:

AuntiePickleBottom · 31/07/2011 23:06

Why is abbreviation such a long word when it means to shorten something

StealthPolarBear · 31/07/2011 23:07

OK well...dare I say it...NL, I will wish you good night. Now put down the cake slice :o

sixlostmonkeys · 31/07/2011 23:07

and when on mat leave they would push bubs in the pram on the 'path'?

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StealthPolarBear · 31/07/2011 23:08

night hunz

tethersend · 31/07/2011 23:09

YABU.

I am getting a rug later this month and am taking time off to care for it. It's ignorance like this which is going to make my life difficult.

Northernlurker · 31/07/2011 23:09

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