Page 7 | Phrases that hit the nail on the head

Arlanymor · 2025-11-14T15:52:39+00:00

Having looked at the thread about phrases/words/terms that people hate - what about the ones that just feel spot on? I heard this earlier today in relation to the modern obsession with celebrities doing crazy things for clout to keep themselves 'relevant' and in the spotlight... "The attention economy". Yes! Spot on! Great term for those who monetise meaningless content for maximum exposure on social media - behaviour that pays dividends in the attention economy.

Original poster

Arlanymor · 14/11/2025 22:18

Snowdropsaremyfavourite · 14/11/2025 22:09

It does what it says on the tin.

Cuprinol! Love it!

OP posts:

Kreepture · 14/11/2025 22:09

ladyamy · 14/11/2025 21:32

My primary 4 teacher (year 3 in England, I think) used to say that and I’m still not sure what it means! 😂

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It just means you're not a daft as you look/not as naïve as someone thinks you are.

Snowdropsaremyfavourite · 14/11/2025 22:09

It does what it says on the tin.

IsItTheBlackOneOrTheRedOne · 14/11/2025 22:07

skkyelark · 14/11/2025 21:49

I tend to use it when someone is unwilling to accept that circumstances have changed, so we need to do something differently. So not so much that they can't compare, or even have the occasional whinge about the changes – but ultimately, the changes have happened and we need to get on with it.

I think you probably could use it in a number of ways though!

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No it’s not that. It’s very simple: put yourself in the position of the people in that specific moment of the past who made their decisions based on what was in front of them at that time. And then figure out how / if those people should be judged for those decisions.

LondonLass61 · 14/11/2025 22:06

Humble bragging - eg when acquaintance posted on FB (!) from a homeless shelter that she felt ‘blessed to volunteer’ there……

coxesorangepippin · 14/11/2025 22:05

No good deed goes unpunished

ChristmasWrapping2025 · 14/11/2025 22:02

What a brilliant Friday night thread! 🙌

We have a power cut here, so I’m in bed warming my feet on the Ddog, enjoying and giggling at this thread.

Original poster

Arlanymor · 14/11/2025 22:00

OwnGravityField · 14/11/2025 20:55

‘Offence archaelogist’ is someone who digs for dirt, usually on the internet

I like the prhase ‘Just because you say it, doesn’t make it so’

Never heard this but I love it... and I used to work in archaeology back in the day!

OP posts:

Original poster

Arlanymor · 14/11/2025 21:59

senua · 14/11/2025 21:55

'The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.'
I’ve heard this often but never really understood it. Is it just that you can’t compare the way things are now with how they were?
It's more like "you have no idea, you cannot comprehend how different it was". It's like trying to explain vision to a blind person or birdsong to a deaf person.

LOL. I've just seen skkyelark's post. I assume that she is a younger person and using it as 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks'. I'm an older person and use it as 'don't judge olden days by modern standards'.

That's how I use it too - don't judge the past by today's standards.

OP posts:

senua · 14/11/2025 21:55

'The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.'
I’ve heard this often but never really understood it. Is it just that you can’t compare the way things are now with how they were?
It's more like "you have no idea, you cannot comprehend how different it was". It's like trying to explain vision to a blind person or birdsong to a deaf person.

LOL. I've just seen skkyelark's post. I assume that she is a younger person and using it as 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks'. I'm an older person and use it as 'don't judge olden days by modern standards'.

SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 14/11/2025 21:53

If i agreed with you we'd both be wrong

Memeyoulater · 14/11/2025 21:52

Neither use nor ornament .

skkyelark · 14/11/2025 21:49

139steps · 14/11/2025 20:43

I’ve heard this often but never really understood it. Is it just that you can’t compare the way things are now with how they were?

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I tend to use it when someone is unwilling to accept that circumstances have changed, so we need to do something differently. So not so much that they can't compare, or even have the occasional whinge about the changes – but ultimately, the changes have happened and we need to get on with it.

I think you probably could use it in a number of ways though!

locket2009 · 14/11/2025 21:45

@CeliaCanthwe say could have an argument with herself

CeliaCanth · 14/11/2025 21:44

The saying that [someone] “could start an argument in an empty room” is very descriptive!

locket2009 · 14/11/2025 21:43

I’ve seen more fat on a butchers pencil. Often said by my Dad when teenage me used to moan about my figure

AndSoFinally · 14/11/2025 21:36

My ex-manager used to say “Those with the broadest shoulders carry those with the broadest arses” about the lazy buggers on our team. Great saying 😊

ladyamy · 14/11/2025 21:32

Kreepture · 14/11/2025 17:45

i always liked "I'm not as green as i'm cabbage looking"

My primary 4 teacher (year 3 in England, I think) used to say that and I’m still not sure what it means! 😂

ladyamy · 14/11/2025 21:30

BadgernTheGarden · 14/11/2025 17:28

All cats are black at night.

I thought it was ‘all cats are grey in the dark’

ladyamy · 14/11/2025 21:27

SlightlyHeartbroken · 14/11/2025 17:20

No good deed goes unpunished.

Learned that too many times…

SandStormNorm · 14/11/2025 21:17

Fur coat and no knickers

wayneismylife · 14/11/2025 21:17

'The most willing cart horse, pulls the heaviest load'
A phrase my mum used to say to me about giving too much at work and not getting any recognition for my efforts.

TheaBrandt1 · 14/11/2025 20:58

Love the Jane Austen line “you have delighted us long enough”

OwnGravityField · 14/11/2025 20:55

‘Offence archaelogist’ is someone who digs for dirt, usually on the internet

I like the prhase ‘Just because you say it, doesn’t make it so’

139steps · 14/11/2025 20:43

skkyelark · 14/11/2025 20:24

'You shall know a man by the company he keeps', or, when feeling a bit more blunt, 'lie down with dogs, get up with fleas.'

'The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.'

I’ve heard this often but never really understood it. Is it just that you can’t compare the way things are now with how they were?