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Original poster

What phrase do you hear ALL THE TIME during your working day, that makes you want to scream?!

468 replies

Ilovemychocolate · 24/04/2026 13:33

So I’m a childminder.
Whilst out with the kids (presently four 2 year olds) I hear “you’ve got your hands full” multiple times a day!
Over and over again, and it’s SO hard to react with a smile sometimes! (But I do obviously)
When I worked in shops it was “printed it this morning!” if someone handed me a fresh note.
So what do you hear constantly whilst working, that makes you scream inside?!

OP posts:
ilovepixie · 24/04/2026 22:06

Zov · 24/04/2026 13:51

I bet it's always a man who says it too. 🙄

See also 'only if it's free' when a checkout operator asks someone if they want cashback. (Also, always a man! They do think they're sooooooo funny!) 😴

Show quote history

When asked do you want a bag the answer from some smarmy men ‘No thanks I left her at home ‘ 😣😣

Mugcake · 24/04/2026 22:05

"Blue sky thinking"
"Close of play"
"Project x" or whatever stupid name they've given to a new project.
Working in "sprints"

Not work related but people who say "i could care less" it's couldn't care less!

AnotherName2025 · 24/04/2026 22:01

blankittyblank · 24/04/2026 16:32

I hate ‘ideate’.

“I thought I’d call this meeting so we could ideate on the content” 🤮

it’s everywhere in my office now.

What the fresh hell??

MaidMiriam · 24/04/2026 21:59

PillsBox · 24/04/2026 14:02

The woman who runs the staff canteen is constantly hearing "Can I get a coffee?" or "Can I get a sandwich?"

She never tires of saying "Errrm no. I'll get it and you can pay for it, how does that sound?" 😁

I like the cut of her jib.

Fgfgfg · 24/04/2026 21:49

Manager - What are the 'metrics' looking like?
Me (in my head) - Blue with pink spots.
I hate the word metrics.

Rafiel · 24/04/2026 21:45

Not technically incorrect but constant twatter about 'cascading' and 'embedding'.

Ridiculous AI written emails which range from robotic to verbose Victorian novel and bear no relation to the way the individual speaks.

My boss repeatedly says 'without further adieu'. It's ADO!

Marble10 · 24/04/2026 21:30

I work in housing for a LA and I hear ‘I want council house’ about a million times a day.

Oxosarah · 24/04/2026 21:04

It’s within our gift

AnotherName2025 · 24/04/2026 21:02

AccordingToWhom · 24/04/2026 20:24

Or you could learn not to get het up about something so petty and actually perfectly acceptable.

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Im not het up 🤣🤣

I'm just supportive of the woman correcting their poor English.💁🏻‍♀️

TheLette · 24/04/2026 20:59

So much corporate speak, right now "single-threaded owner" seems to keep getting mentioned (usually in the context of projects where there are too many people involved, no one really seems to know what's going on and no one seems to be in charge).

AccordingToWhom · 24/04/2026 20:24

AnotherName2025 · 24/04/2026 19:40

Well, they can learn to ask properly then can't they.

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Or you could learn not to get het up about something so petty and actually perfectly acceptable.

Banana34 · 24/04/2026 20:24

I’ve got more drugs than the pharmacy

or

I’m allergic to my wife/husband/men/work…’

thinkingofachange · 24/04/2026 20:14

“can they have braces?” about a young child 😶

Mercedes45 · 24/04/2026 20:11

RhubarbandCustardYummyYummy · 24/04/2026 13:42

‘I hate you’ and ‘I can’t lie back’ - both incredibly irritating!

Are you a dentist?

CuppaAndCuddles · 24/04/2026 20:08

Childminder here.
Yep that is the phrase that drives me up the wall! I just have to politely smile or if I'm feeling extra grumpy say something like if I had a pound everytime I heard that I wouldn't have to work!
Or jokingly sarcastic like have I?! I didn't realise
Or if I'm in a good mood and they're genuinely nice I'll say yes and a heart full too. I much prefer when people say something to compliment us like how well behaved they are or how happy they look or how happy they look! It really makes me want to scream sometimes though!

WhatterySquash · 24/04/2026 19:40

SwedishEdith · 24/04/2026 17:58

Are they using AI? It's sounds like the wanky stuff copilot suggests.

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Aaaaah that could be it.

AnotherName2025 · 24/04/2026 19:40

Legomania · 24/04/2026 15:32

'Educating'

Who doesn't love a bit of condescension with their morning coffee?

Show quote history

Well, they can learn to ask properly then can't they.

PluckedFromThinAir · 24/04/2026 19:38

“It’s a movable feast”

or worse

“it’s a moving feast.”

I picture a parade medieval people carrying big plates of meat around the office

I always reply with “So you don’t know when it’s going to happen.”

cantthinkofagoodusername1 · 24/04/2026 19:37

youalright · 24/04/2026 14:55

I speak for all women please do say this

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Agree, any man who says something like this is an utterly vile misogynist. Absolutely disgusting, and they need to be shamed.

cubistqueen · 24/04/2026 19:33

not something said to me….but today on a training course the trainer decided that the best way to get the attention of a roomful of middle aged engineers was to clap a rhythm…..and expect us to copy her 😬

SliceofTosst · 24/04/2026 19:19

sammylady37 · 24/04/2026 16:35

‘Does that make sense?’ said after the person has tediously over-explained some very straightforward uncomplicated thing, which would only not make sense to someone incredibly stupid.

Yes!!!! After every fucking section they've gone through in training is the worst. And it's always super basic over explained shit.

Original poster
Ilovemychocolate · 24/04/2026 19:08

Naughtynormansmum · 24/04/2026 14:34

"Do you work here?"
Obviously I do when I'm working and wearing the uniform! Drives me mad every day.

Omg I do that!
so sorry!

OP posts:
Sjbythesea · 24/04/2026 19:07

Lols…”reaching out” in any shape or form makes me feel 🤢

asdbaybeeee · 24/04/2026 18:56

WimbyAce · 24/04/2026 18:39

Not to do with work but I read it on here all the time and it drives me insane "Am I missing something?" It comes across very faux naive. Irrational perhaps but I instantly hate every poster that writes this phrase.
I also hate the overuse of "absolutely" that has crept in recently, it is the new "perfect". 😡

I dislike -
“so what did he say when you told him to F off”(when the op clearly hasn’t done that)
and when people add no to the end of a sentence
“just give the money to charity no?”

girliepop · 24/04/2026 18:51

Busydoingsomething · 24/04/2026 17:48

Can I have the toilet? You can go to the toilet, yes. You can’t keep it though!

This brings back memories, pretty sure my teacher got a kick out of pupils desperately needing the loo when they’d ask “can I go to the toilet?” The teacher would say I don’t know CAN you???? Followed by minutes of confusion and a wincing full bladdered child until they correctly asked MAY they go to the toilet