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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:
Piglet89 · 26/04/2026 11:54

Bumblebeeforever · 26/04/2026 10:11

Oh my, this! I get emails saying can you call me I’ve got some questions, well put the questions in the fucking email then, so I can look up any relevant information rather than expecting me to know on the hoof on a phone call and wasting my time!

Show quote history

@Bumblebeeforeverare you a lawyer too?

”Yeah sure, call me and ask questions. I am sure to know all the answers, as I know all the laws ever: it’s all inside my big lawyer’s brain”.

JESUS.

user1479766142 · 26/04/2026 11:52

Deep dive

Sunloungerhogger · 26/04/2026 11:32

Mapletreelane · 24/04/2026 14:17

There is only one thing that springs to mind.... (also all I can think of when anyone mentions pivot tables lol!)

Show quote history

Me too - I can’t hear someone at work say pivot without shouting back at them “PIVOT! - PIVOT!!” and they just don’t get the reference because they’re all too young.

WhatterySquash · 26/04/2026 11:24

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 26/04/2026 08:00

That’s just (what I call) verbal cotton wool. It’s plainly unnecessary, but the sentence needs a bit of padding.

Linguists call them ‘placeholder phrases’.

Show quote history

Yes and I’ve found if you don’t do this bit of initial “padding”, the person often isn’t listening to what you say to begin with so you have to repeat it. It’s a bit like radio conversations in old films where they say “do you read me, over” at the start. You say something waffly at the start to give the person time to switch their brain on.

DaysofHoney · 26/04/2026 10:48

How do we socialise this?
Let’s amplify this.

I work in Comms. ARGH.

ComfyKnickers · 26/04/2026 10:14

Miss Comfy, he/she won't share x with me!

Translate - they won't give it to me immediately.

Bumblebeeforever · 26/04/2026 10:11

Piglet89 · 26/04/2026 08:25

“Just a quick question”.

I am a lawyer. It’s so rarely fucking quick. Quick for you to ask - much, much longer for me to answer.

Oh my, this! I get emails saying can you call me I’ve got some questions, well put the questions in the fucking email then, so I can look up any relevant information rather than expecting me to know on the hoof on a phone call and wasting my time!

Hedjwitch · 26/04/2026 09:42

All you " can I get" haters better brace yourselves if you come to Scotland where it is standard use of the language and has been ever since I can remember.

Poppyseed71 · 26/04/2026 08:29

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?!

not my vibe or what a vibe from 40-50 year olds 😂😂

Piglet89 · 26/04/2026 08:25

“Just a quick question”.

I am a lawyer. It’s so rarely fucking quick. Quick for you to ask - much, much longer for me to answer.

MyLilacBeaker · 26/04/2026 08:13

"Its all hands on deck" i hate that with a pure passion😒😒

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 26/04/2026 08:04

MoonWoman69 · 25/04/2026 20:00

And we're supposed to say/do what? Point into the background? Nod our heads over to the drawers?
"Can I help you?" "Yes, I've come to pick up a prescription please..."
I really can't understand your logic there!

Show quote history

Very much so. They might actually want something else.

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 26/04/2026 08:02

BakewellGin1 · 25/04/2026 21:07

I have reached out to...
Can we step outside...
If we circle back to...
A force to be reckoned with being used to describe people
I know you are on your lunch but...
We have been brainstorming some ideas and...
Yes it is on my radar...

‘Can we step outside’ sounds a bit ominous!

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 26/04/2026 08:00

PuppiesProzacProsecco · 25/04/2026 21:52

"I'm just calling to get a bit of advice" - no shit Sherlock. You're through to Citizens Advice. I didn't think you were calling to order pizza.

That’s just (what I call) verbal cotton wool. It’s plainly unnecessary, but the sentence needs a bit of padding.

Linguists call them ‘placeholder phrases’.

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 26/04/2026 07:56

Loobieloogold · 26/04/2026 01:20

"Living the dream"
A random "Hi" on Teams = you think your priority should now be mine and eat into my time.

I ignore the loaded ‘Hi’.

If you have something to say, just get on with it.
You don’t have to cushion the blow, and pretend to be just saying hello.

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 26/04/2026 07:54

notmypeasnotmyallotment · 24/04/2026 13:48

'You missed a bit' ....im a Cleaning manager, drives me mad lol

My husband is a builder, and if he’s decorating, he’ll hear at least once a day.

Dinggirl · 26/04/2026 07:31

Zov · 24/04/2026 13:52

I hate, HATE, HATE...

'Teamwork Makes The Dream Work!'

ARGH!!!!!! (Mostly because at least half of 'the team' don't pull their weight!' Hmm

I was going to say exactly the same thing! 😄 Grrrrrrrr!!!!!

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 26/04/2026 03:00

How about pushback and lets dive in ?

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 26/04/2026 02:55

Drpawpawspaw · 24/04/2026 13:52

“Thanks for reaching out”

I didn’t. Reaching for you would imply I want to instigate physical contact. Take it from this menopausal guardian of strict boundaries I do not.

nor will I be “circling back” to continue this pointless exchange.

One of my pet hates. Even used used Newsreaders in TV channels. And even by a Solicitor in a letter.

It is so phoney and a real cheesy Americanism.As in the song
"Reach out and touch somebody's hand.
Make this would a better place if you can"

Pass the sick bag Alice. As Private Eye used to say .

sashh · 26/04/2026 02:48

When working in cardiology, "I don't have a heart, it's a swinging brick".

Sometimes it was necessary to shave a man's chest, "My wife won't be happy".

After spending 10 mins explaining to a patient the ins and outs of a stress test. A junior Dr would arrive and ask the patient, "Has sashh explained the test to you?" And 90% would say, "no".

CyanMaker · 26/04/2026 02:07

Getting a call a couple hours before my shift asking"Can you come in as soon as possible?"

Loobieloogold · 26/04/2026 01:20

"Living the dream"
A random "Hi" on Teams = you think your priority should now be mine and eat into my time.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 26/04/2026 01:10

The word 'just'.

'Oh, Mooncup, can you just...'

No, I can't. It's never 'just' anything, it's a lengthy, detailed and immensely technical thing that will take me fucking hours, you've been sitting on it for at least a month and a half, expect me to do it by magic by clicking a mouse four times AND you want it either in 3 hours or it's 9 minutes to the end of my day and you 'just' want it for 7.30am.

LunaTheCat · 26/04/2026 00:28

“My pain’s 10 out 10”.. says someone texting on cellphone and uploading their medical experience on instagram whilst eating a sandwich .. no, its not love.

agatamum · 25/04/2026 23:58

RhubarbandCustardYummyYummy · 24/04/2026 13:42

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

I get this as well. When they say that they can’t lie back I’d dearly love to ask “well do you sleep sitting up in a chair then?”

I have less of a filter as I get older and do sometimes just say no now, as it hurts my back. I’ll refer them to someone else