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Original poster

Words and phrases that you like and wish you'd hear more often (light hearted)

167 replies

ShockingBritain · 05/05/2026 09:42

Any phrases people would like hear more often?

After reading thread about phrases that give people 'rage'.

OP posts:
VivienneDelacroix · 07/05/2026 00:15

LondonSymphony · 06/05/2026 21:58

When I was a kid, a lot of people used “wazzak” as an insult. Seems to have died out in common parlance.

I’ve always liked the phrase “not my circus, not my monkeys”.

I use wazzock pretty much daily! Usually about a cat, sometimes about DH.

juggleit · 07/05/2026 00:07

DarlingMay · 06/05/2026 23:54

”pillock” is still in frequent use by me. I believe it derives from an old word for penis. So is ruder than it sounds 😬

Show quote history

I need a replacement for ‘twat’ when I’m driving as feel this is inappropriate when with DC in the car so will use ‘pillock’ from now on.

’ Going round the houses’ was used on car journeys when lost or a diversion set up.
Also my dad used to say ‘since God was a boy’ to describe a long time ago. I used this phrase in conversation with a lady and she thought this hilarious.

MercianQueen · 07/05/2026 00:03

My rather cognitively-challenged animals are usually either dingbats or donkeys (neither of them are actually donkeys).

I love the imagery of our local sayings:
A bit black over Bill’s mother’s
All around the Wrekin

And from my Mancunian grandma:
Stop mithering

knackeredmummy18 · 07/05/2026 00:02

I remember being in hospital during covid and heard a member of staff saying "Christ on a bike" and even to this day it still makes me giggle. I had never heard it before and not going to lie, I love it but have never had the opportunity to say it without me sounding weird lol

DarlingMay · 07/05/2026 00:01

I was telling the DC about “Wot no …” with the cartoon the other day. Anyone else know this one?

I also like ‘tother one (along the lines of ‘tis upthread).

five and twenty is pretty cool when referring to the time but it’s too antiquated even for me.

so many others. Vouchsafe. Undergarments (DS used both the other day and tickled me greatly.)

EstoyRobandoSuCasa · 06/05/2026 23:55

Good heavens!

Alas...

Oh no you don't! (when someone's about to do something they shouldn't)

Well, someone's got a bee in his/her bonnet!

Gurt pudden (a daft person)

Gurt lummox (a clumsy/awkward person)

You're off your trolley, mate!

Bottle-brushed (to describe a cat who's just had a fright). E.g. "did you have to let that dog in? Now the cats are all bottle-brushed!"

And apologies if this offends anyone, but I quite like "circling the plughole" as a jokey euphemism for dying.

DarlingMay · 06/05/2026 23:54

SnorthSnarf · 05/05/2026 09:45

I love the word 'pillock'

I thought it was a type of fish until quite recently 😬

I think its a brilliant description of someone laughably incompetent, useless or dense but basically harmless. I'm trying to revive its use.

”pillock” is still in frequent use by me. I believe it derives from an old word for penis. So is ruder than it sounds 😬

Papster · 06/05/2026 23:48

I have a friend who uses lawks and crikey which I like a lot

Jamclag · 06/05/2026 23:39

I try and say 'marvelous' at least once a week. It always makes me think of Penelope Keith.

My Yorkshire born nan had many interesting sayings but
'blood and stomach pills' when something took her by surprise and 'fur coat and no knickers' for any female she considered 'no better than she should be' always made us laugh.

SometimesUnsure · 06/05/2026 23:31

Holy Cow
Going to Hell in a handbasket
Let her/him cool down the water she/he boiled
Higgeldy piggeldy

Treviarpelli · 06/05/2026 23:28

I like “irked” which seems to be having a comeback as I’ve read it on here a few times recently.

Wetcoatsandmudagain · 06/05/2026 23:23

On hearing good news

That warms the cockles of ye heart

Dontlletmedownbruce · 06/05/2026 23:23

I heard 'Janey Mac' recently but I can't remember who said it. I don't know if it's an Irish thing but it was definitely used a lot in my Irish Catholic childhood.

My MIL recently called someone on TV a 'hunk'. Hadn't heard that in a while.

Wetcoatsandmudagain · 06/05/2026 23:21

That’ll upset the apple cart

AnticsNShenanigans · 06/05/2026 23:20

Blimey! My husband is the only person I know who still uses it.

I like posh, old school insults
Cad
Bounder
Ruffian
Rapscallion
😆

Yellowpapersun · 06/05/2026 23:13

My dad used to say Damn and blast it. I quite like that!
If someone was mean, my gran used say He wouldn't part with t'stink of his own behind.

Myfridgeiscool · 06/05/2026 23:11

I use ‘spectacles’ quite a lot too.
I'm getting a new set of specs next week, I’m giddy with excitement.

GreenMarigold · 06/05/2026 23:11

WimbyAce · 06/05/2026 23:04

I really like "oh crumbs". Or "gosh".

Love ‘oh crumbs’! I’ve made a mental note to start using it!

GreenMarigold · 06/05/2026 23:09

The strongest words I ever heard my mum say were ‘oh blast’ which she reserved only for the most disastrous of situations! I quite like it as an alternative to swearing. Short for ‘damn and blast’ I think, which you also never hear anymore!

My grandad used to use ‘presently’ a lot
to mean ‘soon’. I use it occasionally just to keep his words going.

GivingUpFinally · 06/05/2026 23:06

wheresthesnowgone · 06/05/2026 21:45

Have a great rest of your day and a great rest of your week Blush

Was going to say this myself.
"Have a nice day" with a genuine smile really does brighten my day.

WimbyAce · 06/05/2026 23:06

Thingsthatgo · 06/05/2026 22:31

I really like the word esophagus. I hardly ever need to use it though.
It has been pointed out to me that I use the word ‘super’ like someone out of an Enid Blyton novel, which I am not unhappy about!

I use "super" a lot. I decided to bring it back into my vocabulary when everyone else was saying "perfect". It actually goes down really well.

Eggybreadwithnuts · 06/05/2026 23:05

Blowing a hoolie

Myfridgeiscool · 06/05/2026 23:05

I try to use ‘splendid’ and ‘fabulous’ as much as possible.
I used the word ‘discombobulated’ to describe how I was feeling today; the 17 year old I was with at the time said he felt the same. I was flabbergasted that he knew its meaning 😀🤣🤣

WimbyAce · 06/05/2026 23:04

I really like "oh crumbs". Or "gosh".

MaCheCazzo · 06/05/2026 22:59

My grandmother used to say ‘Stop playing the giddy ox’ 😂 Aimed always at overexcited children. I still use it now.

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