Page 5 | To think it is posh and or pretentious to say you are "drawing" a bath?

OonaStubbs · 2026-06-09T21:34:01+00:00

What do you think. My DP always says this but I think it is very strange and old fashioned to say this instead of just saying you are running a bath?

MasterBeth · 10/06/2026 08:49

Roosnoodles · 09/06/2026 23:50

My husband draws a bath, draws the curtains and says bless you if I sneeze. I love it. He’s always said it. I once read that Jeremy Clarkson thought that saying condiments was pretentious, I can’t for the life of me think of another word for them.

Salt and pepper.

MasterBeth · 10/06/2026 08:48

HoppityBun · 09/06/2026 23:47

But what you wouldn’t say that you pay for it but that you read it, because that’s the issue

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Excuse me?

dointhebestwecan · 10/06/2026 00:06

Like a horse-drawn cart

nam3c4ang3 · 10/06/2026 00:06

My husbands grandparents said it, as does his parents and so does he - my kids will sometimes ask if I can draw them a bath - it’s not pretentious it’s just something they’ve heard all their life 🤷🏻‍♀️

JustAnotherWhinger · 10/06/2026 00:04

MrsShawnHatosy · 10/06/2026 00:02

The word draw can mean to pull, as in drawing something towards you, so drawing curtains can make sense,

It’s also where drawing the bath comes from, drawing the water from the water source to fill the bath.

MrsShawnHatosy · 10/06/2026 00:02

The word draw can mean to pull, as in drawing something towards you, so drawing curtains can make sense,

Secretseverywhere · 10/06/2026 00:00

I, too, draw the curtains. I thought that was normal. I run a bath but I don’t mind draw a bath provided it’s not delivered a la Hyacinth Bucket.

echt · 09/06/2026 23:58

I run and draw baths, but draw curtains.

I don't get the sniffiness about older usage; It's a broadening of the language, which has to be a good thing.

Several years ago, a colleague took me to task about using the expression "by a long chalk" in speech. They asked me what it meant, which I didn't mind at all, but then got bit tetchy and asked why on earth I should use such an expression that no-one understood. This was in Australia, which apart from having a rich vernacular of its own, uses many UK expressions, both old and new.

It was the intolerance that got me.

Papster · 09/06/2026 23:56

Tiptow · 09/06/2026 22:37

No, it’s not pretentious neccesarily, it’s just that different people use different terms for things. Language shaming is toxic.

No it’s not

InterestedDad37 · 09/06/2026 23:51

AlcoholicAntibiotic · 09/06/2026 23:48

How would you ask the question?

I agree with others; it’s no different to asking how you take your tea or coffee,

Definitely not a posh thing.

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Have. How do you have your porridge/tea/coffee obviously 😀 🤷

(which is different from 'do you take sugar', which is perfectly OK 😀)

Roosnoodles · 09/06/2026 23:50

My husband draws a bath, draws the curtains and says bless you if I sneeze. I love it. He’s always said it. I once read that Jeremy Clarkson thought that saying condiments was pretentious, I can’t for the life of me think of another word for them.

AlcoholicAntibiotic · 09/06/2026 23:48

InterestedDad37 · 09/06/2026 23:26

Nah, it's just as old-fashioned and borderline pretentious as 'drawing' a bath.
Mind you, the person who asked me is incredibly posh (I'm incredibly not posh) and probably always says it.

Edited

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How would you ask the question?

I agree with others; it’s no different to asking how you take your tea or coffee,

Definitely not a posh thing.

HoppityBun · 09/06/2026 23:47

MasterBeth · 09/06/2026 23:33

The "take" that I have always found unusual and anachronistic is when people talk about which newspaper they take.

I don't take any newspaper. I always pay for it.

But what you wouldn’t say that you pay for it but that you read it, because that’s the issue

Davros · 09/06/2026 23:45

DierdreDaphne · 09/06/2026 22:48

"when youve finished dear are you going to paint it?"

Even my old, posh grandad ( born in the 1900s and who used to pronounce off "orf" much to my young entertainment) didn't say this..and I know he went to a super posh boarding school too!

So I'm assuming your dh is about 150??

Cockneys also say “orf”.
I need some serious advice, is drawing the curtains opening or closing them? Or does it depend on if they’re already open or closed?

JustAnotherWhinger · 09/06/2026 23:39

Nofeckingway · 09/06/2026 22:55

Only in England is this phrase used . I think it's funny . Nobody else says draw curtains either . Everywhere else uses close curtains, run a bath .

I grew up about as far north in Scotland as you can get and my grandparents (who brought me up) used draw for the bath and curtains.

5foot5 · 09/06/2026 23:38

ForTipsyPlumWriter · 09/06/2026 22:58

I say draw the curtains too! And I’m northern and definitely not posh!

DH likes to say elevenses (although he is posher than me, and from the south). I find it rather quaint and endearing.

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Another non-posh Northerner who draws the curtains, but this one has always appreciated the concept of elevenses!

Shinyandnew1 · 09/06/2026 23:35

I like old fashioned terminology!

What about, ‘which side does sir dress?’

That one has always made me chuckle!

user293948849167 · 09/06/2026 23:35

It is quite posh but wouldn’t say pretentious if that’s what he’s always said!

bridgetreilly · 09/06/2026 23:34

It’s old-fashioned but not strange.

MustardBear · 09/06/2026 23:33

Nofeckingway · 09/06/2026 22:55

Only in England is this phrase used . I think it's funny . Nobody else says draw curtains either . Everywhere else uses close curtains, run a bath .

I say ‘draw the curtains’!

MasterBeth · 09/06/2026 23:33

The "take" that I have always found unusual and anachronistic is when people talk about which newspaper they take.

I don't take any newspaper. I always pay for it.

Ihatelittlefriendsusan · 09/06/2026 23:33

I use it as lot.

Inwas brought up in London but my Nan is from the north east and it was what she used to say.

InterestedDad37 · 09/06/2026 23:31

Floatlikeafeather2 · 09/06/2026 23:30

But asking someone if they take milk/sugar is very normal. What's the difference?

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Horses for courses, I suppose 😀

OhThePotential · 09/06/2026 23:31

InterestedDad37 · 09/06/2026 23:21

Someone recently asked me how I 'take' my porridge 😀

That’s normal here. Like asking how someone takes their tea or coffee.

I suppose many young people don’t drink tea or coffee now though. I’m old.

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 09/06/2026 23:30

You draw water from a well. Thats how it came about. It just a saying that was transferred to a bath. No real pretence. Just old fashioned but who really cares? Lots of families keep going with odd sayings and words that aren’t widespread now.