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Original poster

To be driven crazy by a few very, very common expressions on Mumsnet?

263 replies

Pineapplesonpizza · 24/07/2026 20:02

Here are two to start with:

"Just that really." after the initial title of the post, sometimes accompanied by shrug emoji.

The word "surely".

Do you have any that irrationally irritate you?

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 24/07/2026 20:37

MyThreeWords · 24/07/2026 20:29

"Yep." It translates as a world-weary "Yes, I understand this better than almost anyone on this thread. I have special experience that makes me a wise old hand whom you have to respect."

"Explain xyz to me as if I were two/stupid/an alien." No. I'll explain it to you as if you accepted some level of responsibility for not being ignorant/naive.

Yup is worse !

DeftGoldHedgehog · 24/07/2026 20:34

Some of these are just normal turns of phase in everyday life, not a Mumsnet thing. You must spent your lives in a state of perpetual irritation.

wouldyouwax · 24/07/2026 20:33

“I’ve just asked DH/read this to DH and he said…”

Oppolesceni · 24/07/2026 20:32

“ducks in a row” just needs to die, horribly, and then get buried in concrete.

Arlanymor · 24/07/2026 20:30

Stressedoutmummyof3 · 24/07/2026 20:27

I can't stand ick. It sounds like it should be used by 5 year olds in the playground.

Show quote history

Could not agree more! 👏

Pinksalamanda · 24/07/2026 20:30

“Just…”. Because it’s always used so flippantly for what most people would consider big things, or makes huge assumptions.

”just get a new car”. As if everyone can afford to do that.
”just get your husband to do it” when OP has made no mention of having a partner (I saw one last week where she’d already said she was single).

Today, I saw “just resign”. As if anyone is so fortunate to be able to just quit their job with no back up. The OP did highlight to that user it had taken her serval months to secure a roll so “just resigning” would be moronic. And come to think of it, it was a very playful post and the OP wasn’t even unhappy in her job.

NoWordForFluffy · 24/07/2026 20:29

SomersetBrie · 24/07/2026 20:18

"Politely" ........

Ending a sentence with no.

Politely, you're a dickhead, no?

Or 'Gently...' 😫

Plus, 'Wow. Just wow.'

Both make me very annoyed!

MyThreeWords · 24/07/2026 20:29

"Yep." It translates as a world-weary "Yes, I understand this better than almost anyone on this thread. I have special experience that makes me a wise old hand whom you have to respect."

"Explain xyz to me as if I were two/stupid/an alien." No. I'll explain it to you as if you accepted some level of responsibility for not being ignorant/naive.

Stressedoutmummyof3 · 24/07/2026 20:27

Arlanymor · 24/07/2026 20:14

Ick. And the fact that people seem to think it’s a modern invention. It started off as baby talk and was then used relentlessly in Ally McBeal in the late 1990s. Ironically ick gives me the ick…

I can't stand ick. It sounds like it should be used by 5 year olds in the playground.

Original poster
Pineapplesonpizza · 24/07/2026 20:27

wheresthesnowgone · 24/07/2026 20:25

You clearly don't like her /him/MIL etc

Am having to lie down with a cold flannel on my forehead, these are SO irritating, especially this one. Or 'it sounds like you don't like him much'.

OP posts:
wheresthesnowgone · 24/07/2026 20:25

You clearly don't like her /him/MIL etc

PrettyLittleRose · 24/07/2026 20:25

USE YOUR WORDS.

Makes me want to throw my laptop across the room in anger and fury every time I see it. So patronising and fecking ridiculous, and you can tell that every single poster who writes it thinks they are being ever so clever and oh so big.

No, you sound like a condescending, patronising smug twat! 😎

Cheese55 · 24/07/2026 20:24

It works for us (especially used when DH earns a lot of money and she doesn't work but she lives off him)

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 24/07/2026 20:24

Block them , then go to the door when they turn up , with a big glass of wine . You cannot move your car 'cos you've been drinking . See you in the morning .

<Bloody Hell , I;m an angry person > !

GreenWheat · 24/07/2026 20:23

Oh how could I forget the absolute worst -use your words. It's so patronising

Original poster
Pineapplesonpizza · 24/07/2026 20:23

AndImVictoriaMalcolm · 24/07/2026 20:19

Also “well why did you marry/have kids with him?”

whether the signs were there already, the horse has well and truly fucked off let alone bolted. And crucially, some people don’t recognise the signs in the first place or there just weren’t any.

I think this wins.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 24/07/2026 20:22

Tell me you know nothing about xyz without telling me you know nothing about xyz ....

GreenWheat · 24/07/2026 20:22

No is a complete sentence

Vanishingly rare

What did they say when you asked them?

Original poster
Pineapplesonpizza · 24/07/2026 20:21

SomersetBrie · 24/07/2026 20:18

"Politely" ........

Ending a sentence with no.

Politely, you're a dickhead, no?

Ending a sentence with no? gives me the same irritation as ending with 'surely'.
In fact, generally, ending a statement type sentence with a question mark can irk me.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 24/07/2026 20:20

I'd sprinkle some nails round the tyre ( because getting a flat tyre isn't in the least bit hazardous and it isn't a punishment for parking over your drive )

CherryBlossom321 · 24/07/2026 20:19

“Ghastly”.

AndImVictoriaMalcolm · 24/07/2026 20:19

Also “well why did you marry/have kids with him?”

whether the signs were there already, the horse has well and truly fucked off let alone bolted. And crucially, some people don’t recognise the signs in the first place or there just weren’t any.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 24/07/2026 20:19

(My List - not exhaustive )

I couldn't get worked up by this

Is this A Thing ?

And what did they say when you went to A&E (when it is patently obvious the OP hasn't done )

You have a DH problem ( usually involving MIL , why can an adult not ask another adult > why is it DH job to do this )

Use Your Words

I would keep the dog and Re-Home DH

Just tell them "Yes my charge is £15/hour to look after your DC " when the OP is not a ChildMinder and legally cannot charge

Elmo230885 · 24/07/2026 20:19

When OP posts about a confrontational situation and someone posts "I'd have slapped her" or "I'd reversed into their car" etc. I always think to myself 'no you wouldn't'.

SomersetBrie · 24/07/2026 20:18

"Politely" ........

Ending a sentence with no.

Politely, you're a dickhead, no?