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Original poster

Words/phrases you have seen in books that you have never heard a real life person say

188 replies

OneUmberJoker · 17/12/2025 17:01

Little high little low - stuart little

OP posts:
GonetoGreece1982 · 03/06/2026 21:31

I’ve been reading Marian Keyes Walsh sisters series, she describes men as total rides a lot, I’ve never heard that phrase before.

daffodilandtulip · 03/06/2026 21:31

Padding across the hallway

oliviaAustin · 03/06/2026 21:29

HenriettaHenhouse · 03/06/2026 21:14

Legs that are 'encased' in trousers.

Hullo instead of hello.

People's specs always 'flash' when they're annoyed.

Grrr also Hallo (unless German) another Blyton sin.

oliviaAustin · 03/06/2026 21:28

AudiobookListener · 09/05/2026 19:30

Last book I read was a children's book in which everyone was wearing a jersey. It was set in 1975. No, just no. It was a jumper then and it's a jumper now.

A jersey and a jumper are different things.

oliviaAustin · 03/06/2026 21:26

‘Wow that’s Wizard’ - Enid Blyton. See also: ‘You’re a Brick’ and ‘I hate sneaks’.

ReignOfError · 03/06/2026 21:25

JaneJeffer · 18/12/2025 00:14

I read a book where the main character kept asking people “shall you” do whatever. I’ve never heard anyone use it in real life.

I use shall. When I was young, it wasn’t interchangeable with ‘will’. I know that’s changed, but old habits die hard.

I see ‘leapt out of bed and ran a brush through her curls’ written. Presumably by people with straight hair, since I don’t think we do.

Gowlett · 03/06/2026 21:24

Not a book but I hate it in Love Actually when Natalie says “Oh, piss it!”

They’s used the f-word a couple of times already, so clearly made this up.

Unless it is actually said somewhere?

SlayTheJAway · 03/06/2026 21:15

When characters start sentence after sentence with the name of the person they’re talking to. It’s not necessary in real life, generally people say it once and that’s it.

Plump82 · 03/06/2026 21:14

When someone looks through their eyelashes.

I imagine them all looking like Princess Diana!

HenriettaHenhouse · 03/06/2026 21:14

Legs that are 'encased' in trousers.

Hullo instead of hello.

People's specs always 'flash' when they're annoyed.

Terpsichore · 03/06/2026 21:10

LadyTakingTea · 25/05/2026 23:07

I write You and Yours, say in a Christmas card if I don't know the family of the person that I'm sending the card to:

"Dear John, wishing you and yours a very happy Christmas."

Show quote history

'You and Yours' is also Radio 4's daily consumer programme!

SaffySaffron · 03/06/2026 20:58

Tilting or lifting your chin in defiance or pride. Always women. A very misogynistic trope.

Hephzibah64 · 31/05/2026 03:00

Padding across the floor. I have never in my life heard someone say they padded anywhere. Why is it a thing with many writers?

SquirrelGG · 31/05/2026 02:52

FlorbelaEspanca · 23/05/2026 21:39

I called all jumpers jerseys until I started buying mine direct from Shetland - at the opposite end of the British Isles - and it seemed incongruous.

Show quote history

Jumpers are commonly called jerseys where I live. I never use the word jumper.

SquirrelGG · 31/05/2026 02:51

CrackingOn50 · 17/12/2025 18:00

People who are cold saying ’bbrrrrrrrr’

That's actually fairly common Confused

echt · 31/05/2026 02:12

Not so much a word as an action, where a character, invariably a man, usually a detective runs their fingers through their hair in bafflement, frustration, etc.

Never ever seen this in real life.

Disclaimer: not to be confused with shampoo ads where women shake out their tresses and do a bit of finger running.

LadyTakingTea · 25/05/2026 23:07

BorisTheShark · 09/05/2026 20:31

In every martina Cole book - me and mine, or you and yours. Never heard anyone actually say that

I write You and Yours, say in a Christmas card if I don't know the family of the person that I'm sending the card to:

"Dear John, wishing you and yours a very happy Christmas."

MyThreeWords · 24/05/2026 22:52

Preternatural

Used anytime any writer wants to indicate that something is strikingly, abnormally intense in some way. Things in novels are routinely preternaturally blue (eyes, usually), preternaturally dark (the sky), etc., etc.

Until I checked just now, I didn't even have a clear idea of what the word meant. And yet I always know exactly what writers are aiming for when they use the term. It's just a shorthand way of saying: I'm aiming for something very atmospheric here. Please imagine something terribly moody like what you have read in other books that use this word.

SaffySaffron · 23/05/2026 23:09

Yes. No. I don't know.
You're incorrigible.

SaraOnSaturday · 23/05/2026 23:03

"So, the days have worn away, have they?”

Imanexcellentdrivercharliebabbit · 23/05/2026 22:42

‘Erstwhile’
I have never ever heard anyone in the real world say it.

Imanexcellentdrivercharliebabbit · 23/05/2026 22:38

SixSevenShutUp · 09/05/2026 19:34

A jersey is a particular style of knitted jumper. In the olden days people would recognise the pattern. I had an Arran sweater, also a jumper but a different style.

Show quote history

See also a ‘Guernsey’ the more rigid, hard wearing ( but itchy) version of a ‘Jersey’ -both worn by fisherman -
’Jersey’ has become colloquial for a jumper

ByTheNine · 23/05/2026 22:33

Chagrin. Never heard anyone say it in real life but seemed to come up loads in the Twilight books for example

MrsMoastyToasty · 23/05/2026 22:30

"She padded across the flagstones/kitchen"
"His lip curled"

I read too much romantic fiction.

EasilyPleased · 23/05/2026 22:01

Half the stuff people say on here. I’ve never actually heard anyone say ‘hollibobs’ or ‘hubby’ or talk about holiday ‘spends’.

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