That sound you made at primary school if someone broke a rule

[TheFirstOHN]

When I was at primary school, if someone broke a rule or did something deliberately naughty, we would make an ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm! sound, with the inflection rising then falling.

My husband (who comes from the West Country) says his peers used the same inflection, but with an 'ah' at the end: ummmmmmmmmmmmah! A friend once told me that where she came from (Northern England), it was a similar inflection, but the sound was ooooooooooooooh!

I've asked my teenage children about this, and none of them have any idea what I'm talking about. Was it just a 1980s thing? Does anyone here remember children doing this? If so, what sound, what part of the world and which decade?

I remember it well.

Uuuummmmmmm in 80s Kent, as well as “chinny reckon”, “Jimmy Hill”, “beard”, “itchy beard” etc with appropriate stroking gestures

Also “monk on”, “cob on” and “chin on” for someone having a strop, although I think one of them might have been more for a prolonged sulk but can’t remember which one

Ommmurrrs here too ethelred. I'm from York so it must be a North yorks thing!

In infant school in the late 80s (West Country), we said ummm! and put our fingers on our lips.

The older kids said "itchy!" if they didn't believe what someone said.

And everyone, including the teachers, called plimsolls "daps".

Midlands in the nineties. Ooooooooooh, I'm telling!

Yeah there was a noise - like a sharp gasp I think.

Chinny!

Can't believe other folks used that. Stroking chin I. E you're lying

And everyone, including the teachers, called plimsolls "daps"

Same as S. Wales

South East, mid 90s was "Uuuummmmmm" with the up and down sound but no "ah" on the end. And itchy beard!

Mine was 'oooooooo-ahhhhhh' Scotland

Uuuummmmmmmmmmm, (inflexion up and down,) I'm telling on you! West country in the 1970s. I love these threads!

And everyone, including the teachers, called plimsolls "daps".

Because this is the correct term. [Brooks no argument]

Also from the West Country, and uuuummmmmmmmm here. Possibly uuuummmmmmmmmaaah for more serious infractions.

Daps, such a friendly word... until the teacher gave you the dap!

ooooooh aaaaaah - Glasgow late 70s/early 80s.

@Greensleeves

I also grew up in Stoke and agree with Greensleeves it was definitely Aaaaaaaaaah with the intonation...

Ommmmm I’m telling, you’re smelling, you went to a black man’s/Batman’s wedding -West Midlands, 90s

We also used to stick our little fingers up at each other which meant “I’m not your friend”

SE..80's
Both ummmm and ummmmah

Chin-on though or beardy reckon

In Aberdeen

We didn't do anything like that, but at secondary we used to say "Wayyyyyyyyy" if someone broke a plate in the dinner hall

Manchester was Ooooooooorrrrrrr! Followed by I’m telling! Or You’ll get dun for that!
And Chinny reckon 😂 I’d totally forgotten that existed despite saying it to my little brother approximately 62 million times while we were growing up.

North London, 80s, we had;

Ummmmmmmm
I’m telling in you
‘Cos you licked my cheese
And never said plea-ease.

And about seven alternate rhymes about different crimes. But it was non specific, you didnt actually have to have licked cheese

zukiecat - I'm from Aberdeen too and we definitely had "Ooooooooooooh"

And the plate thing!

South East here - was it just our school that went
UMMM um um um UMMMM!!!!
then?!

In London in the 80s: definitely the "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh", with the rising and falling inflection. A phrase that might follow soon after was the dreaded "Miss wants you".

At secondary school, dropping a plate in the dining room was always followed by cheering and whistling. This was much more half-hearted at university!

As for "good morning everybody", there was one teacher who insisted on this right up to year 13, and also standing when she entered the room. She wasn't liked or respected.

East of England and we did ummm-mer