Like a fairy elephant

[TigerDroveAgain]

This phrase, often used by my DM about me in childhood, came to mind for some reason.

I’ve not heard it for years - thank god - but I wondered if others have heard it or it’s been used recently?

It was used in my childhood too, but I haven't heard it for decades! It's quite funny, I think I'll try dropping it into conversation soon!

Ha! This made me laugh, my DM used to say this to me too

Not entirely sure that funny was the first word that sprang to mind!

I haven’t heard that in years either! It’s how I was often described as a child.

What does it mean? Never heard of it.

My mum used to say to me "Why do you bound around like a baby elephant".

My dad used to always say I bounced down the stairs like a fairy elephant while he was trying to sleep, always made me laugh!

I'm 28 and my mum still says I go up and down the stairs like a fairy elephant when I visit. Doesn't bother me, I am fairly heavy footed.

My dad used to say that about my little sister, she was a chubby kid - bless her heart

Yes my mum always used this phrase, haven't heard it for years though

My mum used to use it to describe me dancing. As well as saying I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket.

I didn't find wither very funny then, and I wouldn't use them now. They are basically put downs, aren't they?

I guess it is different if you are just describing someone running downstairs...

I use it to my 19 year old all the time. In a nice way, not in a bullying way.

She’s petite, and dances (gracefully), but around the house she’s my fairy elephant.

My mum used to call me that too....

That takes me back to the 70s.

I've never heard fairy elephant before.
I do tell my kids they sound like a herd of elephants running around upstairs.

My nan used to say it to us Stop running up and down the stairs like a herd of fairy elephants!

I’m pleased it was a thing, and I hadn’t misremembered! It wasn’t said kindly to me at all - it was a put down for sure

Oh, that's funny! I clicked on this thinking your DC had "met" an imaginary friend during Lockdown! [smilee]

I say that to my daughter when she stomps down the stairs!

Dm used to say it all the time when I was banging around in my bedroom growing up (bedroom was above the livingroom)
I used it once about 6 years ago when dh and I moved into our flat to describe our upstairs neighbour and he'd never heard it at all.

My parents used to say this and so do I.

I wondered if it meant the same as baby elephant. Yes, I got that too. I was heavier than my siblings. I hated it.

Yep I got it. Also said it to my girls. They are heavy footed like their dad.

I've heard like a baby elephant. Fairy elephant makes no sense whatsoever

My mum used to say baby elephant or herd of elephants.

She definitely meant heavy footed, rather than large.

My dad worked nights, by the time I was 6 I could move silently like ninja.

I've accidentally scared the living daylights out of many a housemate who didn't hear me coming.