Are these phrases ‘unsophisticated’?

[ZebraAntics]

British English is not my first form of English that I learned, I learned American English first (that autocorrected to American Elvish which would have been much better, but anyways). Since moving to the UK I have picked up a lot of different phrases and I have since been told by one (granted, rather posh person) that the phrases I have picked up are problematic and make me seem unsophisticated.

Example phrase 1:
That’s done for it.

Example phrase 2:
That’s a good shout.

Example phrase 3:
Give your head a wobble. (This one is my favourite)

I’m not going to stop using phrases I like but it does make me wonder, are there other phrases like this considered ‘rough’ or whatever unsophisticated is meant to mean? Are these even rough or is he just a snob?!

I'm not sure I know what #1 means.

#2 is fine.

#3 isn't something I'd use in a formal setting.

Example phrase 1:
That’s done for it.

Never heard of this one, so can’t comment

Example phrase 2:
That’s a good shout.

Quite casual but can imagine anyone of any class using this phrase

Example phrase 3:
Give your head a wobble. (This one is my favourite)

Only ever heard on MN where apparently everyone is apparently either very middle class or on the bones of their arse so not representative at all.

‘That’s done for it’ means something is completely broken beyond repair.

Eg, a glass is dropped on the floor and shatters. ‘I dropped the glass. That’s done for it now’.

One person is not a very robust sample size, and I think it's a good shout to give your head a wobble 😂

"That's done for it" is maybe a bit old-fashioned, it makes me think WW2 pilots (so pretty sophisticated actually, but not something you hear very often nowadays).

If you don't hear "that's a good shout" at least once a week, you clearly don't work in my office (NB all my shouts are good).

And everyone should give their head a wobble from time to time!

I learned it from MN so that explains it 😅 But I use it in RL…’He needs to give his head a wobble!’, for example.

I see what your criticiser means. Whilst I wouldn't say unsophisticated, they are definitely casual/informal.

That’s why I’m asking the vast wisdom of MN 😁 And I had no idea 2 was old timey, makes me like it more!

You might still hear e.g. "That's me done for", it's definitely informal but less informal than "I'm knackered" 😮

That’s a good shout is used by lots of different people.

Obly heard the head wobble on MN but it makes a point very well.

I would use ‘that’s had it’ or ‘that’s done for’ with out an IT

Give your head a wobble enrages me like nothing else.

They're casual phrases but that’s about it.

Other slang…

chuffed
knackered
bloke
cakehole

Give your head a wobble is a flat "you are very wrong". It appears much more on MN than in real life face to face conversation. It's much too direct and critical.

I wouldn't ever use the first phrase but I'd understand "he's done for". I use the second one day to day.

You'd get away with any of the above by using them in a self-deprecating way, putting them into invisible air quotes. You'd be right down with the plebs.

They certainly aren't sophisticated phrases to use, so I guess that would make them unsophisticated, yes. But informal language is obviously fine to use in informal contexts.

I've never heard (1) either; I might say something is "done for" if I mean it's broken or ruined, but I wouldn't add the 'it'.

And I wouldn't personally tell anyone to give their head a wobble (especially not IRL, as to me it sounds rather rude and tantamount to calling someone mental). I wouldn't mind if someone said it to me on MN, but IRL I would probably think it quite odd/rude.

I didn’t know the wobble one was so serious, to me it sounds a bit lighthearted. But then again, I think wanker sounds lighthearted because I didn’t grow up with it and I just think it’s funny to say (but I don’t say this one except to DH which he thinks is hilarious). I’ll be careful with wobble.

I think that one probably depends quite heavily on the context and the relationship you have with the person.

I just wouldn't personally choose to use it IRL as I can see how it could be construed more negatively than intended.

To me it seems similar to telling someone they need their head examined or that they've got a screw loose - the kind of thing that's fine to say in the context of a hypothetical person "e.g. anyone who thinks dogs are better than cats needs to give their head a wobble", but not "Linda, give your head a wobble" (although the latter might work if you're Peggy Mitchell and add "love" on the end - I would save it for a very light, jokey context personally).

And to use your example, OP, I wouldn't tell anyone I wouldn't be comfortable calling a wanker to give their head a wobble, essentially!

1. I would understand in context, and not consider unsophisticated
2. Has a modern, vaguely Aussie vibe, as if they speaker grew up watching Neighbours and is under 45. Not unsophisticated, but might irritate older/more conservative speakers of British English - in the same way that some people get very wound up by upwards inflection, or the term of address "guys".
3. Yes, I do consider it unsophisticated - ugly and confrontational. Luckily, I only see it on Mumsnet.

The phrase is "that's done for" rather than that's done for it.

I would say he needs to give his head a wobble to someone close (like DH) about someone but not to someone as it would be rude.

That's a good shout is a normal everyday phrase with sporting origins.

1 & 2 are fine, I use a variation of 1 and would probably say that’s a good call/idea rather than shout.
I think number 3 is rude and wouldn’t use it and thankfully only see it here on MN

1. That's done for - without "it". Informal but sounds fine.
2. Very common, again fine.
3. Only ever see on MN. Sounds very twee to me!

All the phrases are fine

I assume you have a foreign accent and that is unfortunately the problem as people will feel entitled to tell you that you re misusing colloquialisms

In fact those colloquialisms have a different tone, or even meaning, in different regions or social groups

If you had a different UK accent to your friend they would likely not try to educate you, but instead assume that these phrases are used differently where you come from

I remember once a colleague (French) was working on a document with several colleagues (Brits) the Brits kept correcting French colleague's English, which she diligently made a note of. Until at some point she realised the two English guys were correcting each other's corrections, always explaining that this isn't how a native speaker would say it....

Never said or heard the first one in my life and it doesn’t sound like good English.

Although I’ve heard the second phrase I’ve never said it.

I’ve only seen give your head a wobble on here as a written phrase. I’ve never heard anyone actually verbalise it in real life.

You could replace the first one with "That's ready for the knackers yard".

The second one is pointless and sounds a bit stupid. Why not just say "That's a good idea"? It's along the same lines as "Rock up" instead of "Turn up". It's fine but makes you sound like a bit of a wally.

The third one is only used on here (and it's awful). You could replace it with "Stop being such a massive drongo".

1 (correct version) and 2 are informal but 3 is just plain rude.