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?!

So 3 is a strictly MN speciality?

1 never heard
2 Quite commonly used
3 Only ever seen on MN and I think it’s shit

1. Never heard of it
2. That's commonly used
3. Mumsnet speak and I wouldn't use it in real life

I don't think any of the three phrases are bad in anyway, but it all depends on the context. You choose your language to fit the situation you are in and perhaps you used those phrases in a situation where more formal language would have been appropriate.

I teach English abroad. Many of the young people have learned English through playing online games with live chat with people from all over the world and as a result are completely fluent but often use inappropriate language in more formal settings and we do quite a lot of work on ironing out things they shouldn't be saying. They seem to love calling politicians "asshats" for example when giving formal presentations or taking part in discussions about current political issues.

Give your head a wobble sounds uncomfortable and possibly dangerous (😆)

Only used by people on Mumsnet to aggressively show how much better than you they are; that you're a passive, dim witted oaf.

The wobble one is hilarious and is very mumsnet.

Most people wouldn’t say that in that context. If it was used it’s because the glass breaking has caused some kind of negative situation, say it was someone’s favourite glass and you’d been told not to touch it.

How you’ve written it doesn’t sound right to me. It’s not a phrase I think I’ve ever used.

You could replace it with "Stop being such a massive drongo".

I think this fits quite well with calling an idea a good shout though - they both sound like things Brad from Neighbours might say.

Definitely informal / a bit slang. Fine of course but I wouldn’t use them if I wanted to be perceived as professional and intellectual.

I also wouldn’t use “give your head a wobble” with international colleagues especially south-east Asia as in some countries it’s a gesture of respect. Of course this only matters if you work or hang out in international circles, I wouldn’t expect most British people to think about this. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_bobble

No, that's not something you would say in those circumstances. You would probably say "that's fucked that then" depending where in the uk you come from.

And possibly your social background🙂😁

Dropping the verb and tense-mangling is crass - like "the washing needs done" or "it needs moved by tomorrow". Also "are you serious" should be "are you being serious".

"I need it right now" - drop "right", or you'll sound American!

Your friend is right but you don’t have to change how you talk.

My thoughts on the phrases you've mentioned are the same as everyone else... but I'd just like to add that it's 'but anyway' not 'but anyways'.

See I would use head wobble in real life, but I would never say it to someone’s face. It would more likely be muttered about someone else not there - ‘he needs to give his head a wobble if thinks he’ll get away with that’.

They are unsophisticated, but you don’t always want to sound sophisticated, surely?

That sort of tense-mangling, as you put it, is very common in Scots and Northern Irish dialects. It’s not crass.

I agree with the majority - the first seems to be in the wrong order (and I wouldn't quite know what you mean )- I suspect it is more popular in some regions. The second is fine. The third could be misconstrued so I'd avoid unless talking to a friend.

I would not know what you meant by phrase one anyway. I'd figure out what phrase 2 meant and phrase three is just a silly thing. Better ways of saying it.

I had to look up the meaning of a good shout as it's not something I've heard (not in the UK), and apparently it is informal British slang - so why would someone on Neighbours say it?

If someone here said a good shout I would think there was a yummy morning tea in the offing 😄

The first one, I've no idea what that is.
Second is fine. Not specifically very commonly used by working class British. If anything I thought it sounds Australian.
Third one is quite crude. It's the sort of thing people say online to be bitchy to people on anonymous forums. If you said it in real life it might seem crass.

Number 1 - is either old fashioned or just not how we would really say it, the order of words isn't right.

Number 2. - Informal but fine. That's a good shout / good idea. I'd use that at work, home or with friends in my immediate circle but not with work colleagues who are a much higher grade.

Number 3 - Very informal verging on rude and not to be said in earshot of the subject. I do use it but only when talking with family or very close friends about someone they don't know, so normally moaning about work and something I've been asked to do.

I think idioms can be problematic when you're not on native turf. Even if English is your first language, culturally there is a chasm of difference in tone and usage in different parts of the English speaking world. I've found this to be the case and now generally err on the side of caution. I've unintentionally enraged two former colleagues by making free with English idioms and phrases which they on some level felt I'd not 'earned' the right to use, not being a native speaker.
Ditto swearing. My very sweary inlaw feels I shouldn't swear ‐even a tiny bit, after 35 years- in English because 'as an immigrant, you don't want to sound as if you think you've got your feet under the table in case people get the wrong idea'. In the country of my birth, people swear colourfully with few inhibitions, including in English, during public broadcasts, all over the media, in schools and workplaces and intergenerationally, so I feel a little deprived.

I’ve never heard any of these in real life.

I am old, and was raised to speak 'correctly' - something I stopped doing the minute I left home!

I do recognise "that's done for it" and it does sound old-fashioned now.

I tend to say "good call" rather than shout. I'd talk about a "fair shout", though, which is the same as a fair call.

I love the head wobble but don't think I've ever said it! I make liberal use of "get a fucking grip" in the same vein.

Oh, @WomanIsTaken, tell your relative to get a fucking grip, give her bloody head a wobble, and to please refrain from anticipating the thoughts of inconsequential racists!