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Are these phrases ‘unsophisticated’?

107 replies

ZebraAntics · 14/12/2024 20:36

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?!

OP posts:
LonginesPrime · 15/12/2024 10:46

ZebraAntics · 15/12/2024 10:06

Now I’m wondering if there are any other MN-only phrases?

Um, OP....you haven't been talking about penis beakers at work, have you?

StormingNorman · 15/12/2024 18:55

LonginesPrime · 15/12/2024 10:46

Um, OP....you haven't been talking about penis beakers at work, have you?

WTF is a penis beaker?

HouseFullOfChaos · 15/12/2024 21:16

StormingNorman · 15/12/2024 18:55

WTF is a penis beaker?

The penis beaker thread is in classics somewhere on here. I think it was a couple who had a cup of water next to the bed for the boyfriend to dunk his penis in after sex to clean it so he didn't have to walk across the landing and risk running into the mum or dad. It was very funny to read because she wrote about it like it was something everyone has next to their bed.

ZebraAntics · 15/12/2024 21:18

LonginesPrime · 15/12/2024 10:46

Um, OP....you haven't been talking about penis beakers at work, have you?

I misread this as penis breaker 😵‍💫

OP posts:
StormingNorman · 15/12/2024 22:29

HouseFullOfChaos · 15/12/2024 21:16

The penis beaker thread is in classics somewhere on here. I think it was a couple who had a cup of water next to the bed for the boyfriend to dunk his penis in after sex to clean it so he didn't have to walk across the landing and risk running into the mum or dad. It was very funny to read because she wrote about it like it was something everyone has next to their bed.

😂😂😂😂😂😂🍆😂😂😂😂😂😂

TorroFerney · 16/12/2024 13:39

HilaryThorpe · 15/12/2024 09:23

... granddaughters' amusement
"That's done for it" definitely common in posh RP English.

yes, I keep thinking thats a posh phrase!

LeafyGreenSalad · 16/12/2024 13:55

The first phrase I would associate with mid twentieth century speech. You might say "that's it done for" meaning something is broken or nearly broken" but more in the sense that something is reaching the end of it's lifespan rather than smashed. It means used up and wrung out.
For a person, you might say "that's me done for" meaning, so tired I'm nearly dead. Or in the context of old films, my fighter plane has been shot down and I'm going to die.
No "it" at the end

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