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Original poster

What things took you far too long to realise was a, erm... "thing"?

335 replies

ChippySauce · 03/02/2025 18:35

Sorry for awkward title!

I never realised until a couple of years ago (I'm 52 😳) that at the ends of the tubes of foil, clingfilm etc, there are two little tabs you push in to "hold" the roll when you pulled it.

What other "things" can you teach this old dog?

OP posts:
Noparticularplacetogo · 04/02/2025 23:01

Yes, @DreamW3aver that's exactly it, I knew how to open multiple tabs in Word, Excel etc but for some reason, I didn't realise it was the same with Outlook, probably because I saw e-mail and calendar as different "things" rather than 2 docs or 2 spreadsheets, if you see what I mean.

E.g, in Word you just click "file" "new" or "open" to open another file that sits alongside the one that's already open. If you click "file" in Outlook it takes you into the management stuff, out of office etc.

LadySinfiaSnoop · 04/02/2025 23:24

I’m seventy soon but didn’t discover until I was in my late 30s that “going for the chop” as in a vasectomy didn’t actually mean a man was going to have his balls chopped off, just like dogs do when they go to the vets!!! I just assumed that the way the men I knew went on about it that they were literally having their testicles removed !!!

Runningoutofusernamestochange · 04/02/2025 23:27

Blue278 · 03/02/2025 19:13

The my oven door glass slides out for cleaning .
On the same theme. My windows pivot inwards for cleaning.
Probably because I only attempt either thing once a year.

Are these standard features?!
please tell me how!!!

AgileSloth · 04/02/2025 23:37

I'm 75 and I didn't know that about babies vests,mother of 5 and grandmother of 12. You learn something new every day..question...why would you want to remove a vest downwards ??

Snakebite61 · 04/02/2025 23:42

HarryVanderspeigle · 03/02/2025 19:02

I always knew that Ebenezer Good was about drugs, but not how. I was well into my 30's when I realised he is literally singing E's are good.

That's the most obvious thing ever!!! 🤣👍

DappledThings · 04/02/2025 23:42

AgileSloth · 04/02/2025 23:37

I'm 75 and I didn't know that about babies vests,mother of 5 and grandmother of 12. You learn something new every day..question...why would you want to remove a vest downwards ??

For the reason explained in at least three posts. So you can remove clothing covered in shit without needing to take it over the baby's face.

Wordsmithery · 05/02/2025 00:14

dramaaaalamaaaa · 03/02/2025 19:30

The tiny arrow on the petrol indicator level on your car telling which side it is on. Found that well into my 30s.

Supposedly yes, but not on my car :(

Toddlerhelpplease123 · 05/02/2025 00:20

That your supposed to put salt in a dishwasher 🤣

ForestAtTheSea · 05/02/2025 04:02

modgepodge · 03/02/2025 21:05

Except money is not spelt with a u, so I maintain it still makes no sense 😂

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https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/remunerable

"Medieval Latin remunerabilis, from Latin remunerare to reward + -abilis"

It's derived from a Latin word 🙂

Gemütlich81 · 05/02/2025 05:10

KetteringQueen · 03/02/2025 20:32

@PrincessofWells why would you want a directional spray on your kitchen tap?🤔

Why would you not?

useful for cleaning large pots, trays, corners of sink etc. Like a shower hose; you can wash areas which are harder to reach when under a fixed shower.

Gemütlich81 · 05/02/2025 05:13

ERthree · 03/02/2025 20:52

They have been for at least 30 years.

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Yes!! 😂 I was about to say the same

Gemütlich81 · 05/02/2025 05:21

HamandCheeseSandwich · 03/02/2025 22:12

In Italian
But we're speaking English. We don't use that term, we use cow for the female if distinguishing. So buffalo is correct, surely? Just like you'd say "goats cheese" not " Doe's cheese".

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?? It is an Italian word not an English word.

LisaD76 · 05/02/2025 07:18

But I like it chocolate side up and then push each bite on the roof of my mouth till it dissolves …. Each bite lasts longer so I don’t eat as many

dynamiccactus · 05/02/2025 07:53

DreamW3aver · 04/02/2025 22:01

When you started driving though it wouldn't have been a thing and it's not universal even now, didn't Top Gear do something on it, I have a very vague memory of that.

But as has already been pointed out it's not really that vital as pump hoses will reach either side, unless you're driving a van or huge car

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No, the extra long hose is a MN myth as well. I have seen extra long hoses, but they are labelled as extra long, so clearly the normal ones are not!

I actually found out about this on MN as well, and it does work for my cars, which don't have it on the same side.

DreamW3aver · 05/02/2025 08:12

dynamiccactus · 05/02/2025 07:53

No, the extra long hose is a MN myth as well. I have seen extra long hoses, but they are labelled as extra long, so clearly the normal ones are not!

I actually found out about this on MN as well, and it does work for my cars, which don't have it on the same side.

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Extra long hoses exist but aren't necessary for normal cars ,assuming you know how to stop at the pump a standard hose will easily reach. I had a large people carrier when my children were younger and never found a hose that wouldn't reach round the back

No one is saying the petrol sign isn't on your car, simply that t isn't on every car

tommyhoundmum · 05/02/2025 08:24

ChippySauce · 03/02/2025 18:35

Sorry for awkward title!

I never realised until a couple of years ago (I'm 52 😳) that at the ends of the tubes of foil, clingfilm etc, there are two little tabs you push in to "hold" the roll when you pulled it.

What other "things" can you teach this old dog?

I didn't even know that.

User543211 · 05/02/2025 08:29

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 04/02/2025 21:17

Tilt and turn windows are all very well if you don’t want windows really wide open sometimes, e.g. in summer.

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My tilt and turn window open very wide, they just open onwards. It means the window is sticking into the room but they do open all the way just the other direction! Are they not all like that?
If you only pull the handle half way up they only 'tilt' inwards but if you pull it all the way they fully swing open.
When we bought the house the previous owners raves about being able to clean the windows....I never done it 🙈

sashh · 05/02/2025 08:32

RosesAndHellebores · 03/02/2025 20:30

I've never remembered to look for the arrow pointing to the petrol cap. Perhaps, but why would anyone bother. Buy new car, clock which side the petrol cap is on. Pull up next to the pump. Even if you make a mistake, don't must petrol pumps have extra long hoses now?

Maybe you drive different cars eg a work car and your own. Some jobs involve driving multiple cars, repair garages, the police.

Things I did/do know that others didn't.

My mother was gobsmacked when I filled the coffee jug up with water, emptied it into the coffee machine and put the jug back in place to receive coffee.

Discussing with a friend routine poo test for cancer, I mentioned using toilet paper and then using the tiny screw bit on the paper. I don't know what my friend did, they were embarrassed w
enough to tell me they had not thought of that, but not what they did.

Peanuts grow underground.

And they are legumes not nuts.

Katiemole · 05/02/2025 09:12

I’ve not read the whole thread but finding out there an arrow on the fuel gauge in cars to say what side the cap is on

juless77 · 05/02/2025 10:21

YourSnugHazelTraybake · 03/02/2025 19:13

Yes, currently no photo uploads allowed due to a horrific overnight incident last night.

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What !!!!😥😥

squishee · 05/02/2025 11:08

mumda · 04/02/2025 08:40

They must have big road signs!

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They do. And are champions at Scrabble😁

squishee · 05/02/2025 11:13

Front seat headrests in cars are not fastened in. So that in case of emergency you can lift them off and use the two metal pointy post things to break the windows.

SuperGinger · 05/02/2025 11:17

ChippySauce · 03/02/2025 18:35

Sorry for awkward title!

I never realised until a couple of years ago (I'm 52 😳) that at the ends of the tubes of foil, clingfilm etc, there are two little tabs you push in to "hold" the roll when you pulled it.

What other "things" can you teach this old dog?

I did not know this, thanks op!

squishee · 05/02/2025 11:17

Gemütlich81 · 05/02/2025 05:10

Why would you not?

useful for cleaning large pots, trays, corners of sink etc. Like a shower hose; you can wash areas which are harder to reach when under a fixed shower.

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They are also good for filling buckets that are too tall for the kitchen tap.

squishee · 05/02/2025 11:40

JudgeJ · 03/02/2025 22:00

Surely you saw this topic discussed at length last year and the other years!

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Bingo cards at the ready...
Fuel cap side indicator, check.
Cling film and baking paper roll tabs, check.
Have I missed a revelation about capers not in fact being little fish?

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