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Strange things that give you a kind of "ick" in everyday life

1000 replies

CariahMary · 23/11/2025 16:39

I don't mean getting the "ick" about a sexual or romantic partner. And I don't mean being put-off by things that are actually pretty grim. I mean random things that you inexplicably find a bit off-putting in everyday life.

For me, I get a kind of "ick" when I read other people talking about food on forums MN I honestly had no idea why. It's so odd, I really like reading food descriptions in books but in forums I find it really off-putting.

In the real-world, I also really hate opening other people's fridges. They always smell weird (different from my own). I have to hold my breath.

OP posts:
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AngelinaFibres · 23/11/2025 22:41

People who say vis and vat instead of this and that. Makes my brain scream.

Lastfroginthebox · 23/11/2025 22:42

Sliders and men who wear them and even just the name 'sliders'. I don't think the word has ever passed my lips.

verybighouseinthecountry · 23/11/2025 22:47

Usage of certain words, especially 'boob' when it's repeatedly used wrt breastfeeding. "She wants the boob, so I boobed her to sleep, she's such a boob monster, all she wants is boob juice" 🤢

People who talk too much about their DC, giving very unnecessary prolonged details. A colleague does this all the time, I suspect about 95% of it isn't true anyway, but why the hell do you think I want to spend 55 minutes of my 1 hour lunch break listening to what your child said/did/ate for breakfast the day before.

A service user constantly referred to her baby as Wee Jonny. Gave me the major ick.

Don't like heating about people's sex life, especially gory details. I was on an antenatal ward in premature labour for weeks, and a number of women proudly announced to us that "my fella broke my waters" type of thing, implying he had a huge penis. It felt very performative and low brow.

I can't eat with anyone now, it just gives me the rage.

PigeonsandSquirrels · 23/11/2025 22:49

People eating during lectures. Even something small like fruit winds me up. Logically I know that people are just hungry and we have 2 hour lectures, but I just think… can’t you just wait? Why must you eat NOW where I can see and hear you? So gross to me.

Sheeppig · 23/11/2025 22:49

AngelinaFibres · 23/11/2025 22:41

People who say vis and vat instead of this and that. Makes my brain scream.

Oh yes! Also "likkle"instead of "little" unless they are 5 or have a lisp.

ChasbutnotDave · 23/11/2025 23:10

When people say "on the weekend" instead of "at the weekend", eg "We went to the cinema then the pub on the weekend". It just sounds wrong to me.

The adding of 'way' to words like drive, path, hall, it's making a word unnecessarily long.

House with decorations outside, like seasonal wreaths on the door, I just think it's sad how they'll get damaged by the wind and rain.

XenoBitch · 23/11/2025 23:35

Sheeppig · 23/11/2025 22:49

Oh yes! Also "likkle"instead of "little" unless they are 5 or have a lisp.

DP says "ickle", but he also says "cuggle" instead of cuddle, and "neegle" instead of needle. There was an AMA on Reddit by a speech therapist who explained why it happens.
He also has the same thing as Jonathon Ross (can't pronounce 'r').
He is in his 50s and I am not sure speech therapy was really a thing in the 70s, or if it was his parents never got him any help.

XenoBitch · 23/11/2025 23:36

When people order something in a cafe, and ask "Can I get....?".

Fionasapples · 24/11/2025 00:03

Hot and cold food on the same plate. I once went to a carvery and cold buffet. I saw a woman with a huge mound of hot carvery with a piece of cold quiche balanced on top and I was nearly sick at the sight. I've never been able to forget it. I'm not usually so dramatic!

Mistyglade · 24/11/2025 00:03

Asda.

Mistyglade · 24/11/2025 00:05

it makes me visualise soggy brown iceberg lettuce on horrible shelves with nasty sandwiches.

Fionasapples · 24/11/2025 00:08

TonicGinIceFruit · 23/11/2025 20:32

This is something that is actually pretty grim but I need to get it off my chest (sorry 😂)
My mother in law always announces when she’s “going on the toilet”
She even does it when we’re still sat at the table after eating…
It’s worse that she seems to think it’s perfectly normal, and almost like she’s doing us a favour letting us know 😅

I used to work with a man who did that, he would announce he was going to the toilet then estimate how long he'd be away, so 'I'm going on the toilet, I'll be around 20 minutes". It happened so often that people would notice him missing and ask if he'd gone for a poo.

Nerdynerdynerd · 24/11/2025 00:12

Men wearing shorts or hawaian shirts all year round as if its a personality trait

Food "smackers"

Smelling people's tapes because it makes me think I'm inhaling their breath

Lilaclane · 24/11/2025 00:46

I agree with the poster who complained about hand dryers being horribly loud - I find the sound unbearable. Plus those people using them usually take up unnecessary room in a crowded public loo when a hand flick - or two - would suffice!

Men who wear multiple rings on their fingers creeps me out. I say nothing about a wedding band, but I'm not a fan of index/thumb rings on anyone. For some reason I find this look particularly unpleasant on men. It gives the impression of middle-aged rock band/spiritual fuck boy.

People who use too many (in my opinion, of course) emojis and exclamation marks in writing, especially over WhatsApp. It leads me to think I'd find them insufferable in person.

Great thread - glad to see I'm not the only hand drier hater!

Funnywonder · 24/11/2025 01:18

People bolting their food down. DP does this, as if someone is going to snatch it away. And if there’s communal food in the middle of the table, he kind of lunges at it and grabs it, even when everyone else has finished and there’s no more competition😅 He grew up in a house with plenty of everything, so it’s not some leftover behaviour from a deprived childhood. I have to distract myself because it makes me so jittery and uncomfortable.

localbutterfly · 24/11/2025 01:22

People who flick their very long hair over the back of the seat on a train, bus, or airplane. It's judgy because I have long hair but am conscious and careful not to do that (and everyone should be like me, right?) Even if the hair is clean, I still don't want it in my face.

FatalCattraction · 24/11/2025 01:34

Men with long fingernails - makes me heave.

Notthehill · 24/11/2025 01:40

The word enjoy.

somedogsdo · 24/11/2025 01:50

Blue Christmas lights - especially if they’re flashing (I think it’s because they make me think of ambulances).

People filing nails with emery boards (inc myself - I don’t though as I hate it)

coxesorangepippin · 24/11/2025 01:54

Adults eating ice creams walking around shopping xentres

coxesorangepippin · 24/11/2025 01:55

Small children who have tons of friendship bracelets around their wrists too

coxesorangepippin · 24/11/2025 01:56

😂 at the 'feeble' hairdresser/ feeble stroking

thankgoditssaturday · 24/11/2025 02:30

Uncooked whites of eggs
Wooden forks or spoons- can’t bear to use them
Colleagues at work that talk loudly so that everyone can hear how ‘busy’ they are.
Colleagues at work that hurry down corridors to look like they are really busy ( literally no need to rush anywhere in my job)
Joggers that have no intention of giving way or shifting from their pathway.
Cutlery put away after dishwasher with food on
People in bare feet on airlines and if they raise their bare feet it’s 🤮
People who pick hairs off me ( I’ve silver hair). I actually want to punch them in the face but haven’t yet. I might do when I get to 60.
Long gel nails. They look cheap as hell but they think they are classy.

AnotherNameChange2025 · 24/11/2025 03:15

Baked beans.
It’s almost a phobia and I banned them from the house after seeing the remnants on plates in the dishwasher, the smell, stained Tupperware and tins in the recycling.
Just seeing a tin on a supermarket shelf makes me shudder.

The words “snack” and “supper” I heard someone say “cold sups” once and it still annoys me years later.

Wet towels - especially used by someone else 🤢.

People sharing desserts in a restaurant, it’s worse when it’s ice cream.
I had to leave the table watching two friends putting their spoons in their mouths then back into the bowl.
I agree with the pp about people using spoons as well unless for soup or ice cream.

On the same theme, people walking round licking an ice cream.

Sticky children, all small children always seem grubby and sticky and if they approach for a hug I feel panicky.

Small children shouting when they need their bums wiped when I visit friends.

Other people’s house smells when they have been cooking - especially something greasy. I’m so glad the trend for deep fat dryers and chip pans has gone.

Cat litter trays, even when clean.

Prawn crackers - I have left a restaurant before when people were eating during a group meal. All I could hear was crunching in stereo and the way people were grabbing at them in the communal dish made me feel sick.
Also the word “meal”.

Unmade beds, just makes me picture the sweat and stains and the thought of people farting all night. The sight of the cover all rumpled makes me think it’s all open to the air and the smells are all “released”.

Hair on the hairdressers floor and people scratching their heads in public.

Untidy cars.
My best friend has a bin in her car she rarely empties with no lid.
It’s full of empty food containers and her car stinks of McDonalds fries.

People on the radio, podcasts or audiobooks with dry mouths where you can hear it.
I was listening to a brilliant Dorothy Koomson book and had to turn it off because of this. I noticed lots of people mentioned it in the reviews as well.

Women who laugh loudly and performatively in public.

Women with put on high pitched voices or who talk in a fake baby voice.

That voice influencers and people on YouTube use - the “Heyyyyyy guyyyyys” and then over
annunciate their words.
Molly Mae on the persil advert is a good example and annoyed me so much I started a thread about it 😂.

Food in cinemas and theatres - especially when shared.
I don’t know how people can hear over their own crunching and it’s almost like some people just go to eat.
The thought of multiple unwashed hands in a popcorn bucket makes my skin crawl.

People who say they are “nipping” somewhere like “nipping to the shops” or car.

I am neurodivergent and struggle through life with being so easily irritated.
Loop earplugs help with sounds but I’ve loved reading this thread and seeing so many of the things that really bother me listed, it’s made me feel less alone!

AnotherNameChange2025 · 24/11/2025 03:20

coxesorangepippin · 24/11/2025 01:55

Small children who have tons of friendship bracelets around their wrists too

This is quite a niche one but it really bothers me too, especially when they are frayed and dirty.

My niece had them right up her arm and they must have been colourful at one time but they were grey and filthy.

I’m glad it’s not just me who is bothered by it. I used to hate it when she put her arms round me.

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