My son's reaction to the phrase "picky bits".

[SquirrelsAreGo]

My son is having a weekend of birthday moments ahead of the day on Tuesday. He is turning 17, and we've been teasing him about how he needs to know the dark side of being an adult (for some context, he is ND, funny, and plays along beautifully, adding his own roasts about how his older brother not adulting properly). He really enjoys word play, and learning British phrases that haven't made it to Oz where we now live.

We were discussing what he wanted for lunch, making suggestions for picnic type foods. At the time I was grasping for the word "picnic" so said "if we were in the UK, some people would describe them as 'picky bits'. He looked me straight in the eye and said " Why? Why would you do that to me? Is this what comes with being an adult?? Gdammit!"

Fascinating that, even without me giving any idea of how I feel about the phrase, his reaction was the same as mine. I sat him down and explained that this is what we meant by having to get used to the adult world, and that I was sorry we had to ramp it up so hard, but we only had until Tuesday to get him educated.

And then I remembered the word picnic and the world tilted back onto its axis.

Sounds like a sweet kid

But everyone thinks that phrase is awful. It sounds like a buffet of toe jam, earwax and pus.

He is. I really worry about what's going to happen for him in the future, but while we're here, he's doing pretty well

Ok. Well he's never heard it before, had no social context, or access to the M&S food hall. I thought it was amusing, but mostly interesting that he had such a strong reaction to it out of the blue.

Someone at M&S really likes picky bits. She seems to be trolling MN.

There's even a special range of tableware:

https://www.marksandspencer.com/set-of-2-picky-bits-small-handle-plates/p/hbp61227904?intid=mobile_app_pdp_share

I didn't know other people disliked it too, it has always sounded grim to me

Hideous phrase; makes me feel nauseous when I hear it.

Can’t stand it either - dreadful!

I really don’t like that expression either. It’s not a phrase that should be associated with food!

I've made it to mid fifties without hearing / seeing this phrase. Unsee. Unsee!

I hate it, see also “hubby”.

Off topic… is turning 17 a bigger deal in Australia? You’re making it sound like his 18th. No criticism just wondering if it’s a big thing over there.

I hate it. DH family call it a choose tea. Much prefer that

Now might be a good time to post a link to one of my favourite ever MN threads.

To want to go to Markies for picky bits | Mumsnet

It had everything and was like someone had asked ChatGPT to write a thread that would cause the greatest outrage on MN, before LLMs were even invented, or at least on most people's radar.

Picky bits, Markies, class snobbery and to top it all off, it was from the early 2021 Covid lockdown, so arguments about whether browsing nice food at M&S was essential grocery shopping or a superfluous outing that would put lives at risk.

Not sure if it’s more a northern thing maybe. I only really started hearing it when I moved North I don’t mind it doesn’t offend me at all and now I’ll use it! Not sure when M&S started advertising like that not sure if it’s linked to Jordon North as he does their adverts and calls it a picky tea

I'm with him. Picky bits is such a revolting phrase 🤢

Mind you, we called it "horses doovers" as kids which is barely better

Picky bits 🤮

It’s dreadful. My mother also uses the phrase “salady bits” which is almost as bad.

Also off topic but I also hate the "D" affix people use on Mumsnet.

Why is every spouse, child, even dog to some posters "dear".

Particularly jarring when they are talking about what shits they are.

Picky bits from a picked nose. And supermarkets.

I hate this phrase. Does anyone —apart from my sister— like it?

We call it a picnic. I might add ‘indoor’ if that’s where it’s to be eaten.

There’s a woman on Facebook I follow who puts together beautiful platters of food for her family but calls them picky bits! I think she even has a book on Amazon with that title

I blame Jordan North 😀

Your son sounds great and I remember having a similar reaction when I first heard the term (American).

Some anecdotes are best saved for the family group chat.

I guess you had to be there....