for my heart to sink every time I read the following phrases:

[EvilEyeButterPie]

"I'm not racist but..." (bound to be followed by outrageous racism)

"Political correctness gone mad!" (will be followed by either something totally made up or exaggerated, or totally reasonable, eg selling Eid cards in shops)

Any mention of human rights in any kind of rightwing outlet. As if rights for humans is some kind of controversy.

"The university of life" this is only ever used by people too thick to go to university.

Any more for any more? :o

Ah, that is a shame for your mum thumbwitch. I often think about women from previous generations who were smart but had no opportunity to pursue formal education and how unfair it. It must have been hard for her to have been looked down upon because of it.

I still hate the term "University of Life" though - it just seems so defensive. I hate the way it seems to devalue the life experience of people with university degrees when, as in your mother's case, they may actual value education but haven't had the formal opportunity.

There is a difference between "too thick to go to university" and "didn't go to university". IME, it is the former who splutter and mutter about university not being worth it.

I wasn't too think. I was too lazy. :o

Argh, maybe I was. Too THICK.

My MIL is honestly one of the cleverest people I have ever met - she got straight As at A level and was offered a scholarship to Cambridge, which she had to turn down, because her family needed her working.

She eventually got her degree (and postgrad) at night school, as she was lucky enough to be in a financial position to do that after she had her children, yet even before that she wasn't defensive about uni - she just shrugged her shoulders. After she had her qualifications, she worked as a librarian and often saw students - she supported them and desperately wanted her sons to get degrees. (one at least went to uni and dropped out, the other didn't)

Life sometimes deals cruel hands, it is rubbish and we should do everything we can to make things fairer. There is still no need to go around belittling people who do have what you want though.

I agree, evileye

Another vote for 'rod for your own back' - effing hate that and yes, it only ever comes out of the mouth of in-laws.
Real meaning - 'you are totally shite at child rearing'.

LOTF - out of the mouths of smuggers too who had their DC way before you and who give you condescending looks when you say how you are planning to do things/doing things. IME.

very confused about why smuggLers were apt to use that phrase. Must wear glasses.

People who say "myself" instead of "me/I." I cannot bear it.

oh yes fairy cake - or ditto for sales/sevice people etc. who ask what they can do for yourself today - it's YOU, you blithering idiots!

Also a vote for "No offense but..." Always used by my DSS before he tells me I look fat, his mums food is better, etc.

"I have a problem." Used by my best friends cheating shmuck ex to explain why he was simply too selfish to keep it in his pants.

oh yes - using "myself" instead of "me" because they think it sounds smarter or more professional. Bugs me too.