To say knackered to my 2.5 year old dd?

[callmewhatever]

I generally say to my dd "you're knackered". But my dw has reprimanded me on numerous occasions stating that it's rude for a 2 year old to be saying this (she has said it before when she's been tired). I just assumed it was a normal turn of phrase but apparently I am wrong. So mn jury can we put it to you?

I don't class knackered as swearing its just not something I want my kids saying when they're little.

I say it to my kids all the time but I've told them they aren't allowed to say it.

So why do you? (genuinely interested). Surely if you don't want children copying what you say you don't say those words in front of them?

I don't think it's rude it's just not nice to hear from a child, I wouldn't have liked my dc's to say it when they were little or even now as young teens tbh. Having said that I also didn't like them to say bum instead of bottom, belly in stead of tummy, toilet instead of loo or ta instead of thank you. You'd probably say I'm being a snob.

I remember my dad throwing me the look if I ever said it when I was younger. I say it now as do my teenage sons, just not in front of younger children.

Origin

late 16th century (originally denoting a harness-maker, then a slaughterer of horses): possibly from obsolete knack 'trinket'. The word also had the sense 'old worn-out horse' (late 18th century). sense 2 of the noun may be from dialect knacker 'castanet', from obsolete knack 'make a sharp abrupt noise', of imitative origin. It is unclear whether the verb represents a figurative use of ‘slaughter’, from sense 1 of the noun, or of ‘castrate’, from sense 2 of the noun.

This is from the Oxford English Dictionary.

Wouldn't occur to me that there was anything wrong with it. But I am from NZ and I think we can be a bit more rough and ready! I remember being v surprised that people were taken aback at my use of "buggered" in my London office environment, which in NZ is a v mild slang term that you would hear a grandad use (for tired or broken).

Just don't say it to any travellers/gipsies as knackers is an offensive term to them.

Just don't say it to any travellers/gipsies as knackers is an offensive term to them.

Why is that?

I don't class it as swearing but it doesn't sound right when young kids say it. Just like 'bugger off' isn't swearing but its not a nice thing to say if that makes sense.

I know I'm a hypocrite in that I swear but don't want my kids swearing. Just like I was raised around language that would make Brian Blessed blush but I'd have been in big trouble for repeating it in my mum's hearing.

Sexually exhausted I have never heard that interpretation before.

Gennz people were shocked at you saying buggered?! How odd, you must have worked somewhere very prim and proper. I'm a life long Londoner and therefore have always worked in London, mainly in offices, I think only time I've ever seen raised eyebrows was over the use of cunt.

Sexually exhaustedshock I have never heard that interpretation before.

Nor me, or at least not before joining mn. There has been more than one thread on this subject.

Because travellers/gipsies, especially in Ireland were referred to as knackers in a demeaning derogatory way so now that the traveller/ gipsie community is becoming more widespred someone unwittingly using knacker/knackered could end up with some very icy stares.

I think its fine.

Wow nice to see a range of different views. I suppose I better stop saying it to her whilst she's young. Sorry if this is a recurring topic on mn, not came across one before

StillFriggin I didn't know that. They were referred to as "tinkers" where I came from. I also didn't know that the traveller community is becoming more widespread.

Sorry if this is a recurring topic on mn, not came across one before Why be sorry. We're not supposed to look at Mumsnet every day are we?

No reason why you should know this callmewhatever, so no need to apologise. It's probably much more worrying that I have been on other knachered threads.

I use it
I use it in front of the children, why not?
It's to do with old horses going off to the knackers yard

Nothing to do with sex where on earth has that come from? And when?

I think it's not considered "polite" - it's slangy.

Not like bugger at all which although used lots around here does actually mean anal sex, so you could understand why some people would consider it a bit much.

But knackered? Nope, just horses. I thought people who didn't like it was because it was coarse / slang / vulgar etc.

Not shocked Mamapain but one or two people were a bit nonplussed - DH worked in a City law firm and definitely got a purse-lipped reaction to saying "buggered if I know".

Cunt is bandied around with impunity in my current workplace!!

I tell DH off for this. It's slang/vulgar as Seven says, and I don't want DD picking it up. Lots of words sounds OK when adults say them but don't sound nice when spoken by children.

My dad always used to tell me off for saying knackered as well, I'm not sure what's supposed to be offensive about it?

The company Dh works for was used by Pavee Point (A travellers rights and advocacy organisation) a couple of years ago and one of the main topics was integration of travellers. All over Europe, US Austrailia. Tinker is also a word that has become derogatory.

I say it all the time and if my mom hears me do it she will tell me off and tell me not to use 'that word' around her

I'm 30 and she is 54 ??