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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Need reasonable expressions of surprise and curse words

120 replies

FinallyFreeFromItAll · 15/03/2016 10:31

I keep finding myself saying "oh my god" as an expression of surprise. I know IABU with this as it even irritates me! I blame too much Americanised TV. However the more I try to change it the dafter all the other options seem to sound.

So AIBU to ask you all to please help me by sharing what word you most commonly use as an expression of surprise?

I'd also be very interested in your "child friendly" curse words. At the moment I'm saying "oh fiddlesticks" but feel slightly daft.

OP posts:
CoteDAzur · 15/03/2016 10:33

"I'm saying "oh fiddlesticks" but feel slightly daft."

You don't say Grin

SummerTimeSoon · 15/03/2016 10:35

Ive been irritating myself since Ds was born last year, saying 'cheese and crackers' instead of Jesus Christ and 'what the frick 'n frack' instead of what the fuck...there loads are more, I don't know what's wrong with me, it's embarrassing when they slip out in front of other people Blush

AdrenalineFudge · 15/03/2016 10:37

"Ye gads!"
"Crikey!"

Grin
SummerTimeSoon · 15/03/2016 10:37

And instead of oh my god I say 'OMGEEEE' ...I'm so annoying

Cabawill · 15/03/2016 10:37

We use Oh My Gosh and instead of my usual "shit" I say "sugar"

SoupDragon · 15/03/2016 10:38

My mother uses "fish hooks" which seemed perfectly reasonable when I was a child but now, with adult eyes, seems absolutely bonkers.

I tend to go with "oh... Poopy parpy pants" which is equally bonkers, or "oh for... Sake" with a significant pause.

KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 15/03/2016 10:38

Child friendly? Lost me there.

My current favourite is, "That's the balls!"

It's a grown up version of "Totes Amazeballs!"

ToastyFingers · 15/03/2016 10:41

My child friendly exasperated curse is usually "for goodness sake"
I substitute goodness with fuck for after bedtime obviously.

People who'd usually get called wankers are 'silly billies'

When I'm surprised I usually just say 'oh, wow' so I'm not much help there.

BillSykesDog · 15/03/2016 10:41

Blimey.

CruCru · 15/03/2016 10:42

Gosh.

IBelieveInPink · 15/03/2016 10:42

I've switched to 'oh goodness'.

Still working on the others and need to come up with something soon as dd is an actual sponge at the moment.

CaitSith · 15/03/2016 10:45

We're big fans of "Gordon Bennett!" in our house. So much so that 3 year old DS now uses it too Grin

VoldysGoneMouldy · 15/03/2016 10:47

"Sugar honey ice tea" - normally for when I've dropped something (happens a lot...) and am trying not to swear.

"Merlin's pants" - thank you JKR for that one.

"Poxy" anything. Normally muttered under my breath and exclaimed loudly.

TheWitTank · 15/03/2016 10:48

Just don't do a me and screech 'fuck my life!!!' when in a professional situation at work. To be fair, someone surprised me by walking around a corner at the same time as I was and made me jump and it just popped out, but I was Blush and boss was not impressed uptight. I'm listening eagerly for new, unsweary ones!

Astrophe · 15/03/2016 10:51

Flipping Ada!
My giddy aunt!
Holy cow!
Crumbs!

FinallyFreeFromItAll · 15/03/2016 10:53

Still working on the others and need to come up with something soon as dd is an actual sponge at the moment.

This is the problem I'm having. DS won't stop saying Jheeeeezus because I went to say jesus christ, then tried to stop myself and came out with something that sounded like a mix of Jesus and cheese! I only said it once and now he comes out with it multiple times a day.

OP posts:
Astrophe · 15/03/2016 10:54

DH says bollocks, which I thought was ok until DC started saying it...now it seems less ok

doughnutslikefannys · 15/03/2016 10:55

I've recently being saying "Jiminy Christmas!" at work and I have no idea where it came from. I don't have kids and am free to swear as much as I like Grin

murphys · 15/03/2016 10:55

Well now that the dc are teenagers, at home its:

Arsehole! (referring to myself if/when I drop something)
What an arse
Arsewipe
FFS - sometime said in full, sometimes abbreviated
WTF - Ditto

If I am really trying to be polite (ie we have company) its usually:

Flaming this
Flaming that
Fecking
Farking

You get the gist Wink

Customers or clients:

Oh my gosh.
Goodness
Oh dear.

Grin
doughnutslikefannys · 15/03/2016 10:55

recently BEEN*

FinallyFreeFromItAll · 15/03/2016 10:56

My giddy aunt!

Grin I quite like that actually.

OP posts:
Narnia72 · 15/03/2016 10:59

My child friendly ones are

Holy Moly
Oh My Words
For Goodness' Sake

Necessitated after DC1 repeated some less child friendly phrases I'd used whilst driving.

I often think I sound like Mary bleedin' Poppins ;-)

Myfanwyprice · 15/03/2016 11:06

I really need alternatives to bloody and bugger - which I know aren't the worst swear words in the world, but I say them all the time and ds in particular really picks up on it - it's a bit embarrassing when your 9 year old tells you to mind your language!

A couple of weeks ago ds said to me that dd (6) had sworn at him; I said to her that I hoped she hadn't, she replied "well he is a bloody idiot!" Blush

acasualobserver · 15/03/2016 11:07

Kinelle is useful.

Astrophe · 15/03/2016 11:08

I often use 'goat' or 'goose' as an insult eg when driving.
I do love 'arsehat' and the delightful Irish 'gobshite', though one cannot really pretend they are family friendly.

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