Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to find the word 'cuppa' REALLY IRRITATING?

516 replies

BlancheDuBois2 · 24/10/2016 17:49

Ok, so I'm definitely overreacting here, but whenever anyone asks me if I want a 'cuppa' I cringe inside. What's wrong with using real words? Like tea? Or Coffee? Or cup of?

I'm aware that people as grumpy as this don't usually get asked if they'd like a drink of any description, so I should count myself lucky that some people in my office still like me - but everytime anyone utters the word, I want to wince.

I don't know what hideous childhood 'cuppa' experience has scarred me to this extent - but am I alone? Does anyone else want to cause harm to a colleague when they're just being perfectly friendly and offering to make me a tea/coffee.

Having re read this, I almost want to award myself a Biscuit for being such a twat. I should probably just go home and have some Wine, shouldn't I?

OP posts:
SlottedSpoon · 26/10/2016 22:13

'Years ago, was asked by (otherwise sane) extremely posh neighbour to "tootle on round for kitchen sups"

'I lost all ability to answer, such was the level of inner hysteria.'

I think I love you.

OnceMoreIntoTheBleach · 26/10/2016 22:16

I say nana. So sue me. To me, this is way preferred to nanny, granny, grad am or any other. Also to the 'Nana' and others involved.

Snobbery I can't abide.

Words are just words. If you judge people for their dialect I think that's pretty poor.

OnceMoreIntoTheBleach · 26/10/2016 22:17

Where I'm from, we also use 'mom'. And no, not an Americanism

venusinscorpio · 26/10/2016 22:23

Oh yes, lollipop. I had forgotten (mercifully) that it was also used like that.

Goddessoftheduvet · 26/10/2016 22:25

My Mum used to say 'pass me a magga'- the red mist used to descend every time. How hard is it to say magazine?!!

brotherphil · 26/10/2016 22:26

And there was me getting called all sophisticated for reading the Spectator on the bus. I love a cuppa rosie, but I am an Essex boy, so maybe I've got an excuse.

TroysMammy · 26/10/2016 22:34

Hate the words tummy, peckish and and one girl is work always says "I'm going to the ladies". I told her today she is the only woman I know who says that.

My DP also says "gurt lush". He knows it makes me take a sharp intake of breath and when he is being particularly annoying he says "I'm peckish. I could do with something gurt lush in my tummy". Bastard.

Ifeelsuchafool · 26/10/2016 23:01

I use, "brew" in the workplace because my workmates think I'm stuck up enough as it is and I don't wish to antagonise them further. Besides, like the British workers who use the word, it's honest, down to earth and unpretentious. "Cuppa", "hubby" and "holllybobs" are so twee and pretentious the make my teeth itch!

nannieann · 27/10/2016 00:33

"Grub" meaning food makes me cringe. Grub has dirty associations as in grubby. Food needs to be clean. Don't like Hubby either as it rhymes with grubby.

nannieann · 27/10/2016 00:46

I don't like "going forward" used when they just mean "in the future". I know we are supposedly living in a space-time continuum but I'm not ready for mixing up space and time like this yet.
I don't know what "stabby" means. Can someone explain please?
As others have said, "brew" is just normal language up north.

KoalaDownUnder · 27/10/2016 01:19

Except it is a "rule" not a a "ruler" but that is according to 1950's public school education. It probably does sound odd to those with a less fortunate educational grounding.ahem.

It's really not.

You can say 'rule' if you want to, but it doesn't make 'ruler' wrong, even if you went to bloody Hogwarts.

Maybe have a look at a dictionary.

SenecaFalls · 27/10/2016 01:32

Grin at Hogwarts

In the US, the foot long thing you use to make lines straight is a ruler. The long folding thing that carpenters use is a rule. No idea why.

FurryLittleTwerp · 27/10/2016 07:39

Appecarts hadn't thought of "mashing" being a brewing term but yes, it is - makes more sense now Smile

SarfEast1cated · 27/10/2016 08:10

So, I just have to say that the 'Nana' thing is actually pretty hurtful. Whether some of you find it 'grating' or 'whingey' it is a still the name that lots of us associate with a very loved member of our (and our children's) lives.

Lollipopgirls · 27/10/2016 10:11

I think Nana/Nanna is cute. It's a cosy name! All the Nanna's I have ever met have been lovely.

Nan, on the other hand... it doesn't annoy me at all but I definitely prefer Nanna.

MitzyLeFrouf · 27/10/2016 10:16

But Sarf it's a thread for words that people hate. And lots of people hate the word nana. You yourself mentioned 'hubby'. Maybe you're hurting the feelings of people who use that word?

PoppyBirdOnAWire · 27/10/2016 10:16

Have noticed "stabby" and "gives me the rage" used on these fora. Neither is very impressive.

PoppyBirdOnAWire · 27/10/2016 10:17

Granny is fine or grandmother. The other versions are awful especially the very twee "nana". Ugh

ItGoesWithoutSaying · 27/10/2016 10:53

Have we had "cossie" for "costume" yet? As in "get the DC's to bring their swimming cossies". Just say costume.

Also "like" when totally unnecessary. DD: "Are we having like chips for tea?" No we're having actual chips, not something like them, for tea. Does my head in.

There's someone I work with who automatically refers to the female partner of anyone as their "Missus". He's an equal opportunities idiot, to be fair, as any male partner is automatically their "Old Man" (even if said boyfriend is barely out of his teens). One day, yes one day, I will snap and punch him.

bottleofredplease · 27/10/2016 11:59

Nana is fine Smile. When people say noos instead of nyoos for news. Does that make sense?

Applecarts · 27/10/2016 12:04

So, I just have to say that the 'Nana' thing is actually pretty hurtful. Whether some of you find it 'grating' or 'whingey' it is a still the name that lots of us associate with a very loved member of our (and our children's) lives.

Honestly, Sarf, that's like clicking on a thread on the Baby Names forum and being devastated that a lot of people are vocal about their dislike of what your adored nine year old is called. They're not actually disliking your lovely little Persephone/Nevaeh/Ellie-Mae or your lovely grandmother, and it doesn't take anything away from them, or you. That's just the whole 'different people think different things and have different associations with the same things' phenomenon.

Not from the UK, and while 'cossie' ia awful, I actually find 'swimming costume' hilariously grandiose, too. (We say 'swimsuit'.) Swimming costume suggests to me something kind of pantomime-damey with lots of ruffles and bows, and probably a frilly mob cap topping the lot, like a 'saucy' postcard.

LikeDylanInTheMovies · 27/10/2016 12:07

Fred you pronounce it nyoos? I've never heard that from a British English speaker. Nyooz to rhyme with cues

Applecarts · 27/10/2016 12:07

When people say noos instead of nyoos for news.

That's neutrally accent-/dialect-specific for me, tbh.

Did someone already say 'fell pregnant'? What about an expression I've actually never heard anyone say in real life, but have come across in novels set in this country - using 'the other' or 'a bit of the other' for sex? Does anyone actually say that any more?

squoosh · 27/10/2016 12:11

'Bathing costume' is even better. I imagine pale and plump Victorian maidens gingerly emerging from the striped canvas of one of those little sea huts on wheel while mustachioed gentlemen in pantaloons try and catch sight of a bit of ankle.

Soozikinzi · 27/10/2016 12:17

YANBU About cuppa I get told off for always saying cup of tea in full.But brew is ok by me ,but I am northern xx