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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate the word ‘pop’?

118 replies

dinosaurglitterrepublic · 11/12/2018 06:57

I have no problem with a balloon going pop or pop music. It is the use of pop in place of another word that irritates me. So to pop something in the post, pop yourself down, pop along to a place etc.

I am fully prepared for many people to wonder why I care (it’s just one of those things I can’t explain) and that IABU especially as I see it regularly used on here. Perhaps I am hoping to find a like minded spirit!

OP posts:
Notevenmyrealname · 11/12/2018 07:38

Hisaishi

I hate “fur babies” - now that is twee.

anotherdayanotherhurdle · 11/12/2018 07:42

Ooh I love it, I used to say to the children I taught 'if you just pop that on my desk' and then sometimes a child would say to me 'shall I just pop this on your desk' 😂 sounded so cute!

Original poster
dinosaurglitterrepublic · 11/12/2018 07:45

So how do you distinguish between “popped out”, “out” and “out out”? Only these are the best things ever to describe levels of being out. And you know it! 😉

Oh sorry, I get what you mean now... I thought you were suggesting my dislike stemmed from an inability to understand a sentence with pop used instead of a real word. I was a bit confused, but it turns out I really do have an inability to understand a sentence with pop in it after all 😂

Hmm, tricky one. I do see your point here, but I think the level of being out can still be accurately captured by ‘going out’ and going ‘out out’- these are the two main levels after all. One can just go out quickly or briefly instead of popping if necessary. There are ways of solving it without resorting to pop!

OP posts:
WereYouHareWhenIWasFox · 11/12/2018 07:48

I just don’t hear the briefness in your words. 😂 I love pop. And I think you are softening. 😉

Original poster
dinosaurglitterrepublic · 11/12/2018 07:48

An illustrative anecdote- I recall that once at a Dr. appointment when they requested a urine sample I was advised to pop myself off to the toilet to spend a penny and pop the container somewhere after. It was too much to bear.

OP posts:
museumum · 11/12/2018 07:48

What about nip? Is that just Scotland? I nip to the shop.

Thisonewilldo · 11/12/2018 07:49

I also hate it! DH des it to wind me up and it sets my teeth on edge!

Same with 'bits' and also 'stocked up' like 'oh bleach was on offer so I stocked up' - how many did you buy???

WereYouHareWhenIWasFox · 11/12/2018 07:50

Oh I nip too. I nip and I pop. Both useful.

Original poster
dinosaurglitterrepublic · 11/12/2018 07:53

I think you are softening

Never. I still hate it. I may be reluctantly conceding that in a specific instance the use of the word may serve a purpose by implying a passage of time rather than be an entirely twee and arbitrary replacement. I cannot emphasise ‘reluctantly’enough 😂

OP posts:
Hisaishi · 11/12/2018 07:54

"pop myself off to the toilet to spend a penny and pop the container somewhere after. It was too much to bear."

GOD.

I remember when I was about 10 or so and I had to do a urine test and the doctor asked if I would be able to 'pass some water' into the cup.

Being 10, I had no idea what he meant. I thought he wanted me to fill the cup with water.

Just say 'pee into the cup and then give the cup to the receptionist' or whatever.

WereYouHareWhenIWasFox · 11/12/2018 07:55

Oh dinosaur! You will be popping with the rest of us before the year is out! 😘

BaffledMcBaffled · 11/12/2018 07:55

I always associate it with vaguely undignified antenatal/gynae medical appointments, i.e. pop your trousers on the chair, pop yourself on the table, pop your legs in the stirrups, I’m just going to pop this wand blah blah blah. Shudder.

Do men get ‘popped’ at prostate exams etc or do they get dignified solemnity?

Original poster
dinosaurglitterrepublic · 11/12/2018 08:05

Do men get ‘popped’ at prostate exams etc or do they get dignified solemnity?

That’s a good question! Maybe men are deemed sufficiently adult and worldly to deal with the real words?!

OP posts:
MintGreen · 11/12/2018 08:08

Glad I'm not the only one that nips instead of pops.

Original poster
dinosaurglitterrepublic · 11/12/2018 08:10

*I remember when I was about 10 or so and I had to do a urine test and the doctor asked if I would be able to 'pass some water' into the cup.

Being 10, I had no idea what he meant. I thought he wanted me to fill the cup with water.

Just say 'pee into the cup and then give the cup to the receptionist' or whatever.*

I have a male friend who recounted a tale of a similar experience (at a much older age) where he was given a cup with no instructions as to what to deposit in it. He guessed wrong and provided the wrong type of sample. He was very sweet and it was such an innocent mistake.

I wonder if they have a special lecture in the medicine curriculum dedicated to woefully euphemistic language or it’s just something they pick up on the job.

OP posts:
Osirus · 11/12/2018 08:14

I hate it too and I can’t bring myself to use it. I cringe when other people do.

Greyeye · 11/12/2018 08:19

I hate it too. Had a maddening boyfriend who used it all the time. He also said "Hmm HMM!" all the time.

I hate it used in this context - "Eyeshadow to really make your look pop!"

ChilliMum · 11/12/2018 08:29

Pop means fart in my house so popped to the shop conjures images for my children of being propelled to the supermarket by the power of farts and much hilarity Grin

'A drop of tea' does it for me as in 'would you like a drop of tea?' 'No I'd like a bloody full cup of tea actually'.

Buggeritimgettingup · 11/12/2018 08:29

Pop? I just drink it!

MysteriesOfTheOrganism · 11/12/2018 08:31

YABU - VU! 'Pop' is a really useful verb, suggesting a fast, brief and casual action.

You might say "I am going to the shops; I'm only planning a quick visit and won't be out for long." But, honestly, "I'm popping to the shops is far easier!

"I need to wash something quickly, so am loading the washing machine. I don't intend to sort all through the linen basket and take a look around for anything else that needs washing. If you need something washing quickly let me know right now - with no faffing about."

There is no way I'm saying that - "I'm popping some laundry in" communicates it very well. Grin

Ohyesiam · 11/12/2018 08:33

I once knew a student nurse who would say in a really patronising voice that she was going to
“ just pop you on the bedpan, pop your pjs on, pop you on the chair , then I’ll pop off and do your physio follow up. Alriiiiiight?”
We all cringed till we were almost inside out.

Theoryofmould · 11/12/2018 08:35

I nip and pop all over the shop and I pop items in lots of places. The only pops I can’t stand are pop for fart, pop of colour and fizzy pop.

HappyEverIftar · 11/12/2018 08:36

I use pop when referring to fizzy drinks, thought everyone did. Except they don't. I've been pulled up on it so much recently. I'm still going to use it Grin

BitOutOfPractice · 11/12/2018 08:36

I have a friend that shoots everywhere "I'm shooting to the shops" etc. Could that be an alternative to popping?

fadehead · 11/12/2018 08:36

I nip. I didn’t realise I nipped until this thread made me think about it Grin ‘I’ll nip to the shop in a minute now’ is probably one of my most used phrases Blush

I despise ‘pop’ in the colour / makeup context though .

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