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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be ridiculously annoyed by articulate adults saying ‘my bad’

73 replies

TheHorseOnSeventhAvenue · 27/03/2019 20:08

Why is this suddenly everywhere. You are an articulate adult with full command of the English language - you can either say my mistake or sorry I was wrong.

Especially annoying in professional people in a work environment. Grow up!

OP posts:
Dapplegrey · 27/03/2019 20:57

I’m always a bit behind on slang and language changes, but when did ‘reach out’ take over from ‘get in touch?

DrunkenUnicorn · 27/03/2019 21:06

My thirty year old brother says this. It drives me bonkers!

As someone else said, grow up and say sorry/I’ve made a mistake! It’s makes him sound like he’s 13 and avoiding apologising!

starsurge · 27/03/2019 21:09

With the exception of professional environments, I completely disagree with any form of language discrimination. Almost everyone is capable of code-switching, so really, what's the harm in me wanting to switch things up a bit in informal settings?

honeylulu · 27/03/2019 21:14

It's a bit like mea culpa/ I am culpable but not actually apologising, which is different.
Similar to other old English sayings (gotten) it fell out of use (see pp Shakespeare reference) and was later reclaimed as an Americanism.

windysowindy · 27/03/2019 21:15

Languages evolve and change all the time.

SenecaFalls · 27/03/2019 21:21

Where did it come from? Is it an American saying?

Like much of American slang, its origins are primarily African American; in this instance from pick-up neighborhood basketball games, if I remember correctly.

And yes, as a previous poster noted, Shakespeare use the phrase in Sonnet 112:

Your love and pity doth the impression fill
Which vulgar scandal stamp'd upon my brow;
For what care I who calls me well or ill,
So you o'er-green my bad, my good allow?

Halloumimuffin · 27/03/2019 21:21

I oppose all changes in language and only accept mea culpa, none of that annoying English blather.

SenecaFalls · 27/03/2019 21:22

Actually, I think it is very useful. It makes it easier to say sorry or my fault in some settings.

CiderBrains · 27/03/2019 21:32

"My bad" was used in the film Clueless back in 1995. It's really nothing new at all...

Dieu · 27/03/2019 21:35

It's awful! YANBU.

FelixTitling · 27/03/2019 21:35

I work with someone who says "I done a bad" Grin

DixieLandReject · 27/03/2019 21:36

Felix please tell me that’s not true Blush

CandleLand · 27/03/2019 21:41

I use it, have done since the 90s it's nothing new, it's good to use when the "my bad" is something light and not too serious.

PetuniaPetunia · 27/03/2019 21:42

In that Shakespeare text it doesm't mean "I made a mistake" though, does it? (Or does it?)

SosigDog · 27/03/2019 21:43

It’s an Americanism from about 20 years ago. It seems to have reached the UK now. I was very puzzled the first time I heard it!

SenecaFalls · 27/03/2019 21:46

In that Shakespeare text it doesm't mean "I made a mistake" though, does it? (Or does it?)

But it's using the word as a noun that both uses have in common.

FelixTitling · 27/03/2019 21:46

Very true, sorry. I don't mind it.

But I hate men people who say "sowwy, pwease forgive me" in a stupid baby voice with accompanying pouty face.

Makes my hand itch.

Stressedout10 · 27/03/2019 21:50

Would you prefer a "means culpa "

Stressedout10 · 27/03/2019 21:51

Bloody auto correct mea culpa not means obviously.
My bad

DixieLandReject · 27/03/2019 21:54

I done a bad sounds like a three year old who has done an accidental poo.

FelixTitling · 27/03/2019 21:58

Dixie 😂

talktoo · 27/03/2019 21:59

Didn't know anyone still said 'my bad'.

TheHorseOnSeventhAvenue · 27/03/2019 22:02

Absolutely agree language evolves. First time I noticed it about two months ago was a 16 year old admitting he’d misunderstood something to his disadvantage and seemed reasonable.

Since then it seems to have exploded and it’s a trendy saying that is being used out of context and feels a bit like my grandmother suddenly adding ‘innit’ to the end of every sentence, unnatural and a bit weird.

OP posts:
jackstini · 27/03/2019 22:08

Really annoys me
The phrase is 'my fault' not 'my bad'! Confused

SenecaFalls · 27/03/2019 22:11

It's never fallen out of use in the US, and I haven't noticed a recent proliferation.