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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

is 'shit or get off the pot' going to be the new stupid expression on mn ?

84 replies

littlepaddypaws · 04/11/2019 11:02

it has appeared several times, imo it's really is a stupid expression. someone 'invents' an expression and the herd mentality follow thinking it's edgy or cool.
possibly bu not really bothered in the long run/

OP posts:
Cryalot2 · 04/11/2019 11:34

I have never heard it before or seen on here either.

AnybodyWantAChip · 04/11/2019 11:34

Been saying it for years. In certain situations, it's entirely appropriate and often very funny!

thenightsky · 04/11/2019 11:36

Its 'piss or get off the pot' originally, I think. I'm sure I recall hearing my grandfather use it in the 60s, so not at all new.

EvenMoreFuriousVexation · 04/11/2019 11:37

I've heard it for at least 30yrs, but it is an american thing.

BertrandRussell · 04/11/2019 11:39

It’s not a new expression- it’s certainly been around all my long life. But it is horrible. And It seems to be increasingly popular on here.

pigsDOfly · 04/11/2019 11:41

It's definitely not new, and as others have said, it was always 'piss or get off the pot.'

That's the thing about cliches OP, they appeal to the 'herd mentality'. And most of them will have been around for very many years, even though you might not have heard them.

slashlover · 04/11/2019 11:51

It's not new, but certain phrases or words seems to be a bit of a fad for a while.

Like how for the past month everything has been grim.

sarahjconnor · 04/11/2019 11:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RubbingHimSourly · 04/11/2019 11:59

My nannie used to say this.......well she said pee or get off the pot.

She'd be well into her hundreds of she was still alive so it's obviously an old saying.

Original poster
littlepaddypaws · 04/11/2019 12:09

there are many old expression that have no relevance now because they are sexist etc, it was mentioned on 2 threads i've read in the last 48 hours, just crass imo.

OP posts:
ChardonnaysDistantCousin · 04/11/2019 12:12

It is not naice, but it’s wonderfully descriptive.

It’s certainly no worse than the “taking the piss” or even “extracting the urine” which are often used on here.

MrsHardbroom · 04/11/2019 12:12

Loving all the pearl-clutching re 'vulgarity'. There's another one for you, OP

JacksonPillock · 04/11/2019 12:13

Slang and idioms trend within groups. That's why teenagers always repeat the same "current" words and phrases as their peers. It's a way of fitting in. Humans like to fit in.

I don't think it's anything worth getting het up about.

DappledThings · 04/11/2019 12:13

I've only heard it as piss rather than shit. Piss is better in the context because of the alliteration with pot.

AdobeWanKenobi · 04/11/2019 12:14

"Goddam it," Leva cried indignantly, "if I don't take it, that guy in the 21st will. That's how Gilbert put it to me. I either got to shit or get off the pot."

From Here to Eternity - James Joyce. 1951

ThatsMeInTheSpotlight · 04/11/2019 12:18

DH's uncle used to say it so it must be at least 100 years old. It's also not new to MN. You might have just spotted it in the last few days but it's been used on here before then.
It is crass but so are lots of sayings. I agree with a PP that it's no worse than lots of other sayings that get spouted regularly on here.

Original poster
littlepaddypaws · 04/11/2019 12:19

mrs i'm not a pearl clutcher by any means, that's amusing in itself, i write how i speak actually and i use words like 'vulgar' in rl. if that is a reason for taking the piss out of me, i'm fine with that.Smile

OP posts:
Butchyrestingface · 04/11/2019 12:21

I say piss or get off the pot.

Not only is it a touch less vulgar, but I like the alliteration. Smile

ChardonnaysDistantCousin · 04/11/2019 12:25

I see the point about the alliteration but I’m honest not bothered whether I appear marginally more classy once it gets to puss or shit.

Illberidingshotgun · 04/11/2019 12:25

This is very different from those MN expressions (that you will either love or hate) such as "cancel the cheque" "going to centre parks" (particularly on a Friday... that have evolved from specific threads. This is an old expression that is in general usage, and I think you'll find that it's just coincidence that's it's popped up a few times in the past couple of days, or the fact that one person wrote it and it's stuck in the minds of others.

CruCru · 04/11/2019 12:38

Ah, I thought it was originally Chinese. Wasn’t it something Chairman Mao used to say?

Veterinari · 04/11/2019 12:49

Well it refers to a very specific situation so not sure it’s remotely similar to ‘ducks in a row’.
Also if it troubles you so much why start a thread specifically about it? Surely that only raises its presence in peoples’ consciousness?

managedmis · 04/11/2019 12:51

Taking it up a notch there, crucru

FlamingoAndJohn · 04/11/2019 12:52

It’s not new.
It’s not stupid as it is perfectly descriptive, you can imagine someone waiting outside the loo and someone hogging it, sat there reading the paper while someone else is hopping up and down.
As for vulgar. It’s only shit. We all do it.

32ndOfFebtober · 04/11/2019 12:54

Ok lads, OP has said she doesn't like the expression and declared that we can't use it any more, so we should all stop saying it Hmm