To be so terribly, terribly cross?

[musicforsmorks]

In reality, I am asking is it being remotely unreasonable to suspect that hardly anyone uses this phrase in 'real life'?
It's all very well when one is perusing their Enid Blyton collection but I have honestly rarely come across it as a common element of social/familial dialogue (and I've been around a bit ).

Another one is 'Oh my goodness!', which, whilst having stood the test of time (unlike the poor, neglected cross), still doesn't crop up with regularity in my social circles or professional life very often.

Also interested in hearing other people's thoughts on certain phrases, and whether they are particular to MN, the written word, or just off with the fairies or whatnot.

My favourite MN regular is the did you mean to be so ruuuude?
Although, whilst frequently tempted, I have not yet had the pleasure of uttering it with any true gravitas in real life :(

I use "terribly cross" and "my goodness" quite a lot. Mind you i also use all variations and versions of "fuck" too

I’m trying out “gosh”, “my goodness!” and other slightly twee phrases so that toddler DS doesn’t suddenly come out with “what the fuck?”, as he copies me a lot.

“Terribly cross” is a step too far though. Way too Blyton.

Hmmm, I’m a primary teacher and I must admit I’ve definitely said ‘That made me feel a bit cross’ before and ‘Oh my goodness’is a regular !

I am actually terribly cross at the moment

I use oh my goodness several times a day! Mostly as I don’t use OMG

Haha I only clicked on this thread to see what on earth had caused someone to be so terribly, terribly cross!!

I have never heard anyone one in real life use this phrase.

I say oh my goodness every day! More than once. I work with small children and so I do have many quaint sayings which are infinitely preferable to some of the words I want to use sometimes!

I like the word cross. No other word does its job and it has a certain quaintness about it.
I know someone who describes things as 'frightful', which I also like.

I use “oh gosh”, or “oh my goodness” a lot. And usually it’s because I’m thinking “really?” and it goes right over their head.

If I ever say 'oh goodness' my kids laugh - they know my foul sailor mouth too well.

I hear 'terribly terribly cross' in the voice of Victoria Wood in the 'Brief Encounter' piss take!

oh no it was Celia Imrie wasn't it played the posh one!

I use oh my goodness frequently.

@ScarlettDarling

Hmmm, I’m a primary teacher and I must admit I’ve definitely said ‘That made me feel a bit cross’ before and ‘Oh my goodness’is a regular !

This reminds me, the teachers did used to utter this at primary school! I suppose it beats other words relating to frustration

I suspect it depends on the age of your children... I've said the following today (oldest child is 3):

"I'm feeling rather cross right now"
"Oh my goodness"
"That was very silly"
"Bother"

I also use "oh goodness" at work (generic office job).

DP often uses 'goodness me'. I suppose it's a variant..
I must admit i do like to mix rough with smooth though and the idea of combining 'cross' with 'oh just fuck off' delights me.

I use, ‘oh my goodness’ at work. I use ‘Oh, fuck’ quite a bit as well, mainly when there are no children around.

My best friend says stuff like "that made me so cross" a lot and I thought it odd when I first met her. She also says fuck and shit a lot so I'll let her off 😁

I’m often cross.

It’s somewhere between mildly irritated and utterly fucked off.

I like “Oh my WORD”. It particularly makes DH laugh because I have a very broad Northern accent and he thinks it sounds hilarious It’s absolutely a child friendly replacement for what I would rather say, which is “fucking hell love”. That doesn’t sound so nice from a 5yo.

My favourite not in real life words are all the tabloid words: romp, bonk, love rat, lag, jailbird, kingpin

Or the more middle market: flaunting her curves

Terribly, terribly cross where I live translates into ‘proper pissed off’ and Oh my goodness translates to ‘FFS’

@Brefugee

I use "terribly cross" and "my goodness" quite a lot. Mind you i also use all variations and versions of "fuck" too

This, the former normally when I’m at work and can’t say fuck

I like to use 'oh crumbs', 'crikey' and 'goodness gracious me' along with 'golly gosh' quite a lot at work (secondary school).

I can tell you that what is coming out of my mouth is certainly not what is being screamed internally.

Narrowly missed getting sacked the other day with a cunning save of 'oh fiddlesticks'

I like the occasional "blimey"

Lol! You clearly aren't a teacher. 😂Working with primary school children, these phrases leave my mouth at least once a day. Especially "Oh my goodness!"