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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be so terribly, terribly cross?

403 replies

musicforsmorks · 01/03/2022 20:18

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 Grin).

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 :(

OP posts:
Mumzy2020 · 02/03/2022 19:19

Haha, when I seen "terribly terribly cross" I was like, who in earth says that. I was intrigued so clicked, haha..

Doodar · 02/03/2022 19:25

Its very twee, same people say "yummy" too

Imissmoominmama · 02/03/2022 19:33

I use, oh my gosh, quite a lot. I also use cross, but I’m usually ’quite cross’ rather than terribly (when I’m terribly cross, I tend to use ‘really fucking cheesed off’).

I also say ‘Wowzers’ quite a lot, as was pointed out by a friend the other day…

Octopus37 · 02/03/2022 19:38

I love the word vexed, me and my Sister both use it, I'm not sure why. I noticed that Sheena used it in Call the Midwife the other day.

PinkPaleFlower · 02/03/2022 19:39

I say these phrases.

Bluesheep8 · 02/03/2022 19:40

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.

I say it all the time Blush

Hanywany · 02/03/2022 19:43

Mine is "I'm livid" and also I do say "oh my word" all the time! And another one is "oh deary me", but then I do also swear like A sailor, my kids don't bat an eyelid, they've heard it all🙈Grin

schoolsoutforever · 02/03/2022 19:44

My mum uses terribly, terribly this or that (not cross though). I've taken to 'gosh' in my layer years, no idea why. My husband uses crikey quite a lot. I also swear like a trooper.

Littlepicker · 02/03/2022 19:54

I love all these old phrases, like “Gordon Bennett” and “Good grief” I use these daily as a teacher 😂

Mistressiggi · 02/03/2022 19:55

I say oh my goodness often, but am a teacher so it's better than saying anything I would get in trouble over!

Leontine · 02/03/2022 19:58

Bonkers. It’s started to make me feel “terribly cross” whenever I see it on here now.

Leontine · 02/03/2022 19:59

Oh and I find poorly instead of ill or sick nauseatingly twee as well.

Minikievs · 02/03/2022 20:01

My boyfriend says "oh my!" quite a lot on message. If I'm totally honest it gives me a bit of the ick 😂

brokengoalposts · 02/03/2022 20:06

I use 'cross' and 'oh my goodness', I always use fuck and bollocks to counter the tweeness.

1forAll74 · 02/03/2022 20:14

I only use the phrase Oh my goodness, got it from my Granny 70 years ago, she said it all tthe time, so it has stuck with me. I say good grief quite a lot, but I dont use any swear words phrases., or any terribly terribly stuff..

TheDivineOddity · 02/03/2022 20:22

DH family are rather religious so I have occasionally found myself declaring 'Oh my gosh' rather than take the Lord's name in vain.
DC used to have a nursery nurse who would declare 'before I get cross!' when asking the children to do such and such for the umpteenth time. She was such a lovely sweet natured person I could never imagine her I an actual state of crossness.

thegreylady · 02/03/2022 20:38

I use ‘vexed’ , poorly, oh goodness etc.
My oddest expression (from family) is “dear meow today”!

Ineke · 02/03/2022 20:38

I say ‘gosh’, and ‘oh my goodness’ as well as fuckity fuck fuck, my 27year old very cool world traveler DD says ‘oki doki’.

thecatsthecats · 02/03/2022 20:45

@Leontine

Oh and I find poorly instead of ill or sick nauseatingly twee as well.
I hated them when I was five. I distinctly remember getting cross about it actually, as only five year olds can.
Teachertired92 · 02/03/2022 21:24

I’m a primary teacher and I always say oh my goodness and that made me very cross! Blush

Lovely13 · 02/03/2022 21:28

I’m vexed. Very vexed. Has a lot of vim to it. And lots of Vs!

Mollymoostoo · 02/03/2022 21:37

My husband uses the phrase 'in the manner...' which drives me insane. Don't behave in the manner you are doing'. Like WTAF. I wouldn't mind but I'm the teacher in the family.
I do use the word Cross as in 'if you don't do your homework you will see my cross face' and my students also say it but they are foreign students so use quite formal English.

savethatkitty01 · 02/03/2022 21:38

Nothing beats a good "Hows your father"

Ameanstreakamilewide · 02/03/2022 22:00

Anything but 'oh my days'.

I fucking hate it!

toxic44 · 02/03/2022 22:07

I say, quite cross, or rather cross. And, My goodness! When I'm blazing mad I say, I see, or, Really! / Really?