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 "oh my goodness" "oh my gosh" "golly" a lot. I'm late twenties and sometimes it gets a side eye at work 😂

This post bemused me. I use the phrase 'terribly cross' quite regularly (mostly because I am!). Not terribly, terribly cross tho - a phrase I've never seen or heard, even in an Enid Blyton book.

I also say Oh my goodness.

I can't believe that's a phrase that seems rare, even if someone doesn't use it themselves?

I never hear anyone use the word “poorly” in real life but see it used here all the time. Maybe used more in some UK regions than others?

I find it a bit cringe to be honest. I’ve never actually heard someone say it in real life.

If I’m being polite I will say “oh god, really”. If I’m annoyed I will say I’m really annoyed or really fucking annoyed but I’d never say I’m terribly terribly cross.

I'm cross fairly often, but never vexed, unlike my grandmother (R.I.P. born 1901).

Does it mean fuming? A mumsnet favourite.

@MonStylo

I never hear anyone use the word “poorly” in real life but see it used here all the time. Maybe used more in some UK regions than others?

That's interesting. I have heard on British TV a lot & assumed it was a very standard UK term. (It's not used at all here in Ireland).

Oh, and my mum gets the Women's Own etc mags & people are always poorly there.

@Inextremis

I'm cross fairly often, but never vexed, unlike my grandmother (R.I.P. born 1901).

Vexed is very popular in Ireland! Tho maybe a bit genera

It's all rather twee. My husband's sister doesn't swear (I find that weird, but anyway...) so she said "Oh golly" and "Gosh". They don't have the same effect as "Oh fuck it" or "For fuck's sake", do they?

@Inextremis VEXED!!! Thank you for reminding me of this option!!!!

Oops!

Should have said - vexed is popular in Ireland, tho possibly now a bit generationally dated.

I love the word "cross".

YABVU.

We get poorly in our house over here in north wales. We don’t get cross though. I have been known to shout “of for the love of small furry animals” and “sausage” rather loudly. It seems sod is not an appropriate thing to say in front of small children and sausage is my brain’s go to alternative 😂😂

'poorly' and 'sobbing'.

@Inextremis I’ve been told to stop being vexatious by an old aunt 🤨

Im quite fond of "Good grief!!" around my toddler.

I use ‘golly wee’ at work as ‘fuck me sideways’ might get me sacked! 😂

Those phrases are definitely alive and well in primary schools. We end up morphing into Enid Blyton to avoid a disciplinary for swearing. :o

I've even heard the occasional, "I'm feeling jolly cross right now!" being uttered in the corridors - and our school is a million miles from posh!

I very often say that I was most aggrieved.

Probably because I am very often aggrieved.

Oh my goodness!

Frequently used in my house. We substituted it because MIl kept saying “oh my god” which I didn’t like my 2 year old parroting. MIL now uses goodness instead too.

Unsuitable hat yes I like those as well .also ghastly which describes many things .a most of all "ghastly beast " a favourite of my nan to describe ungentlemanly behaviour!

Vexed is an excellent one, what a great word - another that I rarely hear in real life.

If I recall, I must admit that many people do actually use such phrases amongst children, but less likely when communicating alone with other adults.

I do use 'gosh' though.

'Poorly' reminds me of a relative of mine, she is the only person I have witnessed uttering it. It conjures up odd sensations for me, as if it might be said with a sad, shaking head in a victorian sick bay.

My DP can't tolerate the word 'belly' and will only say stomach or gut. I'm on the fence with that one!

I never hear anyone use the word “poorly” in real life but see it used here all the time. Maybe used more in some UK regions than others?

We’re poorly. Not sure if it is regional but all my family use it.

I use "oh my goodness", "blimey" and "crikey" regularly, despite being Irish. I blame a childhood of watching BBC and reading Enid Blyton.

I also say "I beg your pardon" - used to love using that when I was a teenage goth - nothing confused people in a crowded Dublin pub of the 80s than a black-clad girl pushing past saying "Oops, I beg your pardon".

My DD freaked out her workmates in the takeaway where she worked while at college by exclaiming "blimey" in situations where others were effing and blinding!

flippin Nora