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 haven't heard 'crumbs' in such a long time. It makes me feel nostalgic for jam scones and summer lawns.

Cross is not very strong and terribly doesn’t make it stronger. I’m never cross. I either I’m absolutely fucking furious or not bothered, there’s not much in between.

I use crikey I guess in an ironic way, it usually means I don’t believe you.

I like Good God. And ghastly. I say ghastly a lot.

This post reminds me of a scene in Downton Abbey, where Mary is angry at Matthew and says "Why must you be so disappointing?". Nowadays, it would be "Why do you have to be such a twat?"

I speak rp so if I happen to swear 'i've been likened to the queen having a swear up

I used to use “My God!” A lot, but actively trained myself not to use it, as it t could offend Christians.

I swapped it with “ Oh my goodness!”

Mum used to say “ I’m very cross!”
I tend to say “ Annoyed” instead of “Cross”, as cross can soundca bit schoolmistressy.

I use blummin Nora a lot. I like terribly cross, but I don't think I could pull it off.

I use gosh loads especially at work, less chance of causing offence than saying god.
Also love blimey, a load of old cobblers, god love a duck and oh my giddy aunt!

I like I say! as well. I say Good Lord.

My DD is 5 and loves watching Malory Towers. She keeps saying ‘oh my giddy aunt’. She also says it with a southern pronunciation even though we’re in Yorkshire!

Ghastly ~Grim .
How I describe things like Putin invading Ukraine.

Sounds less rude than “Fucking awful”.

fuck a duck is a favourite too.

DS4 says oh my gosh which is very quaint and makes me smile.

I used to use “My God!” A lot, but actively trained myself not to use it, as it t could offend Christians.

Oh no I like winding Christians up. Jesus Christ.

I like to use - it's 'awfully tricky' instead of Christ this is fucking hard (normally when trying to help DS with some shit maths question)

iv often said im bloody cross , but iv never said terribly though

My immediate thought when I saw "Terribly cross" was that you must be a primary school teacher or channeling one!

Age of children had a huge impact on our language at home.

We used a fair amount of "Terribly cross" and brought back "botheration" and "silly billy". Now kids are older and my swearing is rushing back

My MiL uses "terribly cross" a fair amount too. Religious lady in her 70s.

I work with kids and use the phrase "Oh for PETE'S sake" often. What I'm saying internally is "Oh for the Holy Love of Sweet Baby FUCK"

Is there a way to train yourself to not swear?
I have been going like the clappers since covid..

@TheBareTree

My DD is 5 and loves watching Malory Towers. She keeps saying ‘oh my giddy aunt’. She also says it with a southern pronunciation even though we’re in Yorkshire!

“Oh my giddy aunt” was used by my lovely neighbour a fair bit. As well as “ “Oh my God fathers”

She died in her Nineties.
Bless her.💕

I once tried the MN 'Did you mean to be so rude?' in real life. They said yes and I was flummoxed and didnt know where to go with it.

My mums fake swear words were fiddlesticks and ratfinks 😂

I use "Goodness" but not "My goodness". When I do, it has undertones of "Wow, that's really bizarre" or, more passive-aggressively, "That's batshit crazy". I never say "I'm terribly cross": more likely "I'm bloody furious" or, if I'm trying to moderate my language, "I'm effing furious".

'Vexed' is youth slang amongst my kids' peer group.

"Were you ber vexed, my gee?"

"Word, bro. But it's all calm now."

Miffed, vexed & narked.
Almost Shakespearean.

I've started using cross for the last year or so, not sure why, I just suddenly remembered it and enjoy it.
I only heard teachers use it when I was growing up.