Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask why "pop" seems to be replacing literally every other verb in existence?

56 replies

wallpoppy · 22/05/2022 17:51

I feel like this is getting worse all the time... was at the doctor on Friday and the nurse asked me to pop my bottoms off and pop myself on the table and she'd pop back in just a moment and then once we were settled in she said she had to pop out to get some smaller gloves and then she came in and said let me just pop these gloves on and we'll get started and then when that was done she had to just pop some notes into the computer and then she told me I could pop my clothes back on and the doctor would pop in in a few moments and not to forget to pop into reception to make my next appointment. I thought I was losing my mind. Does she not know any other verbs? It's not just her either, everyone is popping to places or popping things onto surfaces, no one goes anywhere or puts anything.

OP posts:
StridTheKiller · 22/05/2022 17:52

DM has been popping for years. Pisses me right off.

Thedogscollar · 22/05/2022 17:55

If she literally said pop that many times then yes I can see your point.

orwellwasright · 22/05/2022 17:56

Remember Louise Woodward, the English nanny in the US found guilty of killing her charge.

Apparently language and 'pop' in particular was instrumental in her conviction.

She said she popped him on the bed. To Americans this sounds very aggressive, like taking a pop at someone with a gun. Even once it had been explained what it means to your average UK person, the jury had an immutable picture of an aggressive act.

rnsaslkih · 22/05/2022 17:57

It's really twee.

lackofvision · 22/05/2022 17:58

I hate pop of colour as well

dolphinsarentcommon · 22/05/2022 17:58

Agree. Add the 'pop of colour' and it'll really wind me up.

AssignedBlobbyAtBirth · 22/05/2022 17:58

We've popped all my life in my part of the world

dolphinsarentcommon · 22/05/2022 17:58

Or 'makes the colour pop'. Even bloody worse

Alcibiade · 22/05/2022 17:59

Maybe she has a limited vocabulary. Maybe English is not her first language.

Earlydancing · 22/05/2022 18:00

I think 'pop' is used to make it sound like it'll be quick and happy. Not sure if taking your trousers of at the gps is ever either of those!

Original poster
wallpoppy · 22/05/2022 18:00

orwellwasright · 22/05/2022 17:56

Remember Louise Woodward, the English nanny in the US found guilty of killing her charge.

Apparently language and 'pop' in particular was instrumental in her conviction.

She said she popped him on the bed. To Americans this sounds very aggressive, like taking a pop at someone with a gun. Even once it had been explained what it means to your average UK person, the jury had an immutable picture of an aggressive act.

Ah that's interesting. I am not American but did live there from age 12 to 18 and I remember a friend's mother telling her she would "pop her right in the mouth" if she didn't stop talking back or something and I remember how aggressive and scary she sounded. Maybe that' part of why I hate it so much, people using it think they sound cute and twee like the other PP has said but it just really grates on me to hear it.

OP posts:
Earlydancing · 22/05/2022 18:00

I love Colourpop eyeshadow though.

Antarcticant · 22/05/2022 18:02

literally every other verb

I don't pop it's literally popping every other verb that pops.

bellac11 · 22/05/2022 18:03

I say pop quite a lot

Sorry about that!

Original poster
wallpoppy · 22/05/2022 18:03

Alcibiade · 22/05/2022 17:59

Maybe she has a limited vocabulary. Maybe English is not her first language.

English is not my first language and is in fact my third but I know at least three or four other useful verbs aside from "pop".

OP posts:
JesusInTheCabbageVan · 22/05/2022 18:03

Alcibiade · 22/05/2022 17:59

Maybe she has a limited vocabulary. Maybe English is not her first language.

Oh come on.

Presumably even if so, she would know the verbs 'put' and 'get', as these are actually far more common (and commonly used) than pop.

Loopytiles · 22/05/2022 18:04

Prefer ‘pop’ to ‘ping’, eg ’ping it to me’

Hugasauras · 22/05/2022 18:04

Pop in
Pop out
Pop over the road
Pop out for a walk
Pop down to the shop
Can’t stop
Got to pop
Got to pop?
Pop where?
Pop what?
Well I’ve got to pop round
Pop up
Pop into town
Pop out and see
Pop in for tea
Pop down to the shop
Can’t stop
Got to pop
Got to pop?
Pop where?
Pop what?
Well I’ve got to pop in
Pop out
Pop over the road
Pop out for a walk
Pop in for a talk

andtheycalledthewindmoriah · 22/05/2022 18:05

wallpoppy · 22/05/2022 17:51

I feel like this is getting worse all the time... was at the doctor on Friday and the nurse asked me to pop my bottoms off and pop myself on the table and she'd pop back in just a moment and then once we were settled in she said she had to pop out to get some smaller gloves and then she came in and said let me just pop these gloves on and we'll get started and then when that was done she had to just pop some notes into the computer and then she told me I could pop my clothes back on and the doctor would pop in in a few moments and not to forget to pop into reception to make my next appointment. I thought I was losing my mind. Does she not know any other verbs? It's not just her either, everyone is popping to places or popping things onto surfaces, no one goes anywhere or puts anything.

Well, since you asked...

It's never "may I have" anymore, it's "can I get?" - I don't know, can you????

"I really want to be apart of this" - you mean apart from, and why do we care? Just don't be part of it then. No need to tell us.

Earlydancing · 22/05/2022 18:06

Hugasauras · 22/05/2022 18:04

Pop in
Pop out
Pop over the road
Pop out for a walk
Pop down to the shop
Can’t stop
Got to pop
Got to pop?
Pop where?
Pop what?
Well I’ve got to pop round
Pop up
Pop into town
Pop out and see
Pop in for tea
Pop down to the shop
Can’t stop
Got to pop
Got to pop?
Pop where?
Pop what?
Well I’ve got to pop in
Pop out
Pop over the road
Pop out for a walk
Pop in for a talk

Pop off
Pop your clogs

Siameasy · 22/05/2022 18:08

There’s a shuttle service round here (train) and people call it “the popper” which is really old person

StrawberrySquash · 22/05/2022 18:11

I get why medical people about to examine you do it. It's an unpleasant situation and it's meant to put you at your ease by being caring and unthreatening. But I just find it infanitilising. We both know I'm not going to enjoy the speculum or whatever, but we both know it needs doing,so why pretend. I think that's why I don't like it, it feels fundamentally dishonest. I'd rather a neutral word like put or insert for what she's abouts to do with the speculum.

StrawberrySquash · 22/05/2022 18:12

OTOH I'm not someone for whom this stuff is retraumatising - maybe other people find it helpful?

aaronsnorkelling · 22/05/2022 18:13

dolphinsarentcommon · 22/05/2022 17:58

Or 'makes the colour pop'. Even bloody worse

Yes I was coming to say this

Veol · 22/05/2022 18:24

andtheycalledthewindmoriah · 22/05/2022 18:05

Well, since you asked...

It's never "may I have" anymore, it's "can I get?" - I don't know, can you????

"I really want to be apart of this" - you mean apart from, and why do we care? Just don't be part of it then. No need to tell us.

Show quote history

The world has moved on from ‘may I’. I think you are fighting a losing battle with this one.