Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sick of hearing about "bits"

292 replies

HelloDenise · 20/09/2025 01:11

I'm fed up of reading about people going to B&M, Home Bargains, Next, M&S, the pound shop or wherever to get some autumn .... BITS!

Throws, pumpkins, candles, cushions, foliage, wreaths and garlands ARE NOT BLOODY BITS! They're whole, substantial items, not bits of items .

Where the hell did this come from? Or should I be on Pedants' corner?

OP posts:
Pomegranatecarnage · 20/09/2025 08:15

Hate it! Especially referring to food-“picky bits”.😳

WonderingWanda · 20/09/2025 08:16

TouchtheEarth · 20/09/2025 01:50

It's just a short form of "bits and pieces", i.e., an assortment of miscellaneous items. I'm sure you would be more fed up if they described any particular day's list of items in detail.

Agree, although occasionally I throw out the term "Bits and bobs" instead.

MsAnnFrope · 20/09/2025 08:22

Orangepate · 20/09/2025 07:13

I think the correct term in this case is “tat”!

Or shite? Which is what I often find myself picking up in these shops if I’m not careful!

RhaenysRocks · 20/09/2025 08:25

Somethingtosayagain · 20/09/2025 08:12

Because it can be de-humanising. Language shapes our understanding of the world. At this point in history we may be alienated from the production of food and access our nutrition wrapped in plastic but we don't have to speak the language.

Show quote history

Well yes we do because this is the world we live in. At some point refusing to use phrases in ultra common use just becomes an anachronism.

WutheringBites · 20/09/2025 08:26

Oh blimey. I definitely use this - short for bits’n’bobs or bits’n’pieces (“and” is too grand).

but “picky bits”? Never 🤢

Foundationns · 20/09/2025 08:27

Yes you should be on pedants corner and yes it’s a dreadful word. Bits??? What’s wrong with ‘things’? Picky bits are the worst ones.

Lifeinthepit · 20/09/2025 08:33

WutheringBites · 20/09/2025 08:26

Oh blimey. I definitely use this - short for bits’n’bobs or bits’n’pieces (“and” is too grand).

but “picky bits”? Never 🤢

Not too sure about your use of "n" either. I think "and" is perfectly acceptable and never too grand.

Lifeinthepit · 20/09/2025 08:35

Foundationns · 20/09/2025 08:27

Yes you should be on pedants corner and yes it’s a dreadful word. Bits??? What’s wrong with ‘things’? Picky bits are the worst ones.

Pedants corner is more about precision in language. AIBU is appropriate for discussion as to whether use of "bits" is reasonable or unreasonable.

ForNoisyCat · 20/09/2025 08:38

HelloDenise · 20/09/2025 01:11

I'm fed up of reading about people going to B&M, Home Bargains, Next, M&S, the pound shop or wherever to get some autumn .... BITS!

Throws, pumpkins, candles, cushions, foliage, wreaths and garlands ARE NOT BLOODY BITS! They're whole, substantial items, not bits of items .

Where the hell did this come from? Or should I be on Pedants' corner?

Ha ha you know what really annoys me us the BBC weather presenters talking about ‘bits and pieces’ of rain/showers/ wind! They’re not bits and pieces they are light/frequent/sporadic (delete as applicable) showers. I feel your pain :)

Foundationns · 20/09/2025 08:38

stayathomer · 20/09/2025 06:36

I go to eg Tesco to get some bits and I mean just a few small items, bread, milk and cereal or Pennys to gets bits means a few pairs of socks, underwear or dome clothes for the kids. I think I call most things ‘bits’!!

And you are a brave woman to say so on this thread.
Actually my niece who is my favourite person in the world says it all the time too so you are in good company.

UnintentionalArcher · 20/09/2025 08:38

@HelloDenise Agree. What happened to ‘things’?

RitzyMcFee · 20/09/2025 08:39

Coconutter24 · 20/09/2025 07:29

“I’m just going to the shop I won’t be long”
“what you getting?”
“Just a few bits, I’ll show you when I’m back”

or

”I’m just going to the shop I won’t be long”
”what you getting?”
”Just going to get some throws, pumpkins, candles, cushions, foliage, wreaths, garlands, shampoo, lettuce, potatoes, broccoli, baked beans, tins of soup”…….
Goes on to list about 50 other items but in that time I could of been to the shop and back, so sometimes bits is needed

I’d say ‘I’m going some decorations for autumn’ then. It’s not a few bits. It’s £50 of stuff at least.

Foundationns · 20/09/2025 08:42

Lifeinthepit · 20/09/2025 08:35

Pedants corner is more about precision in language. AIBU is appropriate for discussion as to whether use of "bits" is reasonable or unreasonable.

Show quote history

Mmmm but could there not be an overlap between objecting to laziness in sentence construction and deploring a certain laxity in choice of word?
(See what I did there-I’m off to The Corner).

Viviennemary · 20/09/2025 08:42

I think it's quite descriptive and useful. I'm going to the supermarket for a few bits. Not a huge shop just a few random things or bits.

Rubies12345 · 20/09/2025 08:42

cheesycheesy · 20/09/2025 05:28

“Picky tea” makes me want to puke. My fil says that and it gives me murderous rage every time

Nigella calls it picky supps

Foundationns · 20/09/2025 08:43

Rubies12345 · 20/09/2025 08:42

Nigella calls it picky supps

Show quote history

Oh God!

HÆLTHEPAIN · 20/09/2025 08:45

Oooh, this post has made me excited because himself is going in the loft today to get my autumn bits out!

We’ve had them for years and will continue to use them for years to come so it’s not just single use stuff tat for all of us! As someone who is home a lot due to illness, it give me pleasure to have some seasonal decor.

Foundationns · 20/09/2025 08:47

RhaenysRocks · 20/09/2025 07:37

But why? My teen mainly exists on this kind of food, quiche, sausage rolls, bread sticks, homous, carrot sticks, cheese. It covers food groups and she can prep it herself. I know it's a MN sin but we don't all eat round the table together so it's convenient. Why does it make people so murderous?

Show quote history

There’s nothing wrong with eating those THINGS , or FOODS , or SNACKS. the objection is to calling them BITS.

TammyJones · 20/09/2025 08:47

SweetDreamsAreMadeOfFizz · 20/09/2025 01:54

I was thinking similar to PP - it's shorthand for 'bits and bobs'.

I don’t like bits and bobs - it’s bits and pieces!!!

DancyNancy · 20/09/2025 08:49

Lol. I also hate when people say
"A bite to eat"

We took a drive down to the beach and went for a bite to eat in the pub on the way back

Mumofsoontobe3 · 20/09/2025 08:49

I think they're really nice but I'm not one to decorate for autumn/halloween etc. Too much work, too much stuff, too much money! I have young children so we do pop a pumpkin at the door at most and decorate for Christmas but nothing beyond that. Same cushions on the sofa year round here!

Janie143 · 20/09/2025 08:51

DancyNancy · 20/09/2025 08:49

Lol. I also hate when people say
"A bite to eat"

We took a drive down to the beach and went for a bite to eat in the pub on the way back

What is even worse is when that is shortened to "bite" As in do you want to go out for a bite. Ahhhhhh

Bindinthebillows · 20/09/2025 08:52

I loathe it too, and it just seemed to arrive out of nowhere. Bits to talk about genitalia is particularly grim.

oncemoreuntothebeachdearfriends · 20/09/2025 08:57

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 20/09/2025 02:13

Bits and pieces.

Famous Dave Clark song from.the Sixties

I think.bits is used nowaday to include non food items.

Hope this raised a "bit of s smile foe you,*"

😻🧚👍

Show quote history

Wasn't that banned from the dance halls ?

"Bits" in the 60s didn't mean genitalia.
I'm trying to remember what we did call them? 3-piece suite?

LBFseBrom · 20/09/2025 08:58

Enko · 20/09/2025 01:14

Totally thought this thread was going to be about genitalia

Misses point of thread

I also thought that.