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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be driven crazy by a few very, very common expressions on Mumsnet?

235 replies

Pineapplesonpizza · 24/07/2026 20:02

Here are two to start with:

"Just that really." after the initial title of the post, sometimes accompanied by shrug emoji.

The word "surely".

Do you have any that irrationally irritate you?

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · Yesterday 19:55

bettyrubble99 · Yesterday 19:25

"Hubby" makes me want to smash my head against a wall.
Edited to also add in "blended family" is used alot

Edited

a lot
not alot
I got stung by someone fresh from Pedants' Corner Wink

MasterBeth · Yesterday 19:55

MaturingCheeseball · Yesterday 18:14

“Report to your line manager” “Tell your union rep” - as if everyone works in the public sector/very large organisation.

Everyone can wfh/take days off at the drop of a hat. Including “lazy” dhs. They might well be out being a sole trader workman or performing a heart transplant but no, they should step up .

And the assumption that everyone's work is typing into a computer from 9 to 5.30 so any variation from this is treated with suspicion.

And the assumption that anything less formal than an M&S blouse and navy skirt is "not appropriate workwear."

IdenticalHandTwin · Yesterday 19:58

The holiday threads where the OP is stuck with a drunk DH or a drama queen friend:

'Can't you switch to a different hotel?'
'Can't you change your flight?'

Yes because everyone has a spare couple of grand in the bank to do this. I'll just call Zurich and move some money around 😉

70isaLimitNotaTarget · Yesterday 20:25

MaturingCheeseball · Yesterday 18:14

“Report to your line manager” “Tell your union rep” - as if everyone works in the public sector/very large organisation.

Everyone can wfh/take days off at the drop of a hat. Including “lazy” dhs. They might well be out being a sole trader workman or performing a heart transplant but no, they should step up .

I was evil enough to suggest that an OPs DH might not just be able to take a day off work because there was some (minor) calamity that meant taking the DC to school/ baby cannot go to nursery / looking after a spouse with a cold was not easy if ( for example ) they were a medic or similar .
Imagine if you'd waited months for an appointment to be told airily "we have to cancel your appointment , Dr Bloggs had to take his kids to school"
You'd think "Oh nice to see a husband step up"
Like Hell you would ! Hmm

I got my hands and head in a bucket .

JesseDavisGonnaHangOnInThereNSoul · Yesterday 21:22

70isaLimitNotaTarget · Yesterday 17:08

Why can't your DH learn to drive and he can do some of the school run pick ups and take your DS to Football

not everyone wants to drive , not everyone should drive

I want to live rural , but we only have one car which I need to take the DC to school . Theres a house I love but it's 8 miles from the station for DH
Answers will be "buy the house you love , DH can cycle to the station"

And of course
"Your DH needs a better paid job/ pick up some extra shifts / get a second job in a pub"

Not saw "take in some ironing " for a while.

Empress13 · Yesterday 23:01

Also DD is it dear daughter / darling dog ? In fact anything beginning with D ! Who ever thought of it in first place what’s wrong with saying my father sister husband wife etc - rant over 😩

Pineapplesonpizza · Yesterday 23:29

Empress13 · Yesterday 23:01

Also DD is it dear daughter / darling dog ? In fact anything beginning with D ! Who ever thought of it in first place what’s wrong with saying my father sister husband wife etc - rant over 😩

Everyone hates the DXs but feels compelled to use them, me included. Why? No one knows. Here's a reddit rant about it from 14 years ago! www.reddit.com/r/Parenting/comments/t54bp/can_we_quit_with_the_dd_and_ds_etc/

OP posts:
Globules · Yesterday 23:37

Pineapplesonpizza · Yesterday 23:29

Everyone hates the DXs but feels compelled to use them, me included. Why? No one knows. Here's a reddit rant about it from 14 years ago! www.reddit.com/r/Parenting/comments/t54bp/can_we_quit_with_the_dd_and_ds_etc/

Yup. Bugs me but I use them about family members as it's easier.

I will not never ever use them about my gorgeous cat though. She is very dear to me, but DC is weird!

OriginalUsername2 · Today 00:19

Pineapplesonpizza · Yesterday 23:29

Everyone hates the DXs but feels compelled to use them, me included. Why? No one knows. Here's a reddit rant about it from 14 years ago! www.reddit.com/r/Parenting/comments/t54bp/can_we_quit_with_the_dd_and_ds_etc/

I’d forgotten how cringey I found all this Dear stuff when I first joined. Now I have to stop myself using them in other places.

Just had a read of that thread and they’re absolutely right. I’ve decided I’m going to stop doing it.

I always read FTM as “female to male” too 😆

PhaedraTwo · Today 00:28

EarringsandLipstick · Yesterday 00:09

You can’t be serious? It’s not kids that say it. It’s adults, referring to relationships / attraction (or rather, loss of).

It’s widely used. On TV shows, articles are written using it & yes, absolutely used in real life where I am, and I don’t think that’s exceptional.

I've never heard ick in real life. I hate it.

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