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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:
GoatClimbing · 24/07/2026 22:25

"It would never occur to me to...."

Read it at least once on virtually every thread.

oviraptor21 · 24/07/2026 22:27

Makes my blood/pass boil

Goingfor · 24/07/2026 22:27

I don’t know anyone irl that calls vegetables, ’veggies’.
I can’t stand to read it.

PollysKenwood · 24/07/2026 22:31

Another one for “gently”, I just think “oh fuck off” as soon as I read it. This may be unwarranted but it drives me nuts.

Hardly exclusive to Mumsnet but when I see a mention of “quality fabric” or in particular “pure cotton”. I have no idea why it gets to me so much but it instantly ends my engagement with the thread.

PollysKenwood · 24/07/2026 22:33

The tickly laugh seems to have died a death thankfully.

bakermummy21 · 24/07/2026 22:34

‘Definitely a red flag’ ‘run a mile OP’

Lifelover16 · 24/07/2026 22:43

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 24/07/2026 22:06

Except for the ones that are a Massive Salad Grin

And the salad is always served with “good bread” - not just bread.

TheFifthTellytubby · 24/07/2026 22:55

Tinkly laugh and/or head tilt ...

Cantstomachanothercheesywotsit · 24/07/2026 22:56

Not a saying, but hobbies that are ‘Outing’
How unusual and exotic can these hobbies be?!

catsflorafauna · 24/07/2026 23:01

‘Name change for this’

Like someone is going to track them down, I don’t even get it, I don’t think you can see peoples other posts like Reddit. Or I don’t know how!

also abbreviations that I don’t actually understand what they mean at all and whilst I’m at at honestly I hate the whole DP DH DC D stupid abbreviations!

WimbyAce · 24/07/2026 23:02

"Am I missing something?" This seems to be creeping in everywhere and I hate it!

VestibuleWeaver · 24/07/2026 23:06

Vile.
Grim.
Anxiety through the roof.

BumpyaDaisyevna · 24/07/2026 23:06

I hate it when I see someone refer to their own child as “a little shit”

Hotmess101 · 24/07/2026 23:07

I hate ‘glorious’. Makes me think of a brisk Dawn French type harping on loudly in St Ives while everyone else thinks oh STFU.

Gowlett · 24/07/2026 23:13

Kindly. Gently. HTH. Did you mean to be so rude?

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 24/07/2026 23:14

catsflorafauna · 24/07/2026 23:01

‘Name change for this’

Like someone is going to track them down, I don’t even get it, I don’t think you can see peoples other posts like Reddit. Or I don’t know how!

also abbreviations that I don’t actually understand what they mean at all and whilst I’m at at honestly I hate the whole DP DH DC D stupid abbreviations!

You can see all the posts under that username by using Advanced Search but you'd have to be seriously invested to trawl through hundreds of posts and eventually triumphantly exclaim 'Aha! I thought so. On this Baby Names thread in 2020 she said her name was six letters long and ended in a vowel. At various times since she's mentioned that she works in the NHS, she does her big shop at Lidl, her husband's a cyclist, she prefers dogs to cats and she likes the colour turquoise. And now she's revealed that her husband has red hair and so does one of her children. This can only mean this is indeed Angela Smith of Anytown Road! I knew it! And now I also know that she didn't bake that cake she donated to the school fair herself!'

SisterTeatime · 24/07/2026 23:24

Spewing and/or spouting vitriol
Vile

Slightyamusedandsilly · 24/07/2026 23:29

End of. (So fucking rude).

First post nails it.

Maywellofbin · 24/07/2026 23:34

'Grim' - the puritan's favourite word.

Maywellofbin · 24/07/2026 23:34

Maywellofbin · 24/07/2026 23:34

'Grim' - the puritan's favourite word.

Not certain about my apostrophe placement there...

Stressedoutmummyof3 · Yesterday 00:04

DeftGoldHedgehog · 24/07/2026 20:34

Some of these are just normal turns of phase in everyday life, not a Mumsnet thing. You must spent your lives in a state of perpetual irritation.

I have never heard anyone say ick in real life and that includes children at nursery and my own children.

EarringsandLipstick · Yesterday 00:09

Stressedoutmummyof3 · Yesterday 00:04

I have never heard anyone say ick in real life and that includes children at nursery and my own children.

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.

calflions · Yesterday 00:20

PollysKenwood · 24/07/2026 22:33

The tickly laugh seems to have died a death thankfully.

Ooh, after Covid I couldn't get rid of mine for months though.

SnowFrogJelly · Yesterday 00:52

Give your head a wobble

ElenOfTheWays · Yesterday 01:10

DeftGoldHedgehog · 24/07/2026 20:57

Are a lot of people here new to the internet or don't go on other sites? As much of this is common outside Mumsnet.

Yep 😂