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MNHQ

Mumsnet users discuss phrases that teachers always say

418 replies

EllieMumsnet · 20/04/2018 12:13

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With National Teacher Day coming up on the 8th May MNHQ would love to know the phrases you remember your teachers always saying….also if you are currently a teacher please share the phrases you most commonly use during your classes.

Do you have strong memory of one of your teachers always using the ‘I’m not angry just disappointed’ line? Perhaps whenever your teacher was annoyed at someone they would say ‘It’s your own time your wasting’? Or maybe as a teacher you’re becoming known for saying one phrase in particular?

Whatever phrases you remember your teachers always saying, comment on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

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OP posts:
NeverLovedElvis · 20/04/2018 18:19

You've let me down
You've let the whole school down
But worst of all you've let yourself down.

It's your time you're wasting, not mine.

The bell is for me, not you.

twosecs · 20/04/2018 18:32

"Act your age, not your shoe size"

WORKWORKWORKWORKWORKWORK · 20/04/2018 18:35

“Put a wet paper towel on it”

(Even if they fractured their arm in seven places. The wet paper towel was a go to.)

I’m a teacher now, and I say this Blush

TheTroutofNoCraic · 20/04/2018 18:40

Put a wet paper towel on it

I die a little inside every time I say it. But I say it about 9 times a day!

melonribenia · 20/04/2018 18:47

'This book is one of my favourites!' - every time I read a book!

'Write your name on the back'

'Who can I see who's ready?!'

'Make sure you have a drink with your lunch'

elephantoverthehill · 20/04/2018 18:48

"Which table looks ready to go?"
"Tuck your shirt in."
"I am not shouting, I am being assertive."
"We don't throw things in a classroom"
"You may go to the toilet but don't ever ask me again in a lesson"
"No you are not allowed to leave the room to fill your water bottle"
and I always start any class instruction with "Right, ok". Blush

healthyheart · 20/04/2018 18:50

I’ve got eyes in the back of my head 😳

JellySlice · 20/04/2018 18:53

"Personne?" with a dangerously quirked eyebrow. Someone had better own up quickly!

She looked and sounded like a cross between an Enid Blyton Mam'zelle and Dolores Umbridge, but nothing, nothing, got past her, and she was the kindest member of staff. She was my Form Mistress, though never actually taught me.

MESSING2 · 20/04/2018 18:53

My teachers would ask us to 'keep it down to a dull roar '.
I am a teacher and have been known to say it on a couple of occasions.

starlight36 · 20/04/2018 19:31

'As and Bs don't grow on trees!'.
Our Head of Sixth Form would chant this to anyone daring not to be studying in the Common room.

MrsFrTedCrilly · 20/04/2018 19:33

I don’t know why your parents wasted the money buying a uniform ye big lazy sack of potatoes...
Obviously she loved teaching and inspired all her pupils to greatnessConfused
Scarred for life....

MallorieArcher · 20/04/2018 19:44

Do you behave like this at home

When you're ready (waits until cobwebs form)

123 eyes on me

What do you mean can you have a 'fun' lesson, all my lessons are fun!

bippo · 20/04/2018 19:45

Getting told to 'sit quietly' if you said you weren't feeling well. I often overthink this and wonder how you do just sit quietly?!

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 20/04/2018 19:45

"Save any questions for after I have finished talking".
Pupil waits then raises hand and asks question.
"You can't have been listening properly, why didn't you take notes?!"

MallorieArcher · 20/04/2018 19:47

Also the chair thing genuinely happened to me.
Said 'if you fall and smash your head open you will have to wait for me to stop laughing before I call for help's
10 minutes later his head makes contact with the metal radiator corner. Blood everywhere.
I didn't laugh, I swear!

Moonflower12 · 20/04/2018 19:49

My most common phrases are ' Would your mum be happy to see you doing that?' And 'We are all friends here' when there has been a falling out.
I once (and never again expect to) said ' We do not peel our friends-it is not kind' after a child had threatened another with 'peeling' We had no idea what she was on about- and neither did she, on being questioned!

MyOtherUserNameIsAUnicorn · 20/04/2018 19:50

After I bought a load of lager as a 14 year old on a school trip to France my Physics teacher told me I'd grow up to be a drug dealer.
Now an assistant head teacher Confused

Sometimes find myself asking ridiculous rhetorical questions like:

"What on earth are you doing?"
Goes down well with surly teenagers...

elephanttrunks · 20/04/2018 19:59

Apparently I say 'swiftly moving on' far too often!

drspouse · 20/04/2018 20:03

elephant so it's YOU!

OutwiththeOutCrowd · 20/04/2018 20:08

I had an English teacher who would often say –

Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.

Twerking9to5 · 20/04/2018 20:18

“I know you’ve got a wobbly tooth, but we’re actually talking about capital letters at the moment”

“Ooh do I need to chop it off?” (When shown a barely visible scratch on arm/finger/leg).

“But you’ve only just been! This is wasting learning time”

I’m a year 1 teacher Grin

MissMorkansAnnualDance · 20/04/2018 20:26

I begin every sentence with 'Anyway' apparently (the kids impersonated me doing it at their recent leaving party)
At the moment I'm saying 'you just carry on, it's not me with an exam in 3 weeks' time'

Awoof · 20/04/2018 20:32

'Heads on desks' ....
What was that all about?!

Sleepysausage · 20/04/2018 21:01

One of my teachers used to say if only you knew your GCSE notes as well as you all seem to know the songs on radio 1

elephantoverthehill · 20/04/2018 21:11

drspouse Which elephant is guilty?