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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:
1wokeuplikethis · 23/04/2018 10:07

"I don't actually get 12 weeks off a year because I have to do all my lesson planning and marking."

"I'm so tired."

"If you think it's easy hours and litany of holidays why don't you try it yourself."

The majority of my friends are teachers and the above are their most frequent nuggets.

Stephisaur · 23/04/2018 11:46

"Where is your homework?" is one I heard frequently 😬

I didn't really see the point in it then, I don't see the point in it now.

"The bell is for me, not for you"

"Stop touching each other" (My friend and I used to poke each other a lot!)

NambiBambi · 23/04/2018 12:55

"You are the worst class I've ever had in all my years of teaching!" (Said to every single class she taught!).

del2929 · 23/04/2018 15:48

i always remember 'its like drawing teeth' i never knew why this was said. lol

Fluffylittlepepperpot89 · 23/04/2018 16:31

I had a computing teacher who used to tell the whole class that we had ‘snowballs chance in hell of passing this exam!!!’ He was surprisingly inspiring in his mannerisms though and we all walked away with really good grades!! 😂

rainbowstardrops · 23/04/2018 16:57

If a child (infant school) has a headache/tummy ache/earache/bad knee/insert any ailment go and have a drink and sit quietly

nemno · 23/04/2018 16:57

If the cap fits, wear it.

If Katie told you to jump off a cliff, would you?

I can stay here all day.

Let us all in on the joke.

Keep it to a dull roar.

Don't all rush up at once.

wanderings · 23/04/2018 18:27

"Leave your underpants alone." Said to children when PE was in vest and pants.

"VGI." = very good indeed.

"Take those shoes OFF!" This was a punishment for kicking, or playing with shoes, especially Velcro ones.

"Are you deaf, daft, or disobedient?"

"Anyone who talks, in. (greedily) I want to see a child staying in." This was a dinner lady daring any child to talk on the way to the playground.

"I don't understand why birthday children give out sweets; surely it should be the other way round."

"Oh dear, what a lot of naughty children having to miss their play!" There was a carpet outside the staff room for children condemned to this fate.

A truly terrifying threat: "...or I'll be cross!!!!" Never "angry" for some reason.

My favourite infant school teacher wasn't "cross" very often, but when she was, she used to punctuate tellings-off not by pointing, but grabbing the child's wrist and shaking it, occasionally dragging the child around if she was really cross. When she did this to me once (I was probably fidgeting; I got told off a lot for that), I cheerfully retorted "stop pulling my nice jumper". Fortunately she liked me enough not to go really mad!

"Oh, you're all so good-looking." I was an adult when I heard a teacher cooing this over the year 5 class photos, (she used the word "lovely" a lot), when I volunteered in a primary school. "Ask the lovely Wanderings to use the glue gun on that for you." None of my primary teachers were like that; most of them were very brisk and businesslike, but I noticed they were often a bit "softer" when there were visitors.

RumTiTum · 23/04/2018 18:41

Would you like it if someone did that to you?
Don't run inside!
Put a wet paper towel on it.
Have a drink of water and see how you feel.
Just try you best, it doesn't matter if it's wrong.

snidgetowl · 23/04/2018 19:18

"I'll don't mind carrying on through lunchtime, you're wasting your own time" is used almost daily unfortunately!

LightNC · 23/04/2018 21:03

If no-one owned up:
‘I see. Mr Nobody did it.’

Smurfy23 · 23/04/2018 21:39

"I've already got my GCSE/ALevel....."

Didiusfalco · 23/04/2018 23:12

‘You’re not just wasting my time, you’re wasting your own time’ I seem to remember was a popular phrase used to time wasters.

Dixiestampsagain · 24/04/2018 02:56

I’m a teacher and very guilty of using ‘it’s your time you’re wasting’ and ‘the Bell is for me, not you’.
I don’t really remember many phrases my own teachers used to say a lot, but my Year 5 teacher very memorably told me to go and ‘sit in the shade’- but got the start of the words mixed up. It was funny at 9..

Spices001 · 24/04/2018 06:40

Please share what you’re whispering about with the rest of the class...🙈

beanlucy21 · 24/04/2018 06:50

Quiet please All Eyes on me

Bellroyd · 24/04/2018 06:54

"You only get out of life what you put into life" and "You'll be sorry!"

maryandbuzz1 · 24/04/2018 06:58

I’m still WAITING!
Put your hand up, Don’t call out!
Look at the state of your book...go and wash your hands.

abby12321 · 24/04/2018 07:14

‘Line up and shut up!’

mave · 24/04/2018 07:21

Let's separate you two, you don't stop talking!

Theimpossiblegirl · 24/04/2018 07:25

If you waste my time, I'll waste yours.
Four on the floor.
The bell is for me, not for you.
:)

rhinosuze · 24/04/2018 07:25

Miss Taylor constantly shouting 'red alert' if something was important - all it did was make us giggle though

Narnianescape · 24/04/2018 08:02

If in doubt, miss it out

AR2012 · 24/04/2018 08:23

'the bell is for me not you' , 'it's your future not mine'

valbuk · 24/04/2018 08:23

As a teacher myself I remember often using the phrase ' Would you like to share that with all of the class' when someone was talking to a friend rather than paying attention