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Original poster

Overdone and unrealistic phrases in books

130 replies

ImJustMadAboutSaffron · 02/08/2022 23:03

Phrases and things I have read in several books that I don't believe anyone ever says, or does:

"You're incorrigible" - ever said this or had it said to you? Me neither.
"X took Y by the elbow" - never seen, or done this.
"Z raised an eyebrow" - I tried this. It's impossible. I haven't had Botox, either.
"Yes. No. I don't know" - overdone and boring (and lazy)
Older people - 50-somethings and 60-somethings - being portrayed as technophobes, getting confused by "that interwebby thing" and wearing slacks from the Classic range at M&S
Older people calling everyone "dear"

Seriously, none of this happens in real life! (Does it?)

Correct me if I'm wrong.

OP posts:
AmazonGroupie · 03/08/2022 17:03

She bit her lip.

MarthaMayWhovier · 03/08/2022 17:11

My left eyebrow raises higher on its own than my right brow on its own. 🤨

I've never used the word incorrigible or taken anyone by the elbow.

"Yes. No. I don't know" Can you repeat the question?

NorthFaceofthelaundrypile · 03/08/2022 17:20

Women who are described by their weight… generally around 100lbs. That’s tiny!

Wishimaywishimight · 03/08/2022 17:23

"She blinked in confusion". Surely you just blink anyway, who assigns an emotion to blinking!

JassyRadlett · 03/08/2022 17:25

LaMarschallin · 03/08/2022 16:02

MindPalace

Eyes that darken when angry.

I swear this sort of thing is responsible for 90% (at least) of the "What colour eyes are these?" threads on MN.
Nobody wants to accept they've got bog standard blue/brown/whatever eyes. They want blue eyes that change to sea green when they're in love or some such.

Also, muscles that jump in someone's jaw when they're angry; only happens if you're chewing.
I suppose they might chomp really hard on their Juicy Fruit if irritated...

You can totally tell when someone clenches their jaw in anger (or any other clenching) though?

ditalini · 03/08/2022 17:32

I've been reading so many romance books lately where heroes from dukes to highlanders, surfer boys to billionaires waggle their eyebrows at the heroine.

FFS stop waggling your eyebrows guys! That's not sexy and immediately calls to mind Dennis Healey.

EspeciallyDeIighted · 03/08/2022 18:01

I say "you're incorrigible", my Dad and Grandad used to say it to me when growing up.

I bite my lips and pat my hair too.

RedLemonade · 03/08/2022 18:04

@MarthaMayWhovier 😂

DelurkingAJ · 03/08/2022 18:08

DH’s eyes change from blue (relaxed) to green (stressed) with no eye make up anywhere to be seen. I was mildly unnerved when I first realised.

ShirleyJackson · 03/08/2022 18:10

I regularly get called ‘incorrigible’ by my DH, and I can raise one eyebrow!

The one that always jumps out at me is ‘bridled’. Nobody bridles outside of books, and nobody says it.

ShirleyJackson · 03/08/2022 18:11

Oh god, a nerve jumping in an angry man’s jaw. I’ve never seen that happen in my life. I can’t even picture it.

Funkyslippers · 03/08/2022 18:13

JessicaPeach what does that mean?

FlosCampi · 03/08/2022 18:13

Women who are written by men are often waddling or heaving their bulk around now that the scales was hovering just below 10 stone.

In fan fiction (I know), breath always "ghosts " in the air/ down their lover's spine, and hands always " card" their lovers hair.

ShirleyJackson · 03/08/2022 18:14

Jilly Cooper was a bugger for the ‘eleven stone bulk’ iirc.

LaMarschallin · 03/08/2022 18:19

ShirleyJackson · 03/08/2022 18:14

Jilly Cooper was a bugger for the ‘eleven stone bulk’ iirc.

Ooh, yes!
Poor Tory heaving her eleven stone bulk around the kitchen in "Riders".
Mind you, JC's worthy of a thread of her own for overdone cliches: men always hit someone "across the room" and everyone immediately goes off their food when they fancy someone.

Hillrunning · 03/08/2022 18:24

Isn't take someone by the elbow just linking arms? I do it all the time. How else do you walk linked to someone without holding thier hand? I take all my siblings, parents and friends by the elbow.

AWobABobBob · 03/08/2022 19:09

DelurkingAJ · 03/08/2022 18:08

DH’s eyes change from blue (relaxed) to green (stressed) with no eye make up anywhere to be seen. I was mildly unnerved when I first realised.

I need to see photos of this!

AWobABobBob · 03/08/2022 19:10

Hillrunning · 03/08/2022 18:24

Isn't take someone by the elbow just linking arms? I do it all the time. How else do you walk linked to someone without holding thier hand? I take all my siblings, parents and friends by the elbow.

Pretty sure it's holding onto somebody's elbow, like dragging them away.

AWobABobBob · 03/08/2022 19:10

"Pursed lips"

MrsRinaDecker · 03/08/2022 19:11

Overuse of the the word preternatural! I also saw natatorium used a few times in one chapter, which felt like overkill.

MichelleScarn · 03/08/2022 19:18

'Betsy just knew she wouldn't find a boyfriend, her teeny tiny petite frame was just so curvy and voluptuous, despite being so teeny tiny, her mass of curls that were just so wild and her lips were so pilllowy, her lashes constantly looked black as soot despite her waist length ice white hair how would anyone find her attractive as she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror'

littlepeas · 03/08/2022 19:22

AWobABobBob · 03/08/2022 19:10

"Pursed lips"

That’s the mumsnet cats bum face, isn’t it? 😂

BiscuitLover3678 · 03/08/2022 19:24

In reality I love the eyes darkening thing. I definitely notice it with anger but also if someone is turned on blush it’s easier to see in hazel eyes.

I get so bored of certain phrases though.

I hate in romcoms when the woman looks in the mirror and describes her appearance. 🤮

Olden times stories when the girl ‘holds her skirts’. They always blush and look down.

All the quivering makes me cringe. The lip quiver.

Onlyhereforthebatshitneighbours · 03/08/2022 19:28

@Hillrunning you're talking about linking arms. To take someone by the elbow is to cup their elbow, typically when their arm is bent.

V useful for helping little old dears across the street or being or other examples of being patronising and controlling at once.

I have a relative who's eyes flash when they're angry. I do great arching of the eyebrow myself.

eddiemairswife · 03/08/2022 19:30

My uncle used to take my elbow if we were crossing a road, even when I was well able to cross on my own. He did it to his wife too.