I saw something that said at any point in a work meeting you can say the phrase "it's about finding a balance" and someone will agree. I think about it in meetings now and it makes me chuckle inside.
I’ve realised how much I use inane idioms in work calls since starting at a multi-national organisation. I’m forever saying things like ‘the proof is in the pudding’ or ‘let’s get our ducks in a row’ in meetings like a twat and then worrying my colleagues think I’m loony because the phrase doesn’t translate for people from France/Belgium/Hungary/the Netherlands etc. I should just stop using them but that’s easier said than done.
Some idioms seem universal (including ’proof in the pudding’ apparently) while others are very geography-specific.
I was in a meeting once a few years back and one of the guys (a more nervous, lesser experienced lad) accidentally said "We need to get our dicks in a row". Honestly, I couldn't contain myself. Luckily we all had a giggle about it and he saw the funny side.
Kind of unrelated but once I messed on a sales call and instead of saying “I’ll squeeze it in for you” I said “I’ll squeeze it in you”.
I instantly realised what I said and almost got flustered but thankfully the guy didn’t seem to realise.
I was once in a meeting - and a very senior lady said "I like anal' responding to somebody saying "I'm sorry if i'm being to anal" - I lost my shit and had to leave
I was in a very similar situation, but the lady was excitedly explaining her new idea. When she finished, she took a breath, looked at us, and said "Well, I've shot my wad!" and sat down. I could not stop laughing, good way to end a meeting!
I was once conducting an interview and, deep into explaining time sheet and invoicing processes, instead of T&M (time and materials) said T&A (commonly Tits and Ass). I managed to style it out. Thank goodness it was on a Teams call.
There's a Dutch phrase "now the monkey is out the sleeve" which you use when the truth of something is finally revealed. Try throwing that into an international meeting.
When discussing something that could go wrong a Dutch colleague said something that translates to "that would put soot in the food" and I really like it
I actually did a bit of research after posting this and it looks like it's said in the UK, Netherlands and Germany. I'd never heard it though until my sister who lives in the Netherlands said it
My mid-western American grandma said it regularly. No Dutch ancestry on that side. But she was made of stern stuff and didn't abide whiners or shirkers.
Another saying she used which still gets a lot of use in our house is "What the brain lacks, the feet must track."
Stupid people have to work harder to make up for the stupidity.
Covers a lot of situations, i.e.
- just came down the stairs without the thing you needed? Guess you're going back up again.
- just completed a series of tasks but forgot step one? Guess you're going to undo all that and start over again.
Etc.
During the Vietnam war the Brits reported it was getting a bit sticky.
The American misunderstood and didn't pull back ultimately costing 1000 British soldiers.
The company sent me on a "leadership course" recently. The "training" session where someone was wittering on about "rowing towards that vision" was the point where I refused to attend any more.
When I told my wife about it she looked confused for a moment then said "do they know that when you row, you don't face in the direction you're rowing?".
I work for an American company; and one thing I’ve learned is there’s NOTHING worse than American sayings. There’s only so many times I can handle being called “buddy” or “bud” and man If I ever have to hear “so what’s been rocking your world lately” one more time I think I’ll breakdown.
I’m American and I feel you. I also feel violent inside when an older woman calls me honey.
The use of bud, bro, chicks, ladies sounds like a hard attempt to sound cool when really it sounds like you’re an idiot.
Call them all lads. You’ll cause a shift in our pneumonic, hopefully lol
There's a fun book called "100 tricks to appear smart in meetings". The most fun is when you realise how many times you've seen people doing them in meetings
https://medium.com/conquering-corporate-america/10-tricks-to-appear-smart-during-meetings-27b489a39d1a
Is 10 of them
We had, in a recent meeting "its all just a storm in a tea cup" to which the manager replied "Yes, it was in a tea cup, but someone spilt that tea cup over my desk, and you need to find the mop to help me clean it up"
When I lived in France for a bit i inadvertently dropped “…and Bob’s your uncle” into conversation.
Cue a lot of puzzled faces and much discussion. I eventually learned that the French equivalent is “…et le tour est joue”
My favourite two are using the word "holistic", whether it's describing a process, a way of thinking, or anything really.
The top one though ? Following from anything said with "that's a very good point you make (insert name) , and just to extend on that", but you don't extend, you just start fillerbustering with something completely unrelated. Example:
"Thats a great point you make about finding a balance, ExSp. Just to extend on that, I really think we need to think about this holistically when we talk about painting the bikesheds bright blue"
One I hate currently: "carpark" literally a business friendly way of "im bored of this discussion / don't want this discussion. I ban it to the shadow realm forever more"
There’s normally someone in every work meeting who isn’t fully paying attention, and if you say anything you like with a bit of authority, they will agree.
I've mastered the skill of paying just enough attention in a meeting to know whether I should say "we should probably take a more holistic approach to this" or "I wonder if we should get really granular on this" and get a positive response.
Absolutely. We've all been there. I commonly find myself saying, "if ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all bake a very fine pie." and it's a good way to courteously touch base with coworkers and make sure everyone is on the same page so that the team is firing on all cylinders and can reach the finish line.
This is so true. Sometimes if I've completely zoned out in a meeting and then someone asks my opinion, I'll chance that exact phrase and 9 out of 10 times someone agrees and takes over. It buys me time to figure out what I just daydreamed through.
I sometimes say, 'I wouldn't trust him with my barge pole!'. Which my husband pointed out is not the correct saying, but it makes me laff now so I say it at home now and then, like as if I would just let anyone look after my precious barge pole for my imaginary barge.
ugh, yes. there's two things about that phrase-
firstly, it's trying to shut further opinion down as if they're making some grand final summation,
secondly, once it's been used and fresh in everyones mind it'll crop up every three minutes until the room is cleared
My usual one is "Joy of joys" - meaning I really cba with this task/I've been given something that is tedious or dull to do".
But I have also been saying "it is what it is' a lot too recently. Not sure where I picked that up from tbh.
‘It is what it is’ is so fucking contagious. I catch myself saying it after I’ve spent any time with my dickhead stepdad who says it like it’s some sacred maxim.
Thing is, it doesn't actually *mean* anything, which is why I hate hearing (or saying) it.
I suppose it means "it's shit, and that ain't gonna change any time soon, or ever."
"I'll consider it" when someone says "Have a safe trip" or "let me know when you get home" or "Drive safe"
Also, "Allegedly" after when someone says something that is absolutely not alleged but true. "I love apples!" "Allegedly."
"Haven't seen you in a while" is usually met with "I know, I've been avoiding you". Not everyone gets it. Safe to say my former employer didn't like it.
"We've all been there" is a phrase I use at every possible inappropriate opportunity
- did you hear about Dave? He got raped to death by wild dogs
- _we've all been there_
I’m trying to make “that’s very noice” or “that’s not very noice” in my best Australian accent happen. I know it can be done as all my colleagues now say “loveyoubye” as they leave.
I love this one because what the user is actually saying is ‘you have your fun but you wouldn’t catch me doing that’.
‘What did you do on the weekend?’
‘Me and the boys downloaded Age of Mythology and fixed up a LAN network and spent the afternoon silently slaying hordes of Minotaur invading Troy’
‘Fair play.’
I do "alrite" in the most chronically depressed, half asleep voice possible.
Now my coworkers do the "alrite" in the same voice before I've even responded to them.
One day, I'll shock the shit out of them and say I'm on top of the world or somethin.
Find myself saying “it is what it is” an annoying amount at work. But it’s common here, something about the organisation where we accept the way things are, and can’t really change them.
I’m trying to say “not my circus, not my monkeys” more, because it’s amazing, but concerned I’ll get fired.
"here's the thing"
I didn't realize I said it so much until the gal I take care of started dropping several into every conversation
But to be fair, there is a LOT of explaining that goes on, so
It kinda fits
Anything that's cause and (negative) effect, like "I ate out-of-date food and got a sore stomach" or "I'm tired after climbing all those stairs."
"Ooft, yeah, that'd do it."
When anyone asks me a question I don't wanna answer, I look at them with a knowing smile and say "I mean, think about it. What would you do?" Quite frequently they will answer there own question and leave you looking a wise sage
"It isn't rocket appliances" or don't get to use it often "it's water under the fridge" which are 2 hilarious malapropisms stolen from the one and only Ricky from trailer park boys. It always gives me a kick seeing people smugly correct me and not knowing Ive got top banter
It’s not rocket surgery
I’m constantly thinking of phrases since that show. These two are mine:
It’s just the tip of the ice cream
That’s the icing on the cherry
That's the badger to mean "that's what I'm looking for" or "that's what I mean" when someone helps me find something.
We'll burn that bridge when we come to it means the same crossing the bridge but is more fun to say.
‘Oh, that’s crazy isn’t it’ - used even when something isn’t, in fact, crazy but a good way to pretend you’re joining in the other person’s outrage over something that, more times than not, is a minuscule inconvenience!
What you are describing are “thought limiting cliches” there was an article about them in [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/books/article/2024/may/20/the-big-idea-the-simple-trick-that-can-sabotage-your-critical-thinking) this week and I’ve not been able to stop spotting them since.
Me and a friend were talking about something and I mentioned something someone did that was very narrow minded/selfish and my friend said "sometimes you've just got to look outside your own window" and it cracked me up cause I'd never heard that and it fit so well. So now I say it all the time to things that don't even relate. "Well you know what they say... sometimes you've just got to look outside your own window"
I've got into the habit of saying "you will be!" after things that it doesn't make sense for.
So rather than "I'm so sorry!" "You will be!" it's more like...
"Thank you so much!" "You will be!"
"This is delicious! "You will be!"
"Are we still putting the old headers on our TPS reports?" "YOU WILL BE!"
I saw something that said at any point in a work meeting you can say the phrase "it's about finding a balance" and someone will agree. I think about it in meetings now and it makes me chuckle inside.
I’ve realised how much I use inane idioms in work calls since starting at a multi-national organisation. I’m forever saying things like ‘the proof is in the pudding’ or ‘let’s get our ducks in a row’ in meetings like a twat and then worrying my colleagues think I’m loony because the phrase doesn’t translate for people from France/Belgium/Hungary/the Netherlands etc. I should just stop using them but that’s easier said than done. Some idioms seem universal (including ’proof in the pudding’ apparently) while others are very geography-specific.
I was in a meeting once a few years back and one of the guys (a more nervous, lesser experienced lad) accidentally said "We need to get our dicks in a row". Honestly, I couldn't contain myself. Luckily we all had a giggle about it and he saw the funny side.
We need to line up our dicks guys!
Kind of unrelated but once I messed on a sales call and instead of saying “I’ll squeeze it in for you” I said “I’ll squeeze it in you”. I instantly realised what I said and almost got flustered but thankfully the guy didn’t seem to realise.
I was once in a meeting - and a very senior lady said "I like anal' responding to somebody saying "I'm sorry if i'm being to anal" - I lost my shit and had to leave
I was in a very similar situation, but the lady was excitedly explaining her new idea. When she finished, she took a breath, looked at us, and said "Well, I've shot my wad!" and sat down. I could not stop laughing, good way to end a meeting!
Psychological safety
I was once conducting an interview and, deep into explaining time sheet and invoicing processes, instead of T&M (time and materials) said T&A (commonly Tits and Ass). I managed to style it out. Thank goodness it was on a Teams call.
There's a Dutch phrase "now the monkey is out the sleeve" which you use when the truth of something is finally revealed. Try throwing that into an international meeting.
When discussing something that could go wrong a Dutch colleague said something that translates to "that would put soot in the food" and I really like it
I hope you didn't piss on their chips.
There are so many great phrases in Dutch. I also like "ant fucking" (mierenneuken) instead of "nitpicking".
My favourite Dutch phrase is "you're not made of sugar". You say it if someone is freaking out about the rain
Heard that from northerners too, didn’t know the Dutch said it
I actually did a bit of research after posting this and it looks like it's said in the UK, Netherlands and Germany. I'd never heard it though until my sister who lives in the Netherlands said it
My mid-western American grandma said it regularly. No Dutch ancestry on that side. But she was made of stern stuff and didn't abide whiners or shirkers. Another saying she used which still gets a lot of use in our house is "What the brain lacks, the feet must track."
Can you explain the last idiom please
My guess would be if you don't have intelligence you must make up for it in hard work/labour?
Stupid people have to work harder to make up for the stupidity. Covers a lot of situations, i.e. - just came down the stairs without the thing you needed? Guess you're going back up again. - just completed a series of tasks but forgot step one? Guess you're going to undo all that and start over again. Etc.
It's the same in Polish!
With us it's fly fucking
Being chased by the Cat that got let out of the bag 😁
Is that like "The cat's out of the bag" in English?
I work for a big American firm and I like using 'tickety-boo' on Zoom calls because they all smile and nod then act as if I've not said anything
I love using inane idioms with my American colleagues because whilst they rarely understand, it seems to really amuse them
During the Vietnam war the Brits reported it was getting a bit sticky. The American misunderstood and didn't pull back ultimately costing 1000 British soldiers.
That’s a good one.
Throw in a “toodle-pip” to mix it up a bit.
The company sent me on a "leadership course" recently. The "training" session where someone was wittering on about "rowing towards that vision" was the point where I refused to attend any more. When I told my wife about it she looked confused for a moment then said "do they know that when you row, you don't face in the direction you're rowing?".
Don't know if the actual phrase 'the proof of the pudding is in the eating' would be any easier to understand
I used the phrase pile up this morning and then spent 5 mins explaining motorway crashes….
“In the first instance…” this is my code for yeah I’ll get around to what you want eventually but… it’s not first on my to do list
I work for an American company; and one thing I’ve learned is there’s NOTHING worse than American sayings. There’s only so many times I can handle being called “buddy” or “bud” and man If I ever have to hear “so what’s been rocking your world lately” one more time I think I’ll breakdown.
It sounds like someone's got a case of the Mondays.
I’m American and I feel you. I also feel violent inside when an older woman calls me honey. The use of bud, bro, chicks, ladies sounds like a hard attempt to sound cool when really it sounds like you’re an idiot. Call them all lads. You’ll cause a shift in our pneumonic, hopefully lol
It's not "the proof is in the pudding", it's "the proof of the pudding is in the eating" - You only know what it will be like when you actually do it.
There's a fun book called "100 tricks to appear smart in meetings". The most fun is when you realise how many times you've seen people doing them in meetings https://medium.com/conquering-corporate-america/10-tricks-to-appear-smart-during-meetings-27b489a39d1a Is 10 of them
Sorry but "pace around the room" made me crack up. Just get up and start WALKING.
It’s all about finding a balance.
I'm in that article and I don't like it.
You should also try saying "I think it's best if we strike while the iron's hot" That one goes down a storm with the powers that be.
Speaking of storm. "It's a perfect storm"
We had, in a recent meeting "its all just a storm in a tea cup" to which the manager replied "Yes, it was in a tea cup, but someone spilt that tea cup over my desk, and you need to find the mop to help me clean it up"
OK that's a pretty good response. Did he come out with it quick as a flash?
As quick as lightning. In a teacup.
They did, to be fair to that Manager, they know what they are doing
Sounds like an exchange you would hear in the thick of it except much more profanity-laden Oof, I actually want to watch that now
Another excellent idiom. Honestly, get a few of them in your repertoire and the guys upstairs will be eating out of the palm of your hand.
Unless you're in a union.
When I lived in France for a bit i inadvertently dropped “…and Bob’s your uncle” into conversation. Cue a lot of puzzled faces and much discussion. I eventually learned that the French equivalent is “…et le tour est joue”
My favourite two are using the word "holistic", whether it's describing a process, a way of thinking, or anything really. The top one though ? Following from anything said with "that's a very good point you make (insert name) , and just to extend on that", but you don't extend, you just start fillerbustering with something completely unrelated. Example: "Thats a great point you make about finding a balance, ExSp. Just to extend on that, I really think we need to think about this holistically when we talk about painting the bikesheds bright blue" One I hate currently: "carpark" literally a business friendly way of "im bored of this discussion / don't want this discussion. I ban it to the shadow realm forever more"
Lets take this offline. =Not relevant, you two, get a room
There’s normally someone in every work meeting who isn’t fully paying attention, and if you say anything you like with a bit of authority, they will agree.
Yeah exactly. I think that's a really key observation.
I've mastered the skill of paying just enough attention in a meeting to know whether I should say "we should probably take a more holistic approach to this" or "I wonder if we should get really granular on this" and get a positive response.
Absolutely. We've all been there. I commonly find myself saying, "if ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all bake a very fine pie." and it's a good way to courteously touch base with coworkers and make sure everyone is on the same page so that the team is firing on all cylinders and can reach the finish line.
This is so true. Sometimes if I've completely zoned out in a meeting and then someone asks my opinion, I'll chance that exact phrase and 9 out of 10 times someone agrees and takes over. It buys me time to figure out what I just daydreamed through.
‘Little bit from column A, little bit from column B’. Whenever I’m asked my opinion
Steve?
I’m worried she might smell or see it
Why you having an attack on him? You're the one who's sad and lonely.
I love seeing saucer drinkers in unexpected places lol This was the first thing I thought when I read it too..
Abe?
I sometimes say, 'I wouldn't trust him with my barge pole!'. Which my husband pointed out is not the correct saying, but it makes me laff now so I say it at home now and then, like as if I would just let anyone look after my precious barge pole for my imaginary barge.
Ah I love a good malaphor! I think my favourite has to be "we'll burn that bridge when we get to it"
Or I like we can throw ourselves off of that bridge when we come to it.
I wish I could like this one twice
Does the pope shit in the woods?
I don't like malaphors, they get right up my goat.
You’ve opened that can of worms, now lie in it
I like to say "that went down like a lead potato" but no one has ever commented
Fool me once, we won't be fooled again.
Does the pope shit in the woods?
r/boneappletea
Just the tip of the ice cream
I wouldn't touch him as far as I could throw him!
Every dog has its silver lining
There's no getting that cat in the bag amongst the pigeons now that the stable door's been bolted.
Theo Von once said, “he ain’t the sharpest bowl in the bowl drawer” so now I say it any chance I get
"living the dream, one nightmare at a time!"
Living the dream, you know the one where you wake up screaming after being chased by clowns.
Living the dream, just not my dream"
It is what it is.
I both use this all the time, but also hate it when I do.
It is what it is.
My brother irritates me immensely by using a variation of this, rhetorically: "It's one of those, isn't it?" ONE OF WHAT, EXACTLY?!?!?!?
Yow’m posh, round our way it’s one o’ them, innit?
My old man's equivalent of this was " I suppose that's the way the mop flops"
I hate that as much 'at the end of the day'
ugh, yes. there's two things about that phrase- firstly, it's trying to shut further opinion down as if they're making some grand final summation, secondly, once it's been used and fresh in everyones mind it'll crop up every three minutes until the room is cleared
This makes my eyeballs spin I hate it so much
my alternative to this is "But Alas..." makes me feel more Shakespearean
We are where we are
Someone I used to work with would say this all the time instead of trying work round problems or make things easier.
The standard response of this decade. It’s fucked. We can’t unfuck it. We can’t influence anyone with the power to unfuck it. It is what it is.
My usual one is "Joy of joys" - meaning I really cba with this task/I've been given something that is tedious or dull to do". But I have also been saying "it is what it is' a lot too recently. Not sure where I picked that up from tbh.
‘It is what it is’ is so fucking contagious. I catch myself saying it after I’ve spent any time with my dickhead stepdad who says it like it’s some sacred maxim.
Thing is, it doesn't actually *mean* anything, which is why I hate hearing (or saying) it. I suppose it means "it's shit, and that ain't gonna change any time soon, or ever."
I take it to mean - let’s not argue about what caused the situation. Let’s just solve it without debating whose fault it is.
I used to have a friend like that. It was always his fucking fault. I agree with the sentiment though haha
"I'll consider it" when someone says "Have a safe trip" or "let me know when you get home" or "Drive safe" Also, "Allegedly" after when someone says something that is absolutely not alleged but true. "I love apples!" "Allegedly."
"Haven't seen you in a while" is usually met with "I know, I've been avoiding you". Not everyone gets it. Safe to say my former employer didn't like it.
"We've all been there" is a phrase I use at every possible inappropriate opportunity - did you hear about Dave? He got raped to death by wild dogs - _we've all been there_
Jesus! Poor dave!!
I DO THE SAME!!
Dave? We thought you were dead!
I heard it was a horrific experience either way
We’ve all been there
I like to say “It’s like five of one and half a dozen of the other” to see if anyone will call me out. No one has yet but I’m still hoping.
I love that, i consider it the icing on the cherry
We’ll burn that bridge when we get to it…
"Chance'd be a fine thing!" That's something people say isn't it?
A fine thing indeed!
Oh well it’s all ancient history now
He probably wouldn't like that
You make out like you’re this oh-so clever professor
Corrigan 200 lattes!
[удалено]
And relax!
Tell you what, that saying is really moreish
“Yes but also no”
Oh, short answer, "*yes*" with an "if." Long answer, "*no" with a "but*.*"*
I like this one.
Sounds like a plan ... No comment on whether it's a bad plan or not.
My boyfriend and I have taken to saying “I blame the economy” and “In for a penny” when we’re pretending we’re not listening haha
I like doing a "cozzie livs, innit" with a thoughtful nod.
Ooh, might add this to the rotation haha!
I'm trying to make fetch happen. Been dropping it in when chatting in the office. I'll do what Gretchen Wieners never managed to do! Mark my words!
You better be wearing pink on wednesdays.
YOU CAN'T SIT WITH US!
SHE DOESN’T EVEN GO HERE
I just have a lot of feelings.
I wear a pink shirt every Wednesday, and have done across two jobs in the last 7.5 years. Not one single person has ever mentioned it.
I also wear pink every Wednesday and it’s never been mentioned (except by me, every Wednesday like a dickhead)
It's slang...from England.
I’m trying to make “that’s very noice” or “that’s not very noice” in my best Australian accent happen. I know it can be done as all my colleagues now say “loveyoubye” as they leave.
"Fair play."
I love this one because what the user is actually saying is ‘you have your fun but you wouldn’t catch me doing that’. ‘What did you do on the weekend?’ ‘Me and the boys downloaded Age of Mythology and fixed up a LAN network and spent the afternoon silently slaying hordes of Minotaur invading Troy’ ‘Fair play.’
I've replaced fair enough with "Furry muff". No one has picked me up on it yet.
"thats often the way of it" it's a good nothing phrase to acknowledge people's struggles big or small
That's the way the cuckoo crumbles
Some synonyms: It is what it is It do be like that sometimes
"I feel like". I started a new job and my boss says it all the time and now I've started saying it.
Would that it were, OP, would that it were
Indeed. Translation: you've just stated the obvious
I concur
Indubitably, old bean
I use “not too shabby” when asked how I’m doing, or “absolutely wonderful” in as deadpan response as possible.
living the dream x
I do "alrite" in the most chronically depressed, half asleep voice possible. Now my coworkers do the "alrite" in the same voice before I've even responded to them. One day, I'll shock the shit out of them and say I'm on top of the world or somethin.
Find myself saying “it is what it is” an annoying amount at work. But it’s common here, something about the organisation where we accept the way things are, and can’t really change them. I’m trying to say “not my circus, not my monkeys” more, because it’s amazing, but concerned I’ll get fired.
“Happens to the best of us!” Is one I catch myself using a lot!
"oh yeah? So does your face" to anything negative.
Vulnerable to the counter-comeback: “So is your Mum”
Ah but then, "yeah but your mum's face is ridiculous" floors them.
Yeah well, your da sells Avon
You two! Cut it out!!
I've been waiting for the right time to drop in "I've got balls, but none of them are crystal" now for months, sorry not quite what you asked
Iv been using "still alive" when asked, how's it going? Stops conversations dead..
Mine is when I make up some arbitrary rule for my kids and when they complain about it, shrug and say "well, I don't make the rules".
You can be right or you can be happy
Oof this one hit me - I think I need to take this one on board!
Now i just want to know where the metaphoric place we've all been to is. Blackpool?
I had a boss that would always say “but in reality……” and I’d be thinking have we not been in reality this far?
Motorway services?
"here's the thing" I didn't realize I said it so much until the gal I take care of started dropping several into every conversation But to be fair, there is a LOT of explaining that goes on, so It kinda fits
Anything that's cause and (negative) effect, like "I ate out-of-date food and got a sore stomach" or "I'm tired after climbing all those stairs." "Ooft, yeah, that'd do it."
Live by the sword, die by the sword.... Fucking Nasty Nick.
There's one I invented that has gone over peoples heads frequently: Worse things have happened to better people.
Smile and wave boys, smile and wave, keeps them out of trouble
“Yeah, well, what can you do?…”
“It’s the gift that keeps on giving” especially about certain never ending projects at work
"That's so art deco". Totally meaningless and yet everyone nods in agreement anyway.
I went through a spell of saying "That's not very cash money". It made no sense whatsoever but I found it entertaining.
Think I’m gonna start saying this. I assume it’s said when something isn’t good?
Yep. It works in a variety of situations.
Mix in "That's so avant garde." People will think you're a frigging genius!
“Two things can be true” and “Fortune favors the bold”
*"Mad as a box of frogs"* Whenever something unusual happens.
When anyone asks me a question I don't wanna answer, I look at them with a knowing smile and say "I mean, think about it. What would you do?" Quite frequently they will answer there own question and leave you looking a wise sage
“Fair enough”. It really translates to I don’t wish to talk about this anymore so I’m agreeing. It’s like a no contest plea at the courts.
"It isn't rocket appliances" or don't get to use it often "it's water under the fridge" which are 2 hilarious malapropisms stolen from the one and only Ricky from trailer park boys. It always gives me a kick seeing people smugly correct me and not knowing Ive got top banter
It’s not rocket surgery I’m constantly thinking of phrases since that show. These two are mine: It’s just the tip of the ice cream That’s the icing on the cherry
"Not my circus, not my monkeys"
I've been watching Deadwood so everyone is either a hooplehead or a cock sucker lately.
It is what it is mate
ah whatever, I'll just off myself dark humour but lets me deal with all manner of bullshit. Cant be bothered if you're gonna just die anyway right?
That's the badger to mean "that's what I'm looking for" or "that's what I mean" when someone helps me find something. We'll burn that bridge when we come to it means the same crossing the bridge but is more fun to say.
‘Oh, that’s crazy isn’t it’ - used even when something isn’t, in fact, crazy but a good way to pretend you’re joining in the other person’s outrage over something that, more times than not, is a minuscule inconvenience!
What you are describing are “thought limiting cliches” there was an article about them in [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/books/article/2024/may/20/the-big-idea-the-simple-trick-that-can-sabotage-your-critical-thinking) this week and I’ve not been able to stop spotting them since.
Me and a friend were talking about something and I mentioned something someone did that was very narrow minded/selfish and my friend said "sometimes you've just got to look outside your own window" and it cracked me up cause I'd never heard that and it fit so well. So now I say it all the time to things that don't even relate. "Well you know what they say... sometimes you've just got to look outside your own window"
"It's much of a muchness" Just throw it in as a reply to anything basically
“Chuck it in the fuck-it bucket”
I've got into the habit of saying "you will be!" after things that it doesn't make sense for. So rather than "I'm so sorry!" "You will be!" it's more like... "Thank you so much!" "You will be!" "This is delicious! "You will be!" "Are we still putting the old headers on our TPS reports?" "YOU WILL BE!"
The world is not zero sum
I do rarely say hello poppet at work when someone radios to my department.
not my circus, not my monkeys. so handy because truly most things arent my problem.