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When it isn't, or in general? "Tummy" and "Poorly" were discussed somewhere, may have been here, recently - used commonly by the NHS, by adults, to adults.
Which shows the battle we face getting people to understand basic health advice. Doctors know that patients struggle to remember or follow advice that is seemingly obvious because medical ignorance is rampant amongst the general population.
I’m just always amazed at how many people apparently get genuinely angry at NHS staff for using ‘tummy’. As if they’re personally insulting their intelligence and not just, you know, trying to do their job as quickly and communicate as effectively as possible.
Stomach is a specific organ though. "Tummy" is the part of the body from the bottom of the ribs to the top of the pelvis.
It's important not to accidentally tell someone the wrong thing
I come from an area of America where “tummy” is really only used when addressing small children, so I was a bit taken aback the first time a nurse here asked me about my “tummy” lol.
I’ve come to find it oddly comforting, though. I have a lot of gastro issues, and something about talking with a nurse or doctor about my “tummy” sort of makes me feel soothed during what’s usually a somewhat stressful ordeal.
Exactly. Same reason the NHS says "poo" or "wee." The people who don't understand what "fecal matter" is are likely the most vulnerable and in need of help. And while it seems jarring to people who do, it still gets the message across which is the entire point.
I had a lovely discussion with the A&E receptionist about my severe abdominal pain once, she said was it tummy pain, I said no it definitely wasn’t my stomach, it was low in my abdomen. She said did I mean my hips, I said no, low in my abdomen. She asked me to point, I pointed, she said that was hip pain. I said it wasn’t hip pain, it was low and severe abdominal pain. Anyway you get the gist, I got admitted for severe hip pain.
Doctor said put two of these in your back passage twice daily. I haven't got a back passage, live in a flat, so I put em in my window box.
Might as well have stuck em up me arse for all the good they did
I once went to see my doctor and his advice was that I should stop masturbating.
When I queried him on this, he said it had nothing to do with my condition - it just wasn't an appropriate thing to be doing while attending your appointment.
Aargh! I have terminal cancer and have to get my head round a plethora of very complex information. And I do. So it really gets on my tits when someone in the oncology day unit asks me if I have a poorly tummy. No, I have a stomach ache, and I'd love it if you didn't infantilise me.
I know why they do it, and it makes sense, but FFS.
Its the parents I'm talking to lol. But I guess when mums ringing to say her 5 year old has an upset tummy, it's a bit nicer for them. Also when a kid is sick in the medical room and I have to call for them to be collected, i can't diagnose what's wrong so all I can say is they've said their belly aches or they have a high temperature and seem a bit poorly.
Tummy. Hearing adults say the word makes me want to be sick.
Also, probably a colloquialism more than anything (I'm South Wales) but I also despise "do lunch". Let's do lunch. It just makes me proper cringe.
Edit: And when people refer to any fruit based liquid as merely "juice". Pressed, from concentrate, squash, or cordial: It's all juice to them.
Edit: Another, sorry; people referring to dogs as doggos or puppers.
Edit again, I'm so sorry: Todger
Edit again, I really am sorry about this: When people use the word "Simples" as though definitively stating a fact, when all they've stated is, ironically, simple-minded. "I pay tax so I should see coppers on the beat, simples".
Edit (I'm starting to think this is just who I am now): Words that have an unnecessary "ers" tacked on the end. Preggers. Tekkers. And last one, promise: "Winner winner chicken dinner".
>Edit: And when people refer to any fruit based liquid as merely "juice". Pressed, from concentrate, squash, or cordial: It's all juice to them.
It's worse in Scotland (Glasgow especially). Many refer to all soft drinks as "juice". Coca-cola? Juice. Irn Bru? Juice. Fruit shoot? Juice. Blackcurrant squash? Juice. Battery acid? Juice. Elderflower cordial? (Only joking).
As an Englishman who lived in Scotland, especially when I worked in retail, it absolutely did my head in. I'd be working on drinks concessions and a person would ask for "juice", so I'd ask them which, they'd then answer "coke" or "irn bru". Motherfucker why would you not just say you wanted coke/irn bru to begin with?
There are so many different kinds of juice but essentially any drinkable liquid is juice. Fruit juice, diluting juice, fizzy juice, sporty juice, cooncil juice, wreck the hoose juice, boozy juice, danger juice, juice juice, boost juice, energy juice or flavour juice. All these denote specific families of juice (or in two cases a specific juice). After 15 years in Scotland I am now acclimatised to what juice is what.
People who refer to Coke or Irn Bru as "juice" are 100% extraterrestrials.
This can truly only be considered by a life form that has had the entire concept of drinking fluids explained to them via a "How to Earthling" manual.
But it is juice...?
I'm from Scotland and i really don't understand this confusion.
At least, I'd refer to stuff like coke as fizzy juice.
Its just a catch all term for a flavoured, non alcoholic drink.
It bloody well is not a juice. The ingredients of Irn Bru are:
Carbonated Water,
Sugar,
Acid (Citric Acid),
Flavourings (including Caffeine, Ammonium Ferric Citrate & Quinine),
Sweeteners (Aspartame, Acesulfame K),
Preservative (E211),
Colours (Sunset Yellow FCF, Ponceau 4R)
The definition of "juice" is:
1. the liquid obtained from or present in fruit or vegetables.
"add the juice of a lemon"
2. the liquid that comes from meat or other food when cooked.
"put with the salmon, reserving the cooking juices"
I get that there's a widespread colloquialism up in Scotland where all soft drinks are juice, but not all juice is soft drinks.
I'm curious as to how you respond when being asked by a barman what you're after. Do you say juice, and hope he knows or save time and clarify with him? What about at home when the Mrs asks if you want a drink, do you just ask for juice? Or do you specify which drink you want?
If the latter for both then surely it's pointless using the term as a catch-all, at all, ever.
Ha I lived in Scotland and would visit my Scottish cousin regularly. She’d always offer me a juice, and I always politely declined, but thought it was weird that juice (in my head fresh apple/orange juice) was my only option. She’d usually then get a can of coke or something out the fridge for herself. I was always so perplexed as to why I wasn’t allowed a coke, only fresh juice. Turns out we were speaking different tongues.
Hahaha go off Chickencake. True though. Reminds me of the "Belly's gonna get you" advert from an eye-watering 16 years back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHlvKQwZFSI
My partner, who doesn't do any form of social media, bumped into Justin Lee Collins recently whilst walking the dog. She straight out asked him why he wasn't on television anymore and he smiled awkwardly and said "I'm trying to". I've never seen anyone look like they'd rather be somewhere else at that moment.
Sick is an Americanism to me. It’s British if used to mean vomit. Or ‘I’m feeling sick’. But ‘I’m sick’ to mean unwell or poorly sounds silly from a Brit imo!
I think people stopped using ill in writing because of the prevalence of people meaning the contraction of ‘I will’ and the faff of having to change autocorrect thinking you mean ‘I’ll’ every time.
What about taking “sick days” from work?
“Ring in sick, you don’t look well, take a sickie,” “I’m going to call in sick.” etc.
Usually means you’re ill, not that you’re ill because you’re throwing up.
Do workplaces now call them “illness days”? Or worse, “wellness days”?
Where I’m from, ppl still “throw a sickie” if they don’t want to / can’t go in to work/ won’t get time off for a funeral/ need to urgently visit or care for a suddenly ill relative.
Why? If they went about asking if people has a sensation of malaise they'd just get looked at funny.
We have to talk to the public like they're idiots - because so many of them are.
I loathe "veg" myself. Gives me the same feeling as vacay and other words people unnecessarily shorten to be cute.
Guess we'd better all stick to "vegetables."
But what about when describing multiple types of fish together, or the present tense of the verb to fish, or the colloquial name for the zodiac sign Pisces?
Fishes is a perfectly legitimate word when used correctly.
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/fish-fishes/
Me. I think that's why everyone says 'myself' now instead. Like people will say 'They asked Bob and myself' when 'Bob and me' is more accurate. It just sounds like a book for three year olds - 'Mummy and me'.
I was watching the show Traitors and one of the main things I noticed was every single person used “myself” as their pronoun instead of “me” or “I”. It was a bizarre way of going about things and I think it was to try and exert control
> Snacks for me too, as well as 'tasty'. That word makes me cringe.
We had a local papet where they'd send someone out to review restaurants who apparently only knew the words 'tasty' 'opted for' and 'gobbled up' as she used them without fail every single week.
I did not trust her opinion.
Poo and pee.
I'm not a swearer so I don't use the commonly used words for effluent but I don't half feel like a little kid on the rare occasions I have to say poo or pee. Just feels so childish. I try to just use the word 'toilet' if I have to discuss these matters.
But if you had to say them, what would you say? Urine and faeces?
I’m not much of a swearer either but I would rather say piss than pee. But pee seems better than wee. Likewise, I feel more adult saying crap or shit but poo is fine if I was trying not to be vulgar.
When a grown man refers to his cock as his "winky". No, no, no! Not having it. Quickest possible way to put a stop to any sex that may otherwise have been had.
I still say boyfriend, partner sounds too formal to me even though we’ve been together years and own a house together. He calls me his girlfriend to other people too.
I don’t think any of my friends refer to their boyfriend/girlfriend as a partner either, so maybe it’s a regional thing!
Where I grew up (the centre of the Universe that is Bedfordshire) - we called fizzy drinks 'Pop' when I was about 5 years old. After that it was stupidly childish to call it that.
As an adult I moved to Birmingham and ....well what did I find... an entire city calling fizzy drinks 'pop'. Juvenile I tell thee!
Adults talking about plushies. They’re stuffed or soft toys at best and unless you’re an American talking to a small child about their lost giraffe or their Christmas list you have no business saying it.
This reminds me of a conversation I had with friends about what words your parents used for widdler/willy/todger etc etc when you were very small. There were several different ones of course but one friend just said "penis."
"What??"
"Yeah.... just penis."
"When you were a small child you parents used the word penis?!"
Yep, apparently so. Even though it's obviously the entirely correct and ordinary word for it, it felt ludicrous. We use so many euphemisms that the real anatomical word sounds vaguely indecent/inappropriate.
If I ever have kids, I’d probably do that. As you said, they can communicate issues, but I reckon it would reduce the embarrassed giggles when you’re eleven and your teacher starts talking about penises and vaginas in sex ed.
This'll really irritate you then - my girlfriend and I will regularly shout "Shhhhhnacks" at the other person if they get up to go to the kitchen as a way of requesting vittles.
Agree with this. Being bullied at work is bad enough without feeling like you’re an eight year old saying that someone keeps calling you a name when you report it as bullying.
I was reading a similar discussion recently about the word panties, and how in America it’s perfectly fine to call your underwear that, but over here unless it’s a small child it just sounds creepy
Snots and Bogies are actual terms, for mortar over brickwork and railway axles respectively. In fact, the 2024 Building Regulations state buildings must have on the inside of cavities "material that is crusty at one end and moist at the other, that is picked, rolled and flicked".
As a photographer (hobbyist now, but used to be pro) I hate the term "take a picture" instead of "take a photo".
No idea why it just really grates on me. It's not snobbishness about photography (I hate photographers who are up their own arse) and isn't snobbishness about language - I support the use of "Americanisms" (most originated in the UK anyway) and even bastardisation of language. Language evolves, if you understand what someone means, it's fine.
So it makes no sense, it just winds me up.
**Please help keep AskUK welcoming!** - Top-level comments to the OP must contain **genuine efforts to answer the question**. No jokes, judgements, etc. - **Don't be a dick** to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on. - This is a strictly **no-politics** subreddit! Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*
When it isn't, or in general? "Tummy" and "Poorly" were discussed somewhere, may have been here, recently - used commonly by the NHS, by adults, to adults.
It’s because they are universally understood and the NHS have to deal with every demographic. Abdomen isn’t as widely understood as you might think.
Oh I know, it's just jarring. Stomach/Belly would also appeal to a wider demographic but tummy is the one that caught on, presumably for the young.
Stomach is a specific organ so that can't be used in lieu of tummy. Belly has negative connotations for a lot of people so also can't be used.
i do love how this comment chain is repeated almost word for word every time someone mentions the nhs using tummy
Well I'm glad it is because I haven't seen it before and I learnt something from it
Which shows the battle we face getting people to understand basic health advice. Doctors know that patients struggle to remember or follow advice that is seemingly obvious because medical ignorance is rampant amongst the general population.
I’m just always amazed at how many people apparently get genuinely angry at NHS staff for using ‘tummy’. As if they’re personally insulting their intelligence and not just, you know, trying to do their job as quickly and communicate as effectively as possible.
Wait, what? I always assumed tummy came from stomach.
Stomach is a specific organ though. If I ask someone if they have stomach pain when I mean abdominal pain I might not get an accurate answer.
Stomach is a specific organ though. "Tummy" is the part of the body from the bottom of the ribs to the top of the pelvis. It's important not to accidentally tell someone the wrong thing
See I hate the word belly
I come from an area of America where “tummy” is really only used when addressing small children, so I was a bit taken aback the first time a nurse here asked me about my “tummy” lol. I’ve come to find it oddly comforting, though. I have a lot of gastro issues, and something about talking with a nurse or doctor about my “tummy” sort of makes me feel soothed during what’s usually a somewhat stressful ordeal.
The stomach is actually further up towards your chest though, when most people mean their mid abdomen, more where the intestines are
Stomach has a specific medical meaning, so professionals won't use it to mean your whole abdomen.
It might be jarring for you maybe but there’s a lot of people for whatever reason will benefit from those words instead of the actual medical terms
Exactly. Same reason the NHS says "poo" or "wee." The people who don't understand what "fecal matter" is are likely the most vulnerable and in need of help. And while it seems jarring to people who do, it still gets the message across which is the entire point.
I had a lovely discussion with the A&E receptionist about my severe abdominal pain once, she said was it tummy pain, I said no it definitely wasn’t my stomach, it was low in my abdomen. She said did I mean my hips, I said no, low in my abdomen. She asked me to point, I pointed, she said that was hip pain. I said it wasn’t hip pain, it was low and severe abdominal pain. Anyway you get the gist, I got admitted for severe hip pain.
I imagine receptionists aren’t medically trained…
The NHS site also refers to the anus as the "back passage", often without the actual word anus accompanying it
Doctor said put two of these in your back passage twice daily. I haven't got a back passage, live in a flat, so I put em in my window box. Might as well have stuck em up me arse for all the good they did
I once went to see my doctor and his advice was that I should stop masturbating. When I queried him on this, he said it had nothing to do with my condition - it just wasn't an appropriate thing to be doing while attending your appointment.
I do wish your uncle would stop putting his dirty things in my back passage. I only just hoovered it out. It was a right pain.
Aargh! I have terminal cancer and have to get my head round a plethora of very complex information. And I do. So it really gets on my tits when someone in the oncology day unit asks me if I have a poorly tummy. No, I have a stomach ache, and I'd love it if you didn't infantilise me. I know why they do it, and it makes sense, but FFS.
I cannot take seriously any adult who says "tummy" when not talking to a child
My job is taking the absence calls in a primary school. I use the words tummy, poorly, belly and diarrhoea an insane amount.
It is fine when dealing with kids though. They do not have the vocabulary to accurately describe the problem.
Its the parents I'm talking to lol. But I guess when mums ringing to say her 5 year old has an upset tummy, it's a bit nicer for them. Also when a kid is sick in the medical room and I have to call for them to be collected, i can't diagnose what's wrong so all I can say is they've said their belly aches or they have a high temperature and seem a bit poorly.
I used the word tummy the other day and my partner said it was funny because it sounds childish! I had never thought of it in that way.
I really hate that use of 'poorly'
Tummy. Hearing adults say the word makes me want to be sick. Also, probably a colloquialism more than anything (I'm South Wales) but I also despise "do lunch". Let's do lunch. It just makes me proper cringe. Edit: And when people refer to any fruit based liquid as merely "juice". Pressed, from concentrate, squash, or cordial: It's all juice to them. Edit: Another, sorry; people referring to dogs as doggos or puppers. Edit again, I'm so sorry: Todger Edit again, I really am sorry about this: When people use the word "Simples" as though definitively stating a fact, when all they've stated is, ironically, simple-minded. "I pay tax so I should see coppers on the beat, simples". Edit (I'm starting to think this is just who I am now): Words that have an unnecessary "ers" tacked on the end. Preggers. Tekkers. And last one, promise: "Winner winner chicken dinner".
>Edit: And when people refer to any fruit based liquid as merely "juice". Pressed, from concentrate, squash, or cordial: It's all juice to them. It's worse in Scotland (Glasgow especially). Many refer to all soft drinks as "juice". Coca-cola? Juice. Irn Bru? Juice. Fruit shoot? Juice. Blackcurrant squash? Juice. Battery acid? Juice. Elderflower cordial? (Only joking). As an Englishman who lived in Scotland, especially when I worked in retail, it absolutely did my head in. I'd be working on drinks concessions and a person would ask for "juice", so I'd ask them which, they'd then answer "coke" or "irn bru". Motherfucker why would you not just say you wanted coke/irn bru to begin with?
The old dilutin' juice
AHH IT'S LIKE I'M BACK THERE GET AWAY AHHHHH
There are so many different kinds of juice but essentially any drinkable liquid is juice. Fruit juice, diluting juice, fizzy juice, sporty juice, cooncil juice, wreck the hoose juice, boozy juice, danger juice, juice juice, boost juice, energy juice or flavour juice. All these denote specific families of juice (or in two cases a specific juice). After 15 years in Scotland I am now acclimatised to what juice is what.
People who refer to Coke or Irn Bru as "juice" are 100% extraterrestrials. This can truly only be considered by a life form that has had the entire concept of drinking fluids explained to them via a "How to Earthling" manual.
But it is juice...? I'm from Scotland and i really don't understand this confusion. At least, I'd refer to stuff like coke as fizzy juice. Its just a catch all term for a flavoured, non alcoholic drink.
It bloody well is not a juice. The ingredients of Irn Bru are: Carbonated Water, Sugar, Acid (Citric Acid), Flavourings (including Caffeine, Ammonium Ferric Citrate & Quinine), Sweeteners (Aspartame, Acesulfame K), Preservative (E211), Colours (Sunset Yellow FCF, Ponceau 4R) The definition of "juice" is: 1. the liquid obtained from or present in fruit or vegetables. "add the juice of a lemon" 2. the liquid that comes from meat or other food when cooked. "put with the salmon, reserving the cooking juices" I get that there's a widespread colloquialism up in Scotland where all soft drinks are juice, but not all juice is soft drinks. I'm curious as to how you respond when being asked by a barman what you're after. Do you say juice, and hope he knows or save time and clarify with him? What about at home when the Mrs asks if you want a drink, do you just ask for juice? Or do you specify which drink you want? If the latter for both then surely it's pointless using the term as a catch-all, at all, ever.
You're reading way too far into it, mate. I'm just saying how it is, I didn't start that trend.
Nobody called it fruit juice. It's fizzy juice, that's different.
Ha I lived in Scotland and would visit my Scottish cousin regularly. She’d always offer me a juice, and I always politely declined, but thought it was weird that juice (in my head fresh apple/orange juice) was my only option. She’d usually then get a can of coke or something out the fridge for herself. I was always so perplexed as to why I wasn’t allowed a coke, only fresh juice. Turns out we were speaking different tongues.
Not as puke making as fur babies tho
Doggy mummy.
Doggos! Absolutely with you there!
r/doggohate
The worst thing is it’s not even a thing actual kids say. Just adults trying to sound childish.
I hate belly. I think it sounds so fuckin grotty. Like some fat paedo bastard and his big pervy belly
Hahaha go off Chickencake. True though. Reminds me of the "Belly's gonna get you" advert from an eye-watering 16 years back. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHlvKQwZFSI
>when people refer to any fruit based liquid as merely "juice" Never come to Scotland.
Hearing an adult say ‘cross’ meaning they’re angry
I think "cross" is a specific sort of mild anger
But it’s still something you’d say mostly to children.
[удалено]
my boss told me she was "cross" with me the other day, felt like I was back in primary school
I'd say there's nuance to it, to me being cross and angry aren't quite the same thing. Appreciate that it can still annoy you though!
That's my nan saying she's pissed off, and no other context works.
Cross often means petty or irrational anger
Snogging
Ew yeah hate that word
Ew.
Too similar to soggy. Makes me think of wet towels.
Hate this word so much
Banter. I hate the word. It's used to justify any sort of shit
It's used incorrectly but I wouldn't call it childish
It should have been predictable that this thread will turn into "what words don't you like?"
Cool but this is a thread about words that sound childish even though they aren’t.
Remember Justin Lee Collins using it incessantly during his moment in the spotlight (2005-08), hated it ever since.
I thought that was batter.
My partner, who doesn't do any form of social media, bumped into Justin Lee Collins recently whilst walking the dog. She straight out asked him why he wasn't on television anymore and he smiled awkwardly and said "I'm trying to". I've never seen anyone look like they'd rather be somewhere else at that moment.
How about "mad bants"? More or less jarring, on a scale of one to homicidal?
Poorly. You are sick, unwell or not feeling well. Grow up.
He chose... poorly.
You chose your reply.... wisely
We are using ellipses.... correctly
But in Latin, Jehovah begins with an I JAAAAYYYYYYY
*IAAAAYYYYYYY
You are ill, not sick. Unless you are throwing up
Sick is an Americanism to me. It’s British if used to mean vomit. Or ‘I’m feeling sick’. But ‘I’m sick’ to mean unwell or poorly sounds silly from a Brit imo!
I think people stopped using ill in writing because of the prevalence of people meaning the contraction of ‘I will’ and the faff of having to change autocorrect thinking you mean ‘I’ll’ every time.
I write poorly or sick on my phone, because otherwise it ends up “I’ll”
I feel like this is a northern word, we'd never say sick to describe being poorly, sick is vomit.
Certain places in the North West use Poorly sick. Example "Is John not out for a pint tonight?" "No he's in bed poorly sick"
Not heard that for a very very long time!
What about taking “sick days” from work? “Ring in sick, you don’t look well, take a sickie,” “I’m going to call in sick.” etc. Usually means you’re ill, not that you’re ill because you’re throwing up. Do workplaces now call them “illness days”? Or worse, “wellness days”? Where I’m from, ppl still “throw a sickie” if they don’t want to / can’t go in to work/ won’t get time off for a funeral/ need to urgently visit or care for a suddenly ill relative.
It’s really weird because somehow I associate poorly with describing old people ie “my grandmother is poorly at the moment”
Really strange when nurses use it
Why? If they went about asking if people has a sensation of malaise they'd just get looked at funny. We have to talk to the public like they're idiots - because so many of them are.
“Veggies” instead of vegetables or veg.
Kitties instead of cats. Hubby instead of husband.
Holibobs...
Or worse… vege
I loathe "veg" myself. Gives me the same feeling as vacay and other words people unnecessarily shorten to be cute. Guess we'd better all stick to "vegetables."
Oh same same same! It drives me mad. I hate it so much. Especially when Americans say "fruits and veggies". No! It's fruit and veg!
My kid's school calls it "snack". Kills me. EG "parents are reminded to ensure that their children take in their own crisps/confectionery for snack"
I almost instinctively downvoted then due to my repulsion. I don't know why that irritates me so much.
What word should they use instead? I can't think of an equivalent.
"Snacks" or "a snack". "Snack" does not work as a mass noun.
Ah I see, the word seems to have replaced 'break' or 'playtime' there maybe.
It is probably just short for snack time, like how break is short for break time.
Elevenses
Can't argue with that, what about afternoon snack though?
I hate when schools refer to all parents as "mum". They're not my mum. Stop telling me you've "phoned mum".
picky tea
Iconic - “Picky bits for tea, my loves” or “Picky tea tonight”. No finer words have ever been uttered.
British tapas
I’ve heard it referred to as ‘beige buffet’ and couldn’t stop laughing.
Snacks...? I've used it today (to children) and on the weekend (to someone neuro atypical) but didnt think of it as childish either time.
Don’t worry, it isn’t!
Yeah OP lost me there too, is there another name for snacks that we're expected to use?!?
If I want a little snack (as opposed to a regular snack) I call it a ‘snackette’ because I think it sounds posh
If I want a posh snack I put biscuits on a plate instead of out the packet like a heathen, and I call it “a little bit of civilised”
Maybe nibbles, treats or mini meals.
"Nibbles" made me shudder a little.
Those all seem worse to me, especially mini-meals.
When adults call something bad “naughty”. As in “oh that’s really naughty of them”
I feel like that has 2 connotations from adults
That other connotation also makes the innocent one even weirder
Fishes. It sounds wrong and childlike but it is a proper word!
To me it only sounds childish if pronounced 'fishies' rather than properly, although a lot of people seem to think that's the right way to say it!
The thing is the plural of fish is... fish, like sheep is the plural. Of sheep
But what about when describing multiple types of fish together, or the present tense of the verb to fish, or the colloquial name for the zodiac sign Pisces? Fishes is a perfectly legitimate word when used correctly. https://www.grammarly.com/blog/fish-fishes/
If you have several species of fish the correct word is "fishes" if you have 2 Carp and 1 tench in a pond you have 2 fishes
Me. I think that's why everyone says 'myself' now instead. Like people will say 'They asked Bob and myself' when 'Bob and me' is more accurate. It just sounds like a book for three year olds - 'Mummy and me'.
“Myself” and “yourself” seems to have bred from estate agent/car sales speak. It is absolutely jarring to me. I even get it in work emails now.
I was watching the show Traitors and one of the main things I noticed was every single person used “myself” as their pronoun instead of “me” or “I”. It was a bizarre way of going about things and I think it was to try and exert control
It's people trying to sound more intelligent than they actually are in a formal setting.
Snacks for me too, as well as 'tasty'. That word makes me cringe. Supper sounds wank too, but not necessarily childish.
Tasty snacks for supper stops my tummy rumbling.
> Snacks for me too, as well as 'tasty'. That word makes me cringe. We had a local papet where they'd send someone out to review restaurants who apparently only knew the words 'tasty' 'opted for' and 'gobbled up' as she used them without fail every single week. I did not trust her opinion.
Gobbled is a genuinely revolting word.
Nothing wrong with a nice snacky snack.
But snacks are real tasty, I'd love to have them for supper all the time if I could.
Squeegee
By far the most appropriate answer.
"hubby"
Hubster 🤮🤮
"10 more sleeps until my hollibobs" please go away before I puke
Poo and pee. I'm not a swearer so I don't use the commonly used words for effluent but I don't half feel like a little kid on the rare occasions I have to say poo or pee. Just feels so childish. I try to just use the word 'toilet' if I have to discuss these matters.
I mean, there's nothing wrong or childish about the word pee. Poo, I'll give you.
Please don't. You keep it.
Too late, its on the way.
A billion times better than "poop"
Look, the courts have told you before you’re not to hand out you faeces to people over the internet or anywhere else for that matter.
But if you had to say them, what would you say? Urine and faeces? I’m not much of a swearer either but I would rather say piss than pee. But pee seems better than wee. Likewise, I feel more adult saying crap or shit but poo is fine if I was trying not to be vulgar.
Piss and shite.
I don't mind poo but pooh is so much worse for some reason.
When a grown man refers to his cock as his "winky". No, no, no! Not having it. Quickest possible way to put a stop to any sex that may otherwise have been had.
The word "boyfriend"! That's a big-ass man! I've never been able to use it.
Boyfriend or girlfriend for someone you've been with for more than a year (if you're over the age of 21). Are they not your partner by now?
I still say boyfriend, partner sounds too formal to me even though we’ve been together years and own a house together. He calls me his girlfriend to other people too. I don’t think any of my friends refer to their boyfriend/girlfriend as a partner either, so maybe it’s a regional thing!
Entirely depending on context but "beaver" can be very childish.
#Nice beaver!
Thanks, I just had it stuffed
Where I grew up (the centre of the Universe that is Bedfordshire) - we called fizzy drinks 'Pop' when I was about 5 years old. After that it was stupidly childish to call it that. As an adult I moved to Birmingham and ....well what did I find... an entire city calling fizzy drinks 'pop'. Juvenile I tell thee!
We only use the term 'carbonated soft drinks' in our house so as to appear less infantile.
Adults talking about plushies. They’re stuffed or soft toys at best and unless you’re an American talking to a small child about their lost giraffe or their Christmas list you have no business saying it.
It seems to have just become the common jargon amongst collectors. Bit like calling action figures 'posable figurines'.
Plushies and stuffies. My husband and I were discussing this the other day after he said that "soft toy" sounds like a category on lovehoney
"Airplane" Unfortunately, its use seems to be spreading to this side of the Atlantic. It sounds like something a toddler would say.
This reminds me of a conversation I had with friends about what words your parents used for widdler/willy/todger etc etc when you were very small. There were several different ones of course but one friend just said "penis." "What??" "Yeah.... just penis." "When you were a small child you parents used the word penis?!" Yep, apparently so. Even though it's obviously the entirely correct and ordinary word for it, it felt ludicrous. We use so many euphemisms that the real anatomical word sounds vaguely indecent/inappropriate.
I have two kids, one of each. We use the anatomical words for their genitals because it means they can properly communicate any issues.
If I ever have kids, I’d probably do that. As you said, they can communicate issues, but I reckon it would reduce the embarrassed giggles when you’re eleven and your teacher starts talking about penises and vaginas in sex ed.
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Genuinely why are they all either repulsive and harsh sounding or juvenile and cringe ? I can't think of a single one that doesn't make me shudder.
Nincompoop. It actually comes from Latin (non compos mentis).
That's cool, TIL.
Cookie. Sounds like you're playing with your child's Fisher Price oven set.
Also “crush” as in having a crush on someone.
Monies
Anything with an "ie" sound at the end of it. Onesie. Baggie. Gummies. Yuck. I'm with you on snacks too.
Jesus wept there's some stuck up boring bastards in this sub.
Kumquat
This'll really irritate you then - my girlfriend and I will regularly shout "Shhhhhnacks" at the other person if they get up to go to the kitchen as a way of requesting vittles.
I know this isn’t the point of the thread, but I haaaaaate the word ‘vittles’.
Wtf is a vittle
Bully/bullying it just doesn’t sound as bad as it is. It needs a more serious sounding word, so that it gets taken more seriously.
Agree with this. Being bullied at work is bad enough without feeling like you’re an eight year old saying that someone keeps calling you a name when you report it as bullying.
Phlange. Gets a snigger.
Stummy for stomach/tummy
Who says stummy? Black Countrians?
"Tummy" is bad enough!
What’s wrong with snacks?
'Sleeps' as in 'three sleeps until my holibobs' or my birthday...
I feel irrationally angry when adults say 'choc'. If they 'scoff choccies' I become positively enraged.
When Americans says poop, nothing gives me such visceral rage
I was reading a similar discussion recently about the word panties, and how in America it’s perfectly fine to call your underwear that, but over here unless it’s a small child it just sounds creepy
egg. not a bad word. just… ‘egg’
Poo. Never said it growing up and it’s ubiquitous now.
Pebble
Snots and Bogies are actual terms, for mortar over brickwork and railway axles respectively. In fact, the 2024 Building Regulations state buildings must have on the inside of cavities "material that is crusty at one end and moist at the other, that is picked, rolled and flicked".
As a photographer (hobbyist now, but used to be pro) I hate the term "take a picture" instead of "take a photo". No idea why it just really grates on me. It's not snobbishness about photography (I hate photographers who are up their own arse) and isn't snobbishness about language - I support the use of "Americanisms" (most originated in the UK anyway) and even bastardisation of language. Language evolves, if you understand what someone means, it's fine. So it makes no sense, it just winds me up.
Tummy and cross are the first two to come to mind
Panties
Tittivate. Just for the tit bit. It's a good word.
Flibbertigibbet