Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Are there phrases you invented and use only with your family & nowhere else?

Whenever one of the kids, or I say something that is unreasonably worrisome, we respond with "Whatever, Grandma." Said with a fake southern drawl.   We're from the northwestern US, so it is very fake.   I think we add it to further indicate that we're just joking.

Example usages:

"Don't eat before you go swimming.   You don't want to get sick!"

"Whatever, Grandma."

"Don't put your wet shoes upside down over the heat vent to dry, or they'll catch fire!"

"Whatever, Grandma."

We're not degrading any grandparents by saying this, we're just indicating that the given suggestion is not a reasonable one borne out by science, and having a little fun with it.   And grandmas do tend to worry a bit too much about unimportant things, don't they?   🙂

"Don't pee on the floor."

"Whatever grandma."