# What are your 'pat' phrases? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 1, 2005, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402 "2005-06-01T16:42:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402/1 "2005-06-01T16:42:48Z")
If I am leaving the office, I’ll often say, “I \*will \* return.” Someone will ask, “Is that a threat?” And I will always say, “It’s a _promise_.” If someone says “I need to ask you a question”, I literally have to bite down on my lip to refrain from saying “42” before they even ask. Then they look at me like “What?!” If someone has to sneeze, I have to stop myself from saying “MooCow!” since that’s guaranteed to stop their sneezes. But some people get annoyed if I stop their sneezes. These phrases are embedded in my brain! I’m sure there’s more I can’t think of right now. I assume other people do this. Don’t you? Please? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402/2 "2005-06-01T16:47:14Z")
Apparently I often say “Well, there you go” as an all-purpose response. No, I don’t know what it means, either. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402/3 "2005-06-01T16:52:47Z")
Well, #1 and #2 are my own pet phrases, too. 'Cept I don’t bite my tongue. I just say “42.” _Everyone_ at work (and at home) knows what this means, already! **And** we share the same birthday! Scary… ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402/4 "2005-06-01T17:11:07Z")
I use ‘Indeed’ whenever as a common affirmation. It especially crops up in online chatting. “Do you think you’ll win?” “Indeed.” That’s the main one I can think of right now. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402/5 "2005-06-01T17:17:07Z")
When one of my employees leave at the end of their shift I always say, “Drive carefully”. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402/6 "2005-06-01T17:21:13Z")
If someone leaves the office and they say they’ll be back in X minutes, I say, “Thanks for the warning.” I’ll stop saying it, though, because I think I’m one step away from telling people they look like they have a case of the Mondays. When my husband and I leave the house separately, we say, “ByeILoveYou” as one word. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402/7 "2005-06-01T17:21:16Z")
When someone says something to the extent of “I’m outta here,” (a phrase which has outlived its usefullness, IMO) I tend to say, “Good! Stay outta here!” If someone says, “Can I ask you a question?” I always answer, “you just did.” ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402/8 "2005-06-01T17:30:43Z")
Standard answers I give to questions from my kids: “What’s for dinner?” “Poop.” “Where’s my \?” “If it was up your ass you’d know.” “Do you have to be so immature?” “Yes.” “Why does \ get to do such-and-such?” “Because I love her more than you.” There are more. I can’t think of them right now, but ask me the right question and they’d pop right out. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402/9 "2005-06-01T17:31:21Z")
While entertaining my aunt who was visiting me recently I heard myself saying " I may be goofy but . . ." whenever I didn’t know the answer to her questions. (Which was frequently- I know lots of useless information, but not neccessarily facts that answered her questions.) ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402/10 "2005-06-01T17:34:30Z")
Oooh, thought of another goodie: “Yum! What smells so good in here?” “I just farted.” ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402/11 "2005-06-01T17:49:22Z")
I have bunch. For one, I bellow all my male friends’ last names as a greeting. IRL, I’m kinda foul-mouthed. When I’m angry, I like using “ass” as an intensifier. Jackass, dumb-ass, stupid-ass, fat-ass, skinny-ass, crazy-ass, lazy-ass, smart-ass, old-ass, shitty-ass, ignorant-ass, cheap-ass, etc. Oddly, I rarely use the word _asshole._ I say “son” a lot when I’m patronizing. This is part of my posting style, too. I frequently say “Peace” instead of “Good-bye.” Except to my mother: when it’s time to say good-bye on the phone she says, “Love you. Peace and blessings,” and I respond, “Love you, too. Blessings and peace.” Also, whenever ANYBODY drops something or knocks something over in my presence I feel compelled to call their names a few times and deadpan, “You dropped something.” I am amazed how many people still fall for that. I attempt to excuse my obnoxiousness by saying, “I’m easily amused.” ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402/12 "2005-06-01T17:51:25Z")
> [@Dung Beetle](#): > > Oooh, thought of another goodie: > > “Yum! What smells so good in here?” > “I just farted.” Oh, that reminds me of another one. If my husband asks me if I just farted, I say, “Yeah, I farted! Jealous!?” Yes, I did get it from the slutty, one-legged character on SNL. Thanks for noticing. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402/13 "2005-06-01T17:54:35Z")
> [@Dung Beetle](#): > > “Why does \ get to do such-and-such?” > “Because I love her more than you.” Beautiful. I’m blanking on my own, save one. Only Mostly Missus has a tendency to fill lulls in conversation with one of her own phrases “how are you?” If it’s a slow day, she’ll ask, I’ll say “okay,” and there will be another pause, in which she inevitably asks again without thinking, and within about 15 seconds. The second time, I start complaining about every discomfort I have, real or imagined. ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402/14 "2005-06-01T18:13:37Z")
If someone says something even faintly dubious, I always say “Reeeeally”? Horrible habit. When somebody’s leaving for the day, I always say “Take it easy in the hot rod.” When somebody says “might” such as, “We might be able to get there in another hour,” my response is always the classic “And monkeys _might_ fly out of my butt.” My all time favorite that I don’t use nearly enough: Them: “Hey, I got a question for you” Me: “Whatever it is, the answer is no” ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402/15 "2005-06-01T18:15:10Z")
> [@Dung Beetle](#): > > “What’s for dinner?” > “Poop.” Hence the name, **Dung Beetle** ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402/16 "2005-06-01T18:15:23Z")
“Laugh-a while you can, monkey boy!” ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402/17 "2005-06-01T18:16:00Z")
Oh! I forgot another on of mine! Whenever somebody says “if \ keeps up \ I’ll go stark raving mad!” (or something to that effect) I’ll answer “Not much danger of that happening…” (By now people realize that I mean they’ve _gone_ mad a looooong time ago, already :)) ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402/18 "2005-06-01T18:24:32Z")
> [@Nutty Bunny](#): > > When my husband and I leave the house separately, we say, “ByeILoveYou” as one word. hehe. I have a friend who owns a bar. He often says, “Loveyoumeanit” instead of goodbye. To anyone. Even the poor guy who refills the cig machine. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402/19 "2005-06-01T18:25:23Z")
One I picked up from a friend–when someone is saying how bad their life is or whatever (not something genuinely bad like a death in the family or anything) I’ll say “aww, muffin.” ‘Muffin’ sometimes gets interchanged with other food items, like ‘cupcake’, after living with a guy who got tired of hearing ‘muffin’ all the time. An online one–I’ll randomly ask people ‘Lollipop?’ I have no idea where it came from, but I used to use it alot on a certain forum (that I havent’ visited in a while). ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402/20 "2005-06-01T18:33:25Z")
When the phone rings at home I say “Someone get that, it might be the phone!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-pat-phrases/306402.md?page=2)