• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header left navigation
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
    • Join Creator Network
    • Courses & Creator Toolkit
    BritMums

    BritMums

    The UK's Original Influencer Network

    • About
    • For Brands
    • Contact
    • Food & Recipes
      • Pancake Day
      • Valentine’s Day
      • Chinese New Year
      • Quick & easy
      • Midweek Meals
      • Vegetarian
      • Puddings & desserts
      • Baking
      • Sunday lunch
    • Family Travel
      • UK Travel
        • Days Out
      • Europe
      • Spain
      • Summer holidays
      • Winter holidays
    • Lifestyle
      • Family & Relationships
      • SEND Families & Children
      • Style
      • Health & Beauty
    • Education
      • Homeschooling
      • Back to school
    • Events
      • About Events
      • Latest News
    • Influencers
      • Advice to be a better influencer
      • Earn with BritMums Pro
      • Join! Paid projects & more
      • Twitter Chats
      • SnapHappyBritMums
      • Giveaways & Linkys
    • Search

    10 pandemic catchphrases

    Facebook0Tweet0Pin0Email0Print0LinkedIn0
    26 January 2021 by Claire Kirby

    I am always in awe of teacher when I see them command a room full of squirmy 6 year olds with a tendency for nose picking and farting. But even more so watching them conduct a phonics lesson over zoom and hold the kids attention without being in the same room. It’s nothing short of miraculous! I did smile to myself the other day when I heard a teacher say “If you can’t behave then I will have to put you in the waiting room”. That right there is a pandemic catchphrase. 😄

    1. “You’re on Mute”

    Let’s face it, ten years ago in 2019, none of us had heard of Zoom. Now we can’t imagine life without it. As much as it has bought people together, it also has its issues. My main issue is the people who shout or mime “You’re on mute”. They maybe on mute, but they can still hear you!

    2. “Socially Distanced”

    Pre-pandemic if anyone had used “socially distanced” in a sentence, you would have been forgiven for thinking they had fallen out with a mate, and were using a Gweneth poncy phrase to describe what to everyone else would be a breakup. You can shove your “conscious uncoupling” with your socially distanced walks.

    3. “Don’t forget your mask”

    In 2019 would have been unthinkable for us to wear masks in this country. Now we have had to clear drawer space to make room for them, and we are quite chuffed that we got one that matches our winter coat.

    4. “You wouldn’t speak to your teacher like that”

    I don’t know which parent has it harder. Those trying to help younger primary school kids with their phonics “ow as in cow, ow, ow, ow”. Or those with older primary school kids trying to help them with their maths, only to discover that they changed maths and it’s really hard. Either way I think we’ve all developed our own home school catchphrases. Mostly muttered under our breath through gritted teeth!

    5. “Flattening the curve”

    This and many other statistical and scientific phrases have become common place in our language. I don’t think I’ve seen as many graphs since GCSE maths. And the r number is giving me horrific algebra flashbacks. Is there going to be a test on all this later?

    6. Lockdown fatigue

    We have just got used to the term lockdown being more than a lyric in a Blue song. Now they throw in lockdown fatigue. We get it. We’re all bored and fed up and finding this hard. Did we have to give it a name? Is there someone whose specific job it is to come up with these names?

    7. Panic buying

    I’ve been known to panic buy a dress for a wedding because I couldn’t find anything and live to regret my decision. I’m old enough to remember when some people panic bought tins because the world was going to implode with the Y2K bug. But bloody toilet rolls?! What was it about this pandemic that made people buy two years supply of toilet roll in one day? AND where the hell are they keeping it all?

    8. Self Isolation

    Sounds like another term Gweneth might use if she took herself off to a far off retreat to find herself. In truth it’s locking yourself away for 14 days with the people whom you love most in the world, but with all due respect are pretty bored of right now. You are going to have to find a zen like state to get through it.

    9. Bubbles

    Pre-pandemic bubbles were something kids blew, or an alternative name for champagne. Now bubbles is synonymous with confusion and rule bending, and choosing which family members you like best at Christmas. I prefer the pre-pandemic kind of bubbles.

    10. And finally there was this delightful one…

    HANDS, FACE, SPACE!

    Thanks to the following people for contributing catchphrases for this post: Crummy Mummy, Life With Baby Kicks, Whinge Whinge Wine, Five Little Doves, Emily & Indiana, A More Intentional Life, Business For Mums, Just Average Jen, A Rose Tinted World, DIY Dad

    You might also like weird sayings that make no sense to me over on my blog, Life, Love and Dirty Dishes.

    More funny parenting humour

    5 funniest homeschooling memes

    The funniest work-from-home and stay-at-home memes

    8 laugh out loud funny parenting blogs

    LOL: 10 things that happen when your child is ill

    When your child stops napping: the 6 stages of grief

    Pin it for later!

    About Claire Kirby

    Claire is the blogger behind Life, Love and Dirty Dishes. A blog about the amusing side of parenting. Claire's claim to fame is that she once spoke to Phillip Schofield on a Going Live phone in. Awesome, right? She with three boys; The Husband, Big (9), who never ever stops talking, and Little (5), who never ever stands still. They live in a Lego house. They don’t really, but they have so much off the stuff they could probably build one.

    • Mail
    • |
    • Web
    • |
    • Twitter
    • |
    • Facebook
    • |
    • More Posts(58)
    Previous Post: « Chinese New Year Craft collage - BritMums Chinese New Year crafts that don’t require crazy art skills
    Next Post: 8 things to do in Antigua with children 880x360-Mother-with-two-daughters-looking-at-view-of-Shirley-Heights Antigua »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Inspiration

    “A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman.”

    Melinda Gates

    Popular Posts

    Win a Mason Cash mixing bowl & a supply of raisins from South Africa #SARaisins

    Outdoor pool at La Manga Club, Spain

    Best family resorts in Spain #SpainforFamilies

    jacket potato with cheese and bacon topping

    60 easy jacket potato filling ideas

    Copyright © 2021 · BritMums · All Rights Reserved ·

    BRITMUMS LTD. REGISTERED IN ENGLAND & WALES. REGISTRATION NUMBER 07585463. REGISTERED OFFICE: CHILTERN HOUSE, 45 STATION ROAD, HENLEY-ON-THAMES, OXON, RG9 1AT

    Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

    Email sent!