Words or phrases unique to your family

[Saucerman]

My most recent ex-gf and I would fill any awkward silence with one of us saying, "So, ah...Manos, the...Hands of Fate..."

Saucer that is beautiful!  (She sounds like 'a keeper': None of my business but what did she do for you to let her get away: eat crackers in bed? )

She actually dumped me due to a number of factors, including that it had become a long-distance relationship, our differing schedules made communication difficult, she was joining a sorority that I was scared of because I'd seen it effect complete personality changes, almost akin to brainwashing, on its initiates (and yes, it happened to her as well), and she had friends who were telling her I was no good. 

But, on the other hand, she and I didn't have too much in common, her father didn't like me, disliked a lot of her friends, her dogs hated me, and she was kind of a rebound girlfriend after things deteriorated with a truly amazing girl a couple months earlier. 

I wouldn't have dumped her though...for one thing, she's a much better shot with a rifle than I am.

[meQal]

"It makes people ask questions. Works, doesn't it." - A phrase we use in my family as a response when someone starts asking what something does when it is obvious of the object's function.

[Trevor]

"I'm just going to talk to Mugabe."

That is our family's phrase for saying that the person is en route to having a humungous poo, using the name of the "much loved" Zimbabwean State President as a target. 

[Trevor]

I wouldn't have dumped her though...for one thing, she's a much better shot with a rifle than I am.

[AndyC]

My dad had a few colourful expressions that used to crack my friends up, but none of them can be repeated here.

My dad does have something of an unusual accent. Sort of a regional thing from where he grew up, I suppose. Predominantly rural area (even more so in the 30s and 40s) a couple of hours north of where I grew up. In some ways, it is the classic hoser accent. "About the house" sounds a little like "aboat the hoas." But there's more to it. For example, the days of the week are "Mundy, Choosdy, Wensdy, Tursdy, Fridy, Sairdy and Sundy." You park your car in a "gradge." And when your clothes are dirty, it's time to "warsh" them.

Myself, I've started coming up with my own verbal peculiarities. I'm not sure why, but my cursing has gotten much more creative. I think in some ways, the usual overused swear words just don't get the point across like an angry mixture of euphemisms and baby talk. Or maybe it's just a combination of trying not to swear and really needing to. The most common one is "Friggin' poo!" And then there's "Son of a monkey!" or "Son of a hoo-ha!" Don't ask me how I came up with these, but they seem to have found their way into my everyday cursing.

[lester1/2jr]

Flabb-o

it's flabb-o time

it means nothing

[zombie no.one]

 me, my brothers, and our parents, any type of remote control is known as a "clicker thing". stemming from a remote control we had for the tv years ago which made a loud clicking sound when you pressed any button.

also when my younger brother was about 5 he asked , "if you fall in electric water, do your reflections disappear?". he can't possibly have known what he was eally saying, not that the question even makes sense, but he still gets teased about it 20+ years on...

[AndyC]

My family started using this one some time in the late 80s. Whenever somebody asked for something they could just as easily get for themselves, the response was "You got a piano tied to your ass?" It still gets used occasionally when we're together.

[Trevor]

My family started using this one some time in the late 80s. Whenever somebody asked for something they could just as easily get for themselves, the response was "You got a piano tied to your ass?" It still gets used occasionally when we're together.

I was eating when I read that ~ still choking, still coughing but still laughing. 

[Leah]

'ello love, do you love Spam
oh, love

[HappyGilmore]

"Okay, terrific!- kind of a random sarcastic phrase thrown out whenever someone says something completely bizarre/offensive that kinda halts a conversation, said to kill the silence. 

Mamaluke- essentially, it means 'moron.'

There's plenty others but most can't be repeated here.

[RCMerchant]

WEINER TROLL-When I was a little kid,my older brother Mike would jump up at random and say-Lets do the Weiner Troll Dance!!!" And we would commence to holding hands and running in a circle yelling-"Weiner troll! Weiner troll!" Yes-it's the irrelavent madness of kids.
BONE HAWK-Self explanatory.As in-"Whatta bone hawk."
ASTROID-as in a fart.
YIPPY SKIPPY-As in-"Time to go to AA!"  "Oh-yippy skippy."
HIBBITY JIBBITY-Family slang for intercourse.

[The Burgomaster]

Mamaluke- essentially, it means 'moron.'

My family used this one too . . . but mostly when a lot of my old Italian relatives were still alive . . .

[HappyGilmore]

A phrase I use at work with some friends: You want a free blanket? or just muttering the words free blankets.
Basically a reference to the smallpox blankets and clothing given to the Natives back when settlers showed up here in America.  Mentioned during a conversation with my Mexican friend who is p**sed off at Columbus.  I mentioned the blankets to him and he started laughing when I told him we gave them free blankets.  So every day when I walk into work, he just looks at me and goes "You bring me any free blankets today, Italiano?"

Mamaluke- essentially, it means 'moron.'

My family used this one too . . . but mostly when a lot of my old Italian relatives were still alive . . .

So, you're the other person who knows that word.  I mentioned to about 100 people and NOBODY had any idea what I'm talking about.   

[Newt]

Mamaluke- essentially, it means 'moron.'

My family used this one too . . . but mostly when a lot of my old Italian relatives were still alive . . .

How words get adopted and passed around is fascinating: there has to be an interesting story behind why "mameluke" went from referring to a Turkish slave-soldier Muslim convert, to "moron".  Or is it just a coincidence?