My MIL has a special euphemism for fat people. She calls them "jolly", usually with a slight pause before delivering the word. An example:

"Oh we met John's sister last weekend at a family wedding and she was very...jolly"

Kills me every time.

Anonymous wrote:My ILs use 'brother' and 'sister' instead of other appropriately gendered nouns. This is apparently a Detroit thing.

Wait, what? My dad's side of the family is from/still lives in Detroit and I have no idea what you're talking about. Can you give an example?

Anonymous wrote:My MIL pronounces normal words strangely. Like magazine is "MAH-ga-seen" and teach is "teesh." Also words from other languages, she will often pronounce them in that accent but get it wrong EX: "I'd like a glass of cow-BEAR-nay with dinner," "this pee-TAH is wonderful with this dip" I think she thinks it makes her sound more sophisticated but it just makes her seem unhinged.

LOL!

My MIL pronounces normal words strangely. Like magazine is "MAH-ga-seen" and teach is "teesh." Also words from other languages, she will often pronounce them in that accent but get it wrong EX: "I'd like a glass of cow-BEAR-nay with dinner," "this pee-TAH is wonderful with this dip" I think she thinks it makes her sound more sophisticated but it just makes her seem unhinged.

My ILs use 'brother' and 'sister' instead of other appropriately gendered nouns. This is apparently a Detroit thing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DH's grandpa used to say:
Sh#t in one hand, wish n the other, see which one is heavier

And when things were going well: We're sh#ttin' in tall cotton.

This is amazing, but what does it mean??

I've also heard it as "see which one fills up first."
I think it's like saying wishing for something is so futile and worthless that even a handful of crap is more tangible and realistic.

My MIL uses "text" instead of the past tense of the word. As in "I text him" instead of "I texted him".

Anonymous wrote:My grandma says tinkle instead of pee. And "going to see a man about a horse" for #2. Subsequent generations, myself included, have picked up the phrases.

That's what we used to say growing up! I had forgotten all about it. Although I don't use that word with my kids. We just say pee.

Anonymous wrote:My DH's grandpa used to say:
Sh#t in one hand, wish n the other, see which one is heavier

And when things were going well: We're sh#ttin' in tall cotton.

This is amazing, but what does it mean??

My DH's grandpa used to say:
Sh#t in one hand, wish n the other, see which one is heavier

And when things were going well: We're sh#ttin' in tall cotton.

My grandma says tinkle instead of pee. And "going to see a man about a horse" for #2. Subsequent generations, myself included, have picked up the phrases.

Some of these sound like family words or expressions that came about when their kids were little and said things in cute or funny ways. My family has a few words and phrases that got started when one or the other of our kids said something a cute way and now we all just use that expression.

Snicky snacks in particular sounds like something a child said at one time and then they all picked it up. Maybe ask your spouse if there are any cute stories about the phrases you here. Those stories are fun to pass on to your own kids, too. Kids love hearing about when their parents were little.

Snicky Snacks is awful. Or is it "Snax"?

My family sometimes says "snacky snacks."

My MIL says (and writes in every bday card): "We love you BIG!!!!!!!!!" and this wording sets my teeth on edge.

My MIL will comment that our boys are full of vim and vigor when they are being active--not naughty, b/c she'll straight up say when they're being that, LOL!