One of my mom's favorite phrases is "I told you so!" Moreover, it didn’t actually matter whether she had previously warned about good or negative consequences, the most important thing was to say these words. At first I was surprised by such incredible ‘insight,’ then it infuriated me... and only as an adult, I realized that every mother simply has her own catchphrase!
In fact, this phenomenon is so damn common that there are three viral threads in the AskReddit community - nearly one thread per year - in which users share the most iconic catchphrases from their moms. And here is a summary of the best of the best in these threads, made for you by Bored Panda.
More info: Reddit
#1
When she gets lost driving: "The world's round, we'll get there eventually".![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/002-66853e5938882__700.jpg)
Image credits: anon
#2
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/031-66863aafaeb0c__700.jpg)
Image credits: 0jib
#3
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/009-66854059ed9ef__700.jpg)
Image credits: -thedartedash-
And in fact, it is not so important under what circumstances our mothers uttered certain words - the main thing is that they were etched into our memory for many years. Our moms may have managed to grow old or even leave this world, but their favorite expressions have stayed with us for the long term, and some of us have even begun to use these words too. So to speak, to use our moms' cultural legacy.
#4
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/006-66853fd77abc8__700.jpg)
Image credits: WrestlingWoman
#5
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/033-66863c4fc5efc__700.jpg)
Image credits: Lone_Ponderer
#6
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/001-66854467052d4__700.jpg)
Image credits: cr1msonxo
After all, what is a person if not a set of unique memories, character traits - and, of course, the perception of them by other people? For some, these catchhrases were associated with joyful moments in life, for others - with sad ones. But still, for almost any of us, the mother occupies a very special place in life.
After all, this is the person who brought us into this world. A person of whom we were actually a part for the long months preceding our birth. And therefore, even if we strongly disagree with these phrases, over the years their perception still changes to something warm, homely and a tad bit ironic...
#7
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/034-66863cc748207__700.jpg)
Image credits: PopeliusJones
#8
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/007-66854007228ff__700.jpg)
Image credits: anon
#9
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/008-668540350faef__700.jpg)
Image credits: AngstyManatee
“Each of us, of course, has our own unique personal traits, and specific words, phrases and even filler words also form part of us,” says Irina Matveeva, a psychologist and certified NLP specialist, with whom Bored Panda got in touch for a comment here. "And our parents are no exception of course."
“The perception of even the funniest and most ridiculous phrases from our parents changes over the years and as we grow up. And we often end up using these words ourselves. At least I knew one family where the same comic saying was passed on for at least four generations. Moreover, the younger ones already used the phrase consciously, as the family's ‘unique feature.’"
#10
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/035-66863deacb5a0__700.jpg)
Image credits: calinaxoxo
#11
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/014-668553b46ab2f__700.jpg)
Image credits: Aizpunr
#12
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/032-66863c31b63db__700.jpg)
Image credits: [deleted]
"The nature of human memory is such that we tend to perceive many things from our childhood and youth with warmth, and various bad memories are actually 'washed out' from our reminiscences. This happens from year to year, from decade to decade - and now it’s our kids’ turn to crack up at our own 'mommish' wordings! This is life, and nothing can be done about it. Maybe someone could perceive this as yet another 'mom phrase'," Irina smiles.
#13
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/003-66853ee222fb7__700.jpg)
Image credits: Chupaca_braj
#14
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/012-6685531105b67__700.jpg)
Image credits: lord_mandrayk
#15
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/004-668544ad94f42__700.jpg)
Image credits: Diligent_Slide
What else is left to add? Maybe to suggest that you scroll this list to the very end, read all these stories, smile and smile once more - and, perhaps, recognize the features of your own mom in someone’s nameless parent? In the end, mothers are all the same, at least in terms of love for their children. Even if these kids do not always realize this. Well, let’s just read and have a great time reading!
#16
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1000009607-6685549949c17__700.jpg)
Image credits: anon
#17
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/039-66863faa924c1__700.jpg)
Image credits: streamlivesoccerbot2
#18
People in Hell want icewater, and they don't get it either. As a small child I used to point at things in stores and go "Oooooh, I want that!" She'd respond with that phrase. Now that I'm grown it's a joke. The other day we were driving to the grocery store and she mentioned wanting pizza from a certain restaurant that was closed. I grinned and said, "People in Hell want icewater, and they don't get it either!" She laughed and called me a smarta**.
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1000009613-6685563850618__700.jpg)
Image credits: sainsa
#19
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1000009605-6685542d53e9d__700.jpg)
Image credits: sloBrodanChillosevic
#20
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/036-66863e779c594__700.jpg)
Image credits: GoreyFeldman
#21
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/038-66863f425021f__700.jpg)
Image credits: w0w0lf
#22
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1000009611-668555fa2244f__700.jpg)
Image credits: pinkglitteryseaglass
#23
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1000009608-668554d2ec47b__700.jpg)
Image credits: MadLintElf
#24
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1000009606-66855464be22e__700.jpg)
Image credits: d0ubl3l0v3
#25
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/037-66863edf47ca0__700.jpg)
Image credits: Andy_7071
#26
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/041-668640c0e0496__700.jpg)
Image credits: LittleBupBoy
#27
#28
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Image credits: anon
#29
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Image credits: vmlm
#30
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/011-668552e273ecd__700.jpg)
Image credits: RogersPurpleShoes
#31
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Image credits: Grinder901
#32
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Image credits: C_Rom
#33
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Image credits: CuriousWaterBear
#34
#35
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Image credits: TannedCroissant
#36
#37
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Image credits: TelescopiumHerscheli
#38
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Image credits: Morgan_Gacha
#39
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Image credits: batmanisfiya
#40
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Image credits: stupidlyugly
#41
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Image credits: Lepidopterex
#42
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/013-6685536bca7e4__700.jpg)
Image credits: Guy_tookatit
#43
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Image credits: sadmangosteen
#44
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Image credits: ToasterCubed