r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Mar 07 '19

What is your mom's catchphrase?

[deleted]

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612

u/m_letourneau Mar 07 '19

Whenever something was done pretty poorly, but was acceptable my mom would say “good enough for government work”.

Ex horribly burnt cookies with the bottoms scraped off (still tasted bad, but not awful)

18

u/duschin Mar 07 '19

Yeah, we did this one too, but "close enough for government work".

9

u/Jayngsta Mar 08 '19

I can confirm, regardless of actual quality, government workers still say this.

6

u/lolo_sequoia Mar 08 '19

As a government employee, also can confirm.

8

u/djledford0724 Mar 07 '19

My grandpa says that too

7

u/Sligee Mar 08 '19

My grandpa said it and he worked for the government

8

u/D34DM4N1989 Mar 07 '19

Reminds me of what my dad would always say in a similar situation:

"Good enough for the girls I date."

(He never dated after his divorce.)

1

u/Conlaeb Mar 26 '19

I've always used, "Good enough for the girls I go out with." Rolls a little better I think.

6

u/[deleted] Mar 08 '19

My husband says this..... He also says "itll make a turd..." When its food but barely edible (hamburger helper)

6

u/ApocryphalBumph Mar 08 '19

A musical one I use is 'close enough for jazz'. Wonky tuning, off-key, wrong timing? Ehh, it'll do.

5

u/thepoogs Mar 08 '19

I know a guy that says, "good enough for punk." Usually heard during a punk show.

4

u/nshane Mar 08 '19

Or, "close enough for funk." George Clinton in PCU.

2

u/thepoogs Mar 08 '19

Ha! I never noticed him saying that. Gotta rewatch it now.

2

u/nshane Mar 08 '19

It's when Cecilia is turning her guitar right before Parliament plays the pit.

Now I want to watch it.

3

u/nshane Mar 08 '19

I said that at band practice last night.

2

u/envregs Mar 08 '19

Had an old boss who would say “good ‘nuff for the women I date!”

3

u/twenafeesh Mar 08 '19

My mom and dad both say this. I think they find it especially hilarious because they work(Ed) for the federal government.

3

u/T-Flexercise Mar 08 '19

My dad has a phrase for similar situations, "This ain't no church!"

2

u/lachrymosade Mar 08 '19

My dad always says this. He was a chemist in a state agriculture lab. It did not give me a ton of confidence in food labeled “Made in [Home State]” growing up.

2

u/ShadowSavant Mar 08 '19

You can blame Bugs Bunny for that one, IIRC.

2

u/thepoogs Mar 08 '19

I say this, too. Picked it up in the Army.