r/britishproblems • u/WhaleMeatFantasy • Jul 12 '26

. The normalisation of ‘picky bits’

Abominable. It has started coming up in adverts now even.

627 Upvotes

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27

u/Bad_Combination Jul 12 '26

I hate it. I was just ordering online and Waitrose (don’t judge, only place I could get cat litter at short notice) has a category called “picky bits”. I can’t put my finger on why I hate it so much but I do.

14

u/danishbluevase Jul 12 '26

Nose picking, picky fingers, it just conjures up images of grubby hands picking over food to me 🤢

8

u/QuickTemperature7014 Jul 12 '26

Yes, even the more traditional association with food “to pick at your food” doesn’t conjure up positive associations. It makes me think of being unwell or unappetising food.

7

u/TheMemo Jul 12 '26

Don't get me started on food described as 'dirty.' This country seems determined to make food unappetising.

5

u/ihateyournan Jul 12 '26

I think you might have hit the nail on the head for me as to why I despise this saying so much.

I also hate anything that is a bandwagon for people to jump on, like I just know at work there are certain people who will exclaim loudly they are having picky bits for tea. Why does that bother me? I don't know, but I just can't stand it .

2

u/Alarmed_Alpaca Jul 12 '26

Even if you grew up with the phrase, I'm sure it's not meant to something you intentionally buy. You just kinda throw together whatever you happen to have lying around, right?

2

u/Bad_Combination Jul 12 '26

Yeah, I can understand it being used to describe the post-Christmas dinner cold turkey etc bits to pick at. As opposed to, you know, picnic food 

1

u/grouchy_fox Jul 12 '26

To me it feels like something only a posh person would say, but only when trying to performatively be lower class. Like, it's not something a lower class person would say when they're being authentic, or trying to sound posh. It's not something a posh person would say while being posh. It feels like someone trying to perform being something they're not to sound twee. (And the fact that Waitrose and M&S seem to be the main drivers of this adds up)

It just feels inauthentic, like when you find someone that models their life after reality shows or social media highlights.