Mar 2, 2016 16:47
8 yrs ago
8 viewers *
English term
You get what you get and you don’t get upset
English
Other
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
expression often used with kids
Hi,
I was wondering whether the expression “You get what you get and you don’t get upset.”, as in the sentence below, might mean in a sense “if you settle for what you have, you’ll be happy” and "A contented mind is a perpetual feast"
***
Child whines because he doesn’t like what’s for dinner. Parent’s response is to shut down the child’s behaviour: “You get what you get and you don’t get upset.”
****
Thank you very much for any hint!
I was wondering whether the expression “You get what you get and you don’t get upset.”, as in the sentence below, might mean in a sense “if you settle for what you have, you’ll be happy” and "A contented mind is a perpetual feast"
***
Child whines because he doesn’t like what’s for dinner. Parent’s response is to shut down the child’s behaviour: “You get what you get and you don’t get upset.”
****
Thank you very much for any hint!
Responses
+6
3 mins
Robert Forstag
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
United States
Translating words, preserving meaning
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
Selected
Take it or leave it. / Like it or lump it.
There are two common expressions that more or less express the same idea as the posted extract (although the sentiment here seems to go a bit beyond this, in expecting the child to actually eat what he doesn't like, rather than giving him the option to refuse it).
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
philgoddard
47 mins
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Thank you, Phil!
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| agree |
AllegroTrans
2 hrs
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Thank you, AT.
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| agree |
Tushar Deep
3 hrs
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Thank you, TD.
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| agree |
Katherine Rutter
1 day 1 hr
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Thank you, Katherine.
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| agree |
crossroad
2 days 20 hrs
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| agree |
acetran
4 days
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "First of all, I would like to thank all of you for your help, both with your answers and your contributions in the Discussion.
I actually didn’t know which answer to choose, because I think they complement one another. Certainly, as Gallagy says, the parent wants his kid to eat what he/she is given. I think, though, that the parent uses a somewhat “softer” and more “playful” expression to do that: he uses a common expression among kids, although in this case it is probably said in a slightly irritated tone. Basically, that’s why I chose Robert’s proposal: because it includes common expressions that may sound "softer" than a direct order.
Thanks again!
"
+5
5 mins
Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Ireland
Native in English
&
English
Ireland
right word, right place. everytime
Native in: English (Variants: US, Canadian, Irish, UK) 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
56
eat what you're given and stop whining
it's just done as a rhyme to help child remember maybe!
nothing too philosophical about it
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Note added at 9 mins (2016-03-02 16:56:32 GMT)
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I think parents would not really expect whining kids to appreciate such sentiments as you have suggested
nothing too philosophical about it
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Note added at 9 mins (2016-03-02 16:56:32 GMT)
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I think parents would not really expect whining kids to appreciate such sentiments as you have suggested
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
B D Finch
2 hrs
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Thanks:-)
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| agree |
AllegroTrans
2 hrs
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Thanks:-)
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| agree |
Tina Vonhof (X)
22 hrs
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Thanks:-)
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| agree |
Yasutomo Kanazawa
1 day 18 hrs
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Thanks:-)
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| agree |
crossroad
2 days 20 hrs
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Thanks:-)
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Discussion
In this particular case, though, the parent perhaps repeats this common phrase in a slightly irritated tone...
What strikes me is that children learn to use this sentence, when they can't get exactly what they want...
Probably, though, the parent is repeating this expression in an irritated or somewhat ironical way...but maybe not too harsh a tone...
here, for example, children use it (how wise they are!! )
http://www.perspectiveparenting.com/2012/02/05/you-get-what-...
http://www.divinecaroline.com/life-etc/you-get-what-you-get-...
“It’s not exactly the one I wanted,” she explained. “I wanted the one with Ariel on it.” But before I could speak, she boldly announced, “But my teacher says you ‘get what you get and you don’t get upset’ so it’s ok mom.”
"What is the origin of the parenting mantra "you get what you get and you don't get upset"?
"I've no idea [of] the origin other than irritated, fed-up, impatient parents of insatiable children finally giving in to their own needs and telling the child, nicely, to suck it up- life's a bitch sometimes."
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-origin-of-the-parenting-ma...
On the other hand, people do seem to see it as quite a nice, gentle way of teaching a child to accept disappointment. The message is presumably "You can't always get what you want". The question is the tone, which is not necessarily snappy.
Triggered by whining, your response is to shut down the behavior: “You get what you get and you don’t get upset.”
***
this is the more empathic one:
Acknowledge child’s feelings, then negotiate: “You’re upset that we have chicken for dinner tonight, huh? I’m sorry. Can we put our heads together and make a plan for tomorrow that we can both be happy with?”
****
I was just wondering whether the "you get what you get..." may have been said with humour?
I also found a song with this expression
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7neX42Wfj5g
Actually, the sentence is classified as "Parent’s Action Enrages Downstairs Brain". The parent is triggered by the child's whining and to shut down this behaviour says that...but the author says this response isn't going to be effective, because it leads the child to be reactive, too..
thanks for your help
Do you have any more context? Is this something you're translating? Is the parent annoyed?