UNSURE if you’ve accidentally stumbled into a working class area? If a middle class person describes it as any of these, the answer is yes:
‘Rough round the edges’
An understated way of saying somewhere is repellent without explicitly mentioning that it’s the local residents who make it undesirable. Like-minded snobs will be able to read between the lines and give a snide nod of agreement.
‘Not really our type of place’
Typically vague to avoid offending anyone within earshot. However the disdainful ambiguity alone will make it obvious to any middle class person with their head screwed on that they shouldn’t even drive through somewhere like this.
‘Do you think it’s safe?’
Far from saying that an area might be dangerous to visit due to a potential knife attack, this phrase means that it might not be safe for you to speak loudly in your expensively-cultivated accent and feel completely comfortable.
‘Isn’t there a Poundland there?’
As if the absence of a Waitrose wasn’t frightening enough, if a middle class person mentions that there’s a Poundland in the area, it’s a clear sign they’d rather give up their French holiday home than drop in for a visit.
Puff out their cheeks and shake their head
Sometimes there’s no need to say anything. This gesture alone conjures up images of England flags, tattoos, tradesmen and God knows what else. Nobody with a Volvo in their driveway would dare go near it.
