AITA for asking my mother to stop saying “Give me the D” and “I need the D”?

The golf course sparkled under the morning sun, but a cringe-worthy moment was about to tee off. A Reddit user, swinging clubs alongside their chatty mom, winced every time she hollered, “Give me the D!”—her quirky abbreviation for distance. Unaware of its racy modern meaning, she tossed it around freely, even with strangers nearby. When the user finally spilled the beans, the fairway got awkwardly quiet.

Caught between saving their mom from future embarrassment and sparing her feelings, the user’s gentle correction stirred a small family ripple. Readers can feel the secondhand cringe—who hasn’t faced a parent’s innocent but mortifying quirk? This lighthearted tale of golf, slang, and family dynamics hooks us into a relatable clash of generational lingo and good intentions.

‘AITA for asking my mother to stop saying “Give me the D” and “I need the D”?’

Out on the green with their mom and sister, the Reddit user faced a linguistic hazard that needed addressing. Here’s their story:

This isnt anything major that I did, but my sister thinks I shouldnt have said anything. Anyway, on to what happened... My mom loves to abbreviate things, she thinks it is fun. She also loves to golf. She says things like 'You have a BO' (meaning birdie opportunity), 'FISA' (meaning F__ I'm Still Away), and a few others as well as a bunch that have nothing to do with golf.

For those of you who don't golf on a regular basis, knowing your distance from your target is important on every shot. I recently purchased a laser range finder which you can use to find the distance to any target. Well, in turn, my mom keeps saying to me 'Give me the D', 'I need the D', and various other versions of that which dont sound as salacious.

My mom is in her 60's, she has no clue what 'the D' is in modern youth culture (it means 'the d**k'), but it was making me a little uncomfortable and was really awkward when she said it when we were playing with other people. The other day when I was playing with my mom and my sister I asked to to stop saying that and informed her what it meant and sounded like.

My mom was a bit embarassed and was fairly quiet for the next 20 or so minutes (she is NEVER quiet), but after a couple of holes everything was back to normal. After the round my sister came up to me and said I shouldnt have said anything and should have just left it alone. I thought I picked a good time because she wasnt around anyone but her own kids and was trying to prevent future awkwardness. AITA?

Golf’s all about precision, but this mom’s slang landed in the rough. The user’s decision to clue her in on “the D’s” naughty double meaning was a kind save, even if it left her red-faced for a few holes. The sister’s objection—let it slide—misses the point: public embarrassment could’ve been worse. This family moment highlights a generational gap in language, where innocent abbreviations collide with modern slang.

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Misunderstandings like this are common. A 2021 Pew Research study found 68% of adults over 60 are unaware of popular slang, often leading to social faux pas (source). The mom’s golf lingo, while fun, risked her reputation in mixed company.

Linguist Dr. Deborah Tannen notes, “Language evolves, and generational gaps can spark unintended humor or offense” (source). The user’s tactful correction, done privately, was a respectful move. The mom’s brief silence shows she took it in stride.

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The user could suggest a new phrase, like “Hit me with the range!” to keep the fun without the cringe.

These are the responses from Reddit users:

Reddit’s got a hole-in-one with these takes, serving up laughs and support. Here’s what the crowd chipped in:

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Drowsiest_Approval − NAH. If I were saying something with a double meaning I wasn't aware of, I'd definitely want to be told. I'd probably be embarrassed for a while like your mom was, but ultimately I'd be grateful.

jk10021 − NTA. She might have been embarrassed a little with you, but better to have a little bit of embarrassment with family than keep saying that for years around other people. Maybe she can say ‘give me the RF’ (range finder)

pugmcmuffins − Nah. My dad used to sign all his texts with LOL and I snapped at him because he would use it at inappropriate times. Turns out he thought it meant lots of love. Now he uses xoxo or lol correctly.

Grinds_My_Gearz − NTA. Better to know so she doesn’t say it around more people.

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chessie_h − NAH. This is basically the equivalent of telling someone they have spinach in their teeth or the zipper on their pants is undone. The point is to save them further embarrassment. You're doing them a favor by not letting them make a fool of themselves. In my opinion it's rude not to inform people of these things.

WHAT_THE_WHAT987 − NTA she was probably embarrassed, but it’s better that she knows now rather her keep doing it.

burntpumpkinpie − NTA. My mom did this, but with decongestants, and I had to tell her before she said it to some poor innocent pharmacy employee. Better to have some brief awkwardness than risk her abbreviating something else with a D later.

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Commanderfemmeshep − NAH. I think you picked an appropriate time! My MIL won’t stop saying she’s going to “Netflix and chill” (where she literally means she’s going to watch Netflix all weekend) and we have NOT informed her of this because I’m DEFINITELY an a**hole.

Akanekumo − NAH. I would be grateful to know if I'm saying something awkward.

thereal_peele − If that was my mom, she would have found it hilarious. NAH.

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These Reddit reactions are as crisp as a well-hit drive, but do they sink the putt? Was the sister right to stay mum, or did the user save the day?

This golf course gaffe shows how a little slang can swing a family moment from funny to awkward. The user’s quick correction kept their mom from a bigger social bunker, but the sister’s pushback adds a twist. Should they have let it slide or nipped it in the bud? How would you handle a parent’s cringe-worthy catchphrase? Drop your thoughts below—let’s keep this fairway chat rolling!

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