Mustn't grumble
MUSS-nt GRUM-bl /ˈmʌsnt ˈɡrʌmbl/
Informal Neutral
What it really means
A very British answer meaning "life is okay". Grumble means complain. The phrase suggests there are small problems, but nothing worth moaning about. Especially common among older speakers.
Chinese explanation
非常英式的回答，意思是日子还过得去。grumble 是发牢骚。这句话暗示小毛病总有，但不值得抱怨。上了年纪的人尤其爱说。
Example conversation
A: Morning, Bill. How are you keeping?
B: Oh, mustn't grumble. Knees are creaky, but the sun's out.
A：早啊，比尔，身体还好吗？
B：哦，没啥好抱怨的。膝盖是不太灵了，但今天有太阳。
All Politeness Decoder
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake