We all remember how we groaned when mum told us money doesn’t grow on trees.

But it only takes us a couple of decades before we start repeating the ‘mumisms’ that used to drive us mad.

By the age of 37, we’re also using expressions such as ‘don’t say what, say pardon’, ‘eat your greens’ and ‘were you born in a barn?’

According to a survey of 2,000 parents, more than half of adults (56 per cent) find themselves repeating a phrase their mother used at least three times a week.

The study commissioned by Asda ahead of Mother’s Day on Sunday also revealed that while 44 per cent rolled their eyes at the sayings as children, 48 per cent now admit mother was right all along.

‘Money doesn’t grow on trees’ was the most popular phrase among respondents, with 70 per cent admitting to saying it, while ‘don’t talk with your mouth full’ and ‘don’t eat that, you’ll spoil your dinner’, were used by 45 per cent of those surveyed.

A mother encouraging her son to eat vegetables. So–called ‘mumisms’ include ‘don’t say what, say pardon’ and ‘eat your greens’ and a survey found over half of adults find themselves repeating a phrase their mother used at least three times a week

Some 35 per cent of adults also said they repeated ‘I’ve got eyes in the back of my head’, with the same number also using the expression ‘if the wind changes, you’ll be stuck like that’.

A third (36 per cent) of mums and dads admitted they only realised how similar they are to their parents when they had children themselves.

Half of respondents said they didn’t mind turning into their mum, with 15 per cent adding that it made their relationship closer. 

However, 12 per cent said being similar to their parents annoyed them.