What it means
When you're attempting the utterly impossible with someone utterly resistant, usually an older relative faced with newfangled nonsense. It's a lost cause painted in love and frustration, the moment you realise your gran's hips aren't built for Fortnite dances.
Usage examples
"I spent Boxing Day trying to teach the nan to floss. She thought I was on about her teeth."
"Getting this spreadsheet to work is like trying to teach the nan to floss — a noble effort, but we all know it's going on YouTube."
"Don't even bother explaining TikTok to him, it's trying to teach the nan to floss levels of pointless."
"Me grandad trying to use the remote control is a whole episode of trying to teach the nan to floss, bless him."
"Explaining crypto to my mam is the definition of trying to teach the nan to floss, innit."
Editors of this term
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