Yes, we talk like this.

So today, in my class on social history, we discussed marketing arrangements between various religious groups in Medieval Spain. Like Muslim shoemakers buying leather from Christian tanners, and buying said leather on credit, and what that says about interreligious interpersonal relationships.

Then some of us went to the common room to do Latin, and the following ensued.

Yrs. Truly: Ooooh, I hope he calls on me to translate this sentence: "And we knelt down and prayed that God would take our souls, for our eyes had seen his judgment on the earth."
Nordicist from Winnipeg: Yeah, that's a good one.
...
Nordicist from Winnipeg: I don't like [our social history] class.
Yrs. Truly: Yes, you looked pretty miserable today. You looked about ready to kneel down and pray for death, as your eyes had seen God's judgment on the earth.
N. from W: Yes, and it is tanners.