What words or phrases did you often hear from older generations or in bygone days that you rarely hear anymore?
I never hear young people use the word “gumption.”
What words or phrases do you know have fallen into disuse?
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My grandpa says “confound it!” and I’ve never heard anyone else say it. Also, I’ve never heard anyone my age say that someone has “moxy”, which I think is a fun word to say.
Not so much as a word, but, how they said it. Both of my grandparents used to say “winda” instead of “window”. I have also heard other old generation adults say it the same way.
When it was time to hurry, my grandmother would say, “You better hump yourself!”
Imagine the obvious reply from todays’ kids.
lol
Gee whillikers!
Land sakes alive!
That’s swell, Pop!
“slower than molasses in January.”
“faster than you can say Jack Robinson.”
“faster than two shakes of a lamb’s tail.”
He doesn’t know “Shit from Shinola!”
Some of the following are specific examples of bygone phrases:
Don’t trust anyone over 30, man!
Dagnabbit!
Consarn ya, boy!
I’m gonna learn you, boy!
I got burnin’ urine somethin’ fierce, ma!
Jethro, he’s a swimmin’ in the see-ment pond, Granny!
Sinatra is squaresville, man.
If that don’t beat all.
You got static in your attic, you bag o’ bacteria!
Now, for another stack of boss tunes, fans.
We got a groovy kind of love.
Love is a happening thing.
Grace Slick is one far out chick, man.
Hide your stash, it’s the man, man!
Oh. I use quite a few of these. I feel old…
Play the phonograph. Now you’re sitting in high cotton. Are those new dungarees you are wearing? He’s so smart. He’s like a walking encyclopedia. He’s as tight as Dick’s hatband. He has more money than Carter has liver pills. I haven’t seen you in a month of Sundays.
My dad is 91 and to this day calls earrings “earbobs” and a piece of luggage a “grip.”
Daft as a make watch
Black burning shame
As black as the Earl of Hell’s waistcoat
Gaein for is aye getting
And numerous others
“It’s colder than a witch’s tit out here.”
@erichw1504 I’ve heard “It’s colder than a witch’s tit” never nipple. Interesting.
Land a gotion
It’s over yonder
Ding dang it! Confound it! Dad burn it!
Is there any buttermilk in the icebox?
That child is growin’ like a weed.
We’re gonna go take a swim in the crick.
If you need to use the water closet, make sure you don’t forget to flush the terlet.
He’s as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
Keen
Nifty
Swell
Get a haircut!
Go down in the root cellar and fetch me a jar of pickled okra. Now scat!
Go outside and play! Stop getting underfoot!
Turn down that racket! (in reference to everything starting with Frank Sinatra, Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, The Bay City Rollers, Led Zeppelin, Wham, Nirvana, Green Day, Marilyn Manson and Justin Bieber)
This commercial is full of them!
@SuperMouse Hah, that’s the first thing that came to mind when I read this question!
when I was little and I would sneak around my grandmother’s house, she would refer to it as “pussy-footing.” Stop pussy-footing around!
@bkcunningham: – dungarees! you don’t hear that one anymore!
bob’s your uncle! cor blimey charlie! can’t swing a cat in here! carried on like a pork chop!
you poor little sausage!
my grandmother used to sing this little song, which i have heard on the radio from Big Band era -
Mares eat oats
and does eat oats
and little lambs eat ivy
a kid’ll eat ivy too
wouldn’t you?
She also used to say “what do you say, my name is Fink, and I press pants for nothing?” meaning what do you think, I“m a sucker?
Having a whale of a time!
Golly!
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