What are some idioms that you heard as a child but are no longer used ?
Such as ‘in one ear and out the other’. I’m looking for idioms for charades. I’d like some that are recognizable but haven’t been used for awhile. Or regional idioms that are new to me. Everybody playing is familiar with the ones I know and I’d liked to ‘wow’ them with new ones.
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Well, I don’t know how well known, but my dad used to tell us, slipping into his Texas accent, “I’m gonna beat ya s’verly ‘bout the head and shoulders.” (He didn’t mean it literally!)
Split this scene.
Shut up you little twerp.
Wait til your father gets home.
Well, butter my biscuits.
I’m as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room fulla rockin’ chairs.
Your sister is not a Real Doll.
(To buy) a pig in a poke
(To be) up a creek without a paddle
You ain’t whistlin’ “Dixie”
That boy’s thin as a bean pole.
A revolting development.
Cry baby.
Step on a crack, break your mother’s back.
“sure beats a poke in the eye with a sharp stick!”
I don’t know if these were ever commonly used, or if I’ve just stopped hearing them because I no longer live with my parents or grandmother….
“Seven lashes with a wet noodle”
“Go suck an egg”
“Yeah? Well that’s just T U F”
“I’ll give you three guesses. The first two don’t count.”
(when there’s little chance of you getting what you want) “well, you can wish in one hand and crap in the other, and see which one fills up first!”
@Val123 accent optional, right ? That’s a new one, thanks
@colliedog I like that one and still use it
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
if wishes were ponies, we’d all have a ride!
@75movies I haven’t heard the one about the sister. Since I’m the only sister that will be a hit, thanks
Thanks everyone ! Your answers have given me some new and some forgotten ones. Just what I was looking for. I bet I get some ‘wows’ from these.
Don’t forget the all-time favorite “Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit” variation.
@gemiwing LOL! Never heard that one! I think I’ll adopt it!
@Val123 There’s a page-a-day calendar that has tons of old southern sayings. That saying is actually the title of it. Definitely worth ten bucks.
”(you) missed the boat.”
“I’ll be there with bells on.”
Not really an idiom but my grandmother always said “Good Gravy” and I still say it, in spite of some strange looks :)
@gemiwing So what situations do you use it in? Like, amazement?
@Val123 Exactly. Get a letter from the IRS with a check for a million bucks? Well butter mah butt an’ call me a biscuit!
You’d complain if you were hanged with a golden chain.
“a dime a dozen”
“long in the tooth”
“curiosity killed the cat”
“takes two to tango”
“apple of my eye”
“I’d rather duct-tape a live cat to my head”.
Running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
If you don’t eat yer meat, you can’t have any pudding! How can you have any pudding if you don’t eat yer meat?
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