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Original poster

...to think that this expresson is dying out?

441 replies

WalkDontWalk · 05/10/2025 14:25

On another thread someone used the expression 'taking the mick'. And I thought, 'I used to hear that all the time when I was a kid. But I rarely do now.'

So I started to think of others that my dad used but my kids don't.

'Having a kip' or 'I was akip'.

'Yikes' (My daughter says I'm the only non-cartoon that says 'yikes'.)

'Swinging the lead'

'Bunking off'. (Daughter: 'Never heard that. Sounds rude')

'Going Dutch' (Daughter. 'Nope. No idea. Is that rude too?')

'Haven't the foggiest.'

These were all in use in London fifty years ago. Maybe they were always regional.

OP posts:
AngelicKaty · 05/10/2025 16:42

@WalkDontWalk YANBU OP, but I'm doing my best to keep "Crikey" alive! 😂
To add a couple my dad used to use in the 60's when describing people of dubious character:
"They're as rough as a bear's tail-end", and
"They're as rough as grade A sandpaper".
I love them both, but who knew bears have rough bottoms? 😂

PocketSand · 05/10/2025 16:42

I like ‘died a death’ and ‘handed arse on a plate’, ‘half inched’ and ‘do you think my head buttons up at the back’.

Illbefinejustbloodyfine · 05/10/2025 16:42

MagpiePi · 05/10/2025 16:40

‘Well, I went t’ bottom of our stairs’ and ‘couldn’t get mi’ hat on’ for when something is surprising.
Another one I think is dying out is to use ‘middling’ for feeling poorly. ‘Eee, I’m right middling’

We had "well i'll go t'foot er ar stairs"

Elsvieta · 05/10/2025 16:41

I suspect "akip" is regional - never heard that.

ginasevern · 05/10/2025 16:41

PrincessofEuphrania · 05/10/2025 16:36

I said at work the other day “it's like the Marie-Celeste in that room” and no one knew what I was talking about!!

Same. I use that expression fairly often and get puzzled looks. Slightly off topic but I'm also getting increasinly blank stares from young people when I talk about a dozen/half a dozen eggs.

Illbefinejustbloodyfine · 05/10/2025 16:40

Dc aged 10 came out with "i haven't the foggiest" the other day. No idea where he got it from.

My Nan, and mum, used to say "My stars!!" In intense disapproval. If a child did or said some VERY bad. MY STARS!!!!

MagpiePi · 05/10/2025 16:40

‘Well, I went t’ bottom of our stairs’ and ‘couldn’t get mi’ hat on’ for when something is surprising.
Another one I think is dying out is to use ‘middling’ for feeling poorly. ‘Eee, I’m right middling’

Ponoka7 · 05/10/2025 16:39

A kip, Kip is still going strong in Liverpool. It came from the Danish word Kippe, then changed meaning over time.

PocketSand · 05/10/2025 16:38

When I lived in Manchester I had a boyfriend who referred to things as ‘bobbins’ and from his expression and tone understood he thought they were rubbish. My home town was only 15 miles away but this was a new one to me. Apparently originates from textile mills.

Itiswhysofew · 05/10/2025 16:38

ginasevern · 05/10/2025 16:20

My mum used to say "I should coco" quite often, although we're from the West Country. It became a trendy expression in the 1930's when she was a teenager. Sort of like "whatever" or "as if" these days. It was used in a novel about London gangsters in 1936 and caught on from there, but it obviously pre-dates the book.

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I should coco, brilliant. Puts me in mind of old b&w films.

Hop it! - go away.

GypsyQueeen · 05/10/2025 16:36

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 05/10/2025 16:23

Yes indeed.

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No, it's not 😅😅😅

PrincessofEuphrania · 05/10/2025 16:36

I said at work the other day “it's like the Marie-Celeste in that room” and no one knew what I was talking about!!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 05/10/2025 16:36

My Dad used say say "When your Mum and I were winching" which was dating (Glasgow in late 50s )

ginasevern · 05/10/2025 16:36

Gordon Bennett! Taking the Mick is not an Irish slur. It's Cockney rhyming slang for "taking the piss" and has a number of possible origins. None of which relate to the Irish. People are getting confused with "having a paddy", which is a reference to the Irish and is now unacceptable.

And yes @AutumnGlum "I'll have your guts for garters" was used in our household. We're in the West Country.

BellyPork · 05/10/2025 16:35

sweeneytoddsrazor · 05/10/2025 16:29

Oh my giddy aunt

Drawers ( instead of knickers)

My dad says Oh my giddy aunt. London expression, I suppose.

Thewalrusandthecarpenter · 05/10/2025 16:35

I’m 56 and pretty much all these sound like normal parlance to me - I just don’t really talk about getting off with, copping off, on the pull - I think we said on the tap as well (same meaning). And I don’t have a Scooby (as in I don’t have a clue). And wassock.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 05/10/2025 16:34

sweeneytoddsrazor · 05/10/2025 16:29

Oh my giddy aunt

Drawers ( instead of knickers)

Breeks (underpants)

"Hoo'er of a look" (our cat gives us )

TheignT · 05/10/2025 16:32

MagpiePi · 05/10/2025 16:31

I lived in north Warwickshire for a while and it was ‘Bill’s mother’ that was referred to as in ‘it’s a bit black over Bill’s mother’s’ meaning there were dark clouds looming and it could rain.

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Oh yes I remember Bill's mother when I was a child. I also wondered who he was.

MagpiePi · 05/10/2025 16:31

Denim4ever · 05/10/2025 15:56

Some things are regional. Growing up down south with parents who came from the midlands I use the expression 'All around the Wrekin' for going the the long way round without realising for some time that the Wrekin is a place. The local expression for the same circs is 'all round Wills mothers' . No idea if there was ever a real Will or his mother 🤣

Adult DS was very keen on Wallace and Gromit as a toddler. He yawned one day at nursery and staff asked him if he was tired. He replied 'I'm cream crackered'

I lived in north Warwickshire for a while and it was ‘Bill’s mother’ that was referred to as in ‘it’s a bit black over Bill’s mother’s’ meaning there were dark clouds looming and it could rain.

TheignT · 05/10/2025 16:31

childrenwatchthefools · 05/10/2025 15:09

Hell’s Teeth is another one no one says anymore. Or ‘blimey’ - but I still say that a lot. My children say I talk like an Enid Blyton character a lot - I also say ‘crikey’ and ‘yikes’ and ‘cross’

A nun who was my teacher told us it was evil to say "Oh gawd blimey" which was a common expression where I grew up in the midlands. She said it was an abbreviation of "Oh God blind me" and 60 odd years later it still makes me think of her and what a terrible thing it is to wish for. I have no idea if that is actually where the saying comes from. I must have a google and see if it gives an explanation. I will be back if I find out anything.

So had a google and seems she was right, 19th century saying from London.

HelpMeGetThrough · 05/10/2025 16:30

JHound · 05/10/2025 16:26

I stopped myself saying “taking the mick” as I am sure I ready it’s a bit of an anti-Irish slur.

It really isn’t.

Megapint · 05/10/2025 16:30

Christ on a bike!

sweeneytoddsrazor · 05/10/2025 16:29

Oh my giddy aunt

Drawers ( instead of knickers)

Illbefinejustbloodyfine · 05/10/2025 16:29

childrenwatchthefools · 05/10/2025 15:09

Hell’s Teeth is another one no one says anymore. Or ‘blimey’ - but I still say that a lot. My children say I talk like an Enid Blyton character a lot - I also say ‘crikey’ and ‘yikes’ and ‘cross’

I say all of these, and so do my DC . They also say "bruh"

70sMuuMuu · 05/10/2025 16:28

VoltaireMittyDream · 05/10/2025 15:46

Oh, the days when men were dishy and lush. And fit!

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The era of ‘Diet Coke break’ too!