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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:
UnctuousUnicorns · 05/10/2025 16:08

TinDogTavern · 05/10/2025 16:04

My mum says “dishy”. She’s 82. She said it once to me when I was a teenager and I died of cringe THEN, and I’m now 56.

Show quote history

I would find "dishy" cringe worthy too. We used to say, "he's a bit of alright", or "I wouldn't kick him out of bed for eating crisps". This would be when we were about twelve or thirteen. 😅

OSTMusTisNT · 05/10/2025 16:07

"Do you think I came up the Clyde on a banana boat?"

Haven't heard that for years, not sure if the origins of it?

And,

"Its as much use as a chocolate fireguard/ashtray on a motorbike."

Guessing central heating and vaping will be the demise of these 2.

PersephonePomegranate · 05/10/2025 16:06

VoltaireMittyDream · 05/10/2025 15:26

I think we should bring back ‘pants’.

’Oh pants. I forgot my wallet’
’I want to see the new James Bond and it was pants.’

Nooooo! Leave that abomination in the 90s where it belongs!

tinytemper66 · 05/10/2025 16:05

I still use them all-59 and live in Wales!

TinDogTavern · 05/10/2025 16:04

Abhannmor · 05/10/2025 15:43

My friend blew her street credibility at a feminist meeting when she admired some male writer. But she thinks the main offence was describing him as ' dishy'. There's no way back from such cringe apparently!

My mum says “dishy”. She’s 82. She said it once to me when I was a teenager and I died of cringe THEN, and I’m now 56.

UnctuousUnicorns · 05/10/2025 16:04

BellyPork · 05/10/2025 15:59

Yes!

Also,
That's rather racy
Up the duff
Turned up their toes

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I'm familiar with "guts for garters" too, from Merseyside here.

Abhannmor · 05/10/2025 16:03

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 05/10/2025 14:39

No. Taking the ‘mickey’ is from rhyming slang for piss - Mickey Bliss

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Could well be this and later got mixed up with expressions like ' that's a bit Irish ' or ' he's having a Paddy' ? There were a lot of Irish jokes around the 70s. Taking the piss has replaced it mainly. Or ' ripping the piss out of it'.
Not to mention ' you're 'avin a larf aintcha?'

Mumof2amazingasdkiddos · 05/10/2025 16:01

I'm 43 and from the North and know all these sayings so I don't think they are regional but I agree they are dying out as I've not heard them for years (apart from kip as I still use that one!)

ginasevern · 05/10/2025 16:01

mzpq · 05/10/2025 14:27

I think 'Taking the mick' is now considered offence, as in a slur against the Irish, isn't it?

You might be thinking of "having a paddy", as in losing your temper. It's a reference to Irish people being perceived as hot headed (for want of a better description).

HelpMeGetThrough · 05/10/2025 16:01

Pushing up the daisies.

UnctuousUnicorns · 05/10/2025 15:59

Mind, it was years before I understood what "What did your last one die of?" meant!

BellyPork · 05/10/2025 15:59

AutumnGlum · 05/10/2025 15:55

My Mancunian Granny used to say ‘I’ll have your guts for garters’, anyone heard that before?

Yes!

Also,
That's rather racy
Up the duff
Turned up their toes

Squirrelsnut · 05/10/2025 15:59

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.

I use all of them (55) and know others that do too.

UnctuousUnicorns · 05/10/2025 15:58

Mercurial123 · 05/10/2025 15:55

I've never said any of those and I'm in my early 50s. My parents do.

I've also never heard "wow, just wow" ever used in real life only on MN.

"Big Wow" was used in my quarters to indicate that one is somewhat underwhelmed, so the exact opposite.

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'

Redpeach · 05/10/2025 15:56

Who is micky bliss

HelpMeGetThrough · 05/10/2025 15:55

mzpq · 05/10/2025 14:27

I think 'Taking the mick' is now considered offence, as in a slur against the Irish, isn't it?

You’re just taking the piss now.

AutumnGlum · 05/10/2025 15:55

My Mancunian Granny used to say ‘I’ll have your guts for garters’, anyone heard that before?

Mercurial123 · 05/10/2025 15:55

I've never said any of those and I'm in my early 50s. My parents do.

I've also never heard "wow, just wow" ever used in real life only on MN.

Gowlett · 05/10/2025 15:52

I’ve never considered “taking the mick” to be related to anything Irish (I’m Irish, lived in London, was called paddy).

Micky has another meaning, here… And we often say “taking the Michael” now as a modern version of the same phrase.

smallsilvercloud · 05/10/2025 15:51

Op your daughter’s reactions are hilarious
no I haven’t used or heard them for about 30 years

roseymoira · 05/10/2025 15:50

Sounds like your daughters had a very sheltered life so far, unless she’s a toddler

Abhannmor · 05/10/2025 15:50

VoltaireMittyDream · 05/10/2025 15:46

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

Show quote history

Or not eh? 😆

Dogaredabomb · 05/10/2025 15:50

UnctuousUnicorns · 05/10/2025 15:20

Swinging the lead means faking illness to avoid work or school, or idling when one should be working. AFAIK Gordon Bennett is just a euphemism for Gor Blimey i.e. (May) God blind me, a mild oath. Flaming Nora a mild alternative to Fucking Hell. Ways of avoiding swears and curses.

Iirc Gordon Bennett was a cricketer who did very well one year. I remember in the late 70s someone saying if he didn't do as well again then we'd have to pick another name to say.

Dogaredabomb · 05/10/2025 15:47

I thought swinging the lead was a ship's purser swinging the lead (at the scales) when measuring out provisions thereby making himself a bit of money on the sly.