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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:
VoltaireMittyDream · 05/10/2025 15:46

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!

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

Catpiece · 05/10/2025 15:45

I’m a South London Cockney and I still say them all. Another saying from when I was a kid was “I should coco” meaning “I don’t think so”

Dogaredabomb · 05/10/2025 15:43

ThatGlimmeringSea · 05/10/2025 14:44

The sun’s cracking the flags

He’s living off the smell of an oil rag (describing a person who is reluctant to spend money)

I like that!

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!

FOJN · 05/10/2025 15:42

From Harbour Guides.com
SWING THE LEAD.

When sailing close to shore it is important to keep an eye on the depth of the water. In the age of sailing ships this was done by dropping a line over the side of the ship with a lead weight fastened to the end. To swing the lead was considered an easy job and eventually became a term meaning one who is either avoiding hard work or taking and easy option. Hence in modern terms if you ‘swing the lead’ you are slacking off.

Peachandpassionfruit · 05/10/2025 15:40

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.’

Oh god no. I hate “pants”.

mcmuffin22 · 05/10/2025 15:37

I use barnet all the time to refer to hair. Yikes and yowzers are still very much in use in my family (yowzers possibly from Inspector Gadget or another 80s kids tv show). My mum uses plenty of rhyming slang (syrup for wife etc) all perplexing to my children.

Abhannmor · 05/10/2025 15:34

Catarinabella · 05/10/2025 15:08

“Hopping the wag” as in playing truant, East Midlands UK, 70’s

'Mitching' .... Ireland same time. Not heard lately.

UnctuousUnicorns · 05/10/2025 15:31

Abhannmor · 05/10/2025 15:28

My sil still says of some child : ' he was having a Paddy'. But yeah it's dying out.

Show quote history

We said "throwing a wobbler". I believe "throwing a wobbly" is an alternative. Think shaking and writhing in fury like a tantrumming toddler. 😅

Abhannmor · 05/10/2025 15:28

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?

My sil still says of some child : ' he was having a Paddy'. But yeah it's dying out.

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.’

suburburban · 05/10/2025 15:25

UnctuousUnicorns · 05/10/2025 15:24

I use "Yikes" to mean "That's awkward", or if I've just been told about a nasty accident or scary incident.

Show quote history

Jinkies 😀

jeepes

UnctuousUnicorns · 05/10/2025 15:24

AgnesX · 05/10/2025 15:19

Isn't yikes very 70s and Scooby Doo?! I've never heard anyone use it in real life.

I use "Yikes" to mean "That's awkward", or if I've just been told about a nasty accident or scary incident.

mzpq · 05/10/2025 15:22

pontipinemum · 05/10/2025 15:12

@mzpq I'm Irish, but born/ part raised around London. As far as I know it's not a slur against Irish people. If it is let me know how so I can fish out my offended hat next time I hear it 😜

@WalkDontWalk swinging the lead is the only one I don't know. What does it mean? Hitting someone?

I'm 37 so wasn't around 50yrs ago to hear that one

I'm Irish too and I don't find it offensive at all 🤷‍♂️

It's just something I heard.

But there seems to be many different interesting origins anyway, reading this thread.

HugelyExpensiveCrystalDuck · 05/10/2025 15:20

I say taking the Mick, therefore so do my teenagers. And ‘you are taking the absolute Michael’ for best.

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.

Original poster
WalkDontWalk · 05/10/2025 15:20

pontipinemum · 05/10/2025 15:12

@mzpq I'm Irish, but born/ part raised around London. As far as I know it's not a slur against Irish people. If it is let me know how so I can fish out my offended hat next time I hear it 😜

@WalkDontWalk swinging the lead is the only one I don't know. What does it mean? Hitting someone?

I'm 37 so wasn't around 50yrs ago to hear that one

It means skiving or not doing the job properly.

Ships at sea used to find the depth of the water by lowering a rope over the side with a lump of lead on it (lead in Latin is 'plumbum' hence 'plumbing the depths' and, actually, 'plumber' - someone who works with lead).

When the lead hit the bottom, you could pull it up and measure the wet rope.

But if you swung it about a bit, you might hit something and get the job over with sooner.

At least, that's the derivation my dad told me.

OP posts:
AgnesX · 05/10/2025 15:19

Isn't yikes very 70s and Scooby Doo?! I've never heard anyone use it in real life.

NormasArse · 05/10/2025 15:19

Callipygion · 05/10/2025 15:08

I still say Gordon Bennett or Flaming Nora!

No idea who they are though, I keep meaning to look them up but always forget!

I say blummin’ Nora.

BauhausOfEliott · 05/10/2025 15:16

I’m 49 and from London; now live in Manchester. Have never heard a British person say ‘Yikes’ to be honest and I don’t know ‘swinging the lead’ but all the others are still expressions I use and hear all the time.

TheatricalLife · 05/10/2025 15:15

Haha I use the vast majority of those all the time! I am 44 though.

Mix56 · 05/10/2025 15:14

Enjoying this !

pontipinemum · 05/10/2025 15:12

@mzpq I'm Irish, but born/ part raised around London. As far as I know it's not a slur against Irish people. If it is let me know how so I can fish out my offended hat next time I hear it 😜

@WalkDontWalk swinging the lead is the only one I don't know. What does it mean? Hitting someone?

I'm 37 so wasn't around 50yrs ago to hear that one

BCBird · 05/10/2025 15:11

Im.in the Midlands, in my 50s. We used to say these expressions all the time

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’