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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask for words and phrases you no longer say?

213 replies

namezchangez · 21/02/2026 11:24

Not really an AIBU, but I wanted a good list! DH and I were talking about words and phrases we used to say frequently as children in the 80s and which now we rarely use or hear. Some of these refer to things that no longer exist, or which have become rare, some have fallen out of fashion, some now seem tasteless or prejudicial. Would love to hear some more! (And doesn’t need to be from the 80s.)

ozone layer
polystyrene
crybaby
wicked (as a term of approval)
teacake
space race
Indian summer
gooseberries

OP posts:
Silverbirchleaf · 25/02/2026 09:21

Partly as a direct response to this thread, discussed ‘spending a penny’ with two young adult colleagues of mine (under thirty), after someone happened to say it. Although they both knew it referred to going to the toilet, and one mentioned her grandad used to say it a lot, neither realised it meant that you had to pay a penny to use a toilet facility.

DappledThings · 25/02/2026 09:09

Silverbirchleaf · 23/02/2026 13:36

Baker days - for Inset days

I say inset day now so everyone knows what I mean but in my head they are still Baker days.

Very confused about polystyrene. Does it have a new name now? I was complaining only this week about the number of bin bags I've filled purely with polystyrene from all the flat packing furniture I've been building.

And I have a teacake in a cafe at least once a week. Sometimes with jam and butter, sometimes just butter. The one in town I go to most often provides 4 pats of butter per teacake which is an excellent ratio.

MissAdvantage · 25/02/2026 08:36

haven't said the word ‘Joey’ since a child in the 80s

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 25/02/2026 08:35

VictoriaEra · 21/02/2026 12:49

I definitely say tea cake. I’ve just eaten one.

I bought some yesterday. Warburton’s Fruity Teacakes 😋.

Wordsmithery · 25/02/2026 08:33

LittleMissLateForWorkAgain · 21/02/2026 12:30

Oh and just remembered other ones

"Going too far" sex or nearly having sex. Often written in by readers of Jackie magazine to the Cathy and Claire problem pages which we devoured as 13 year old.

"Going steady" proper boyfriend and girlfriend exclusively " Louise and Steve have been going steady for 3 months. Why is Julie trying it on with him? " said in scandalised shock

And also from Jackie, "heavy petting". 😂

pompomtiddly · 25/02/2026 01:06

things I remember my Nan (born 1912 in the Black Country)saying
She’s no better than she ought to be (it always referred to a woman)
they’re neither use nor ornament
you’re like a fart in a colander
Are you courting?
’avin a nozzack (being nosy)
sterra(sterilised milk)
In response to being asked what was for tea she always said shit n herrings - without the ‘errings

Glaspeated · 23/02/2026 22:01

We no longer say “Chinese wall”. It’s now an “Information barrier”. I never viewed Chinese wall as being derogatory or offensive - I thought it was just a reference to the Great Wall of China.

queenofthebongo · 23/02/2026 21:55

namezchangez · 21/02/2026 11:24

Not really an AIBU, but I wanted a good list! DH and I were talking about words and phrases we used to say frequently as children in the 80s and which now we rarely use or hear. Some of these refer to things that no longer exist, or which have become rare, some have fallen out of fashion, some now seem tasteless or prejudicial. Would love to hear some more! (And doesn’t need to be from the 80s.)

ozone layer
polystyrene
crybaby
wicked (as a term of approval)
teacake
space race
Indian summer
gooseberries

I still use all of these! Except for Indian summer I think. 🤔

OSupergran · 23/02/2026 21:40

Droppit · 22/02/2026 21:27

Big Jessie
Scuzzie
Wonga
Spod

I'd forgotten spod!

Tickyandtackyandjackiethebackie · 23/02/2026 20:46

'Div' and 'Eggy' - meaning moody/stroppy in the '80's 😂

ChuckJacksonIvegottheNeedNSoul · 23/02/2026 17:53

A record being 100mph or a stomper
Northern soul lingo

VivienneDelacroix · 23/02/2026 16:04

"The pictures" I say cinema now, but I still prefer "the pictures".

IsThistheMiddleofNowhere · 23/02/2026 15:59

'What the Dickins' and 'smashing', although those were probably from the 60s/70s rather than the 80s.

Silverbirchleaf · 23/02/2026 13:36

Baker days - for Inset days

Droppit · 22/02/2026 21:27

Big Jessie
Scuzzie
Wonga
Spod

myusernamewastakenbyme · 22/02/2026 21:24

My kids laugh when i call my sofa a 'suite'....they had never heard it before.

icantfindmyphone · 22/02/2026 21:19

Here’s 10p , go call someone who gives a shit 😂

monkeymamma · 22/02/2026 21:15

Pop (rather than fizzy drink)

monkeymamma · 22/02/2026 21:14

Chesterfield instead of settee
baths not pool
pictures not cinema
chit (like a sort of receipt or stub wasn’t it)
getting off with/going out with
nightie
piece (as in a bread and jelly piece - ie a jam sandwich)
shows (referring to a travelling fairground type situation)
’front room’

LambriniBobInIsleworthISeesYa · 22/02/2026 20:05

Chlorofluorocarbon. Such a ubiquitous word in the early 90s that I was made to learn to spell it at school. Now that they are no longer produced and illegal to supply or use in the UK, I doubt that my kids have ever even heard the word (and could much less spell it!)

TheeNotoriousPIG · 22/02/2026 19:50

I have had to stop using a lot of Lancashire/Yorkshire/general northern sayings, because I moved far away, and they are unheard of around here! However, "Ey-up" seems to have stayed with me.

I get laughed at for saying, "The Picture House" (pictures/cinema), but... the place where I watched new films growing up was actually called, "The Picture House", so it stuck!

Sourisblanche · 22/02/2026 19:10

When I was a student and in the early years of work I moved around a lot.

My grandfather always used to ask if I had ‘new digs’. Really haven’t heard that one since he died.

I still use spend a penny, although it’s now €1 where I am!

LadyCrustybread · 22/02/2026 19:02

Scally
pedal pushers
sick (to mean good)
peak (to mean good)

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 22/02/2026 19:00

I've thought of another - spiv. I used it at work about 15 years ago. (I'm only 40!) and had to explain what it meant!

Counterpane. There's a brilliant bit in a Bill Bryson book about a Counterpane.

I'm a(goose)gog about gooseberries. They sell them in tesco! And gooseberry fools, I've got one in the fridge!

Surely people still say 'slip', aren't 'slip dresses' quite the thing at the moment?

I'm adding 'quite the thing' to the list too Grin

DGM used to say 'black as newgate's knocker' when things were dirty.

I ask 9yo DD if she's 'with us or with the Woolwich' and she rolls her eyes at me because she can tell it's uncool even though she doesn't understand it.

CrayonCritic5 · 22/02/2026 18:54

Notmyreality · 22/02/2026 18:38

Oh really, what do you call it then?

Show quote history

Well I’d say that public discussion has shifted to talk about “climate change” and “global warming” more generally and so not specifically referencing the ozone layer.

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