Charming, old fashioned sayings

[randomer]

My IL used to say they couldn't "get on with " something like a cooker or a book.That used to make me smile.
My mother used to say " Oh I like you in that" meaning that suits you, another one which made me smile.

No pockets in a shroud - DH's gran.
You and whose army? ( said aggressively!)
He's a right mard little sod ( said about any child who got tearful!)

My mum is another one who would often tell us we were having shite and sugar for dinner...

I'll put you two in a sack and shake you up!

If I asked what was for dinner my mum would say,

‘Iffits and windmill pie - if it’s big enough to go round you can have some.’

Ain't no pockets in a shroud

Empty vessels make most noise

She was no better than she ought to be

Oh and my Grandma used to say "I've got a bone in my leg" if she didn't want to do something active.

Not a saying as such but after I had DD1 HD and I left London and went back up North to my home village. I took baby dad out for the first time in her pram and older women and men kept putting a pound coin on her pram cover. I thanked them all but was quite confused ...it even happened on the bus! Later my Mum told me that it’s a very old custom from hundreds of years ago. Something to do with keeping the devil away!

I remember the coin in pram thing from years ago, but as I remember it was nothing to do with the devil, it was to bring the baby good luck and prosperity!

Yeah I'm in Durham and you often cross babies palm with silver and out some coins in the pram.

My DGF always used to say when I asked where we were going "to bubbeth"!!
Or there and back to see how far it is.

My dad was going out to see a man about a dog! One day he came back with a parakeet 🤣

All fur coat and no knickers I have heard

Here is one I use with my kids and I have no idea where I picked it up from

"Not your circus, not your monkey"
used to tell them to keep out of something and it's not their business!! Anyone heard of that?

@QueenPaw

So many..! I use them and people do face

You can get used to anything except a tight pair of clogs
You make a better door than a window
Standing there like piffy on a rock bun

Yes - my Nanna used to say piffy on a rock bun - what on earth does it mean? (She didn't know either).

She also used to say "you shape like a pennorth of sore toes" when she meant you were doing something clumsily and also something that took me years to work out "San Fairy Anne" - which I finally realised was "ça ne fait rien".

A PP said something about telling older people you can't take it with you if you think they are being tight with money. Once a tradesman said this to me when quoting for a job (I was in my early sixties and he would have been in his forties) - not the thing to say in those circumstances I would have thought. I told him I didn't plan on going yet - and he didn't get the job, cheeky devil.

When I was small I used to ask my Dad where he was going on a Friday night (local labour club) and he would always say "I'm going to see a man about a dog". I got excited the first few times as I thought we were getting a new pet!

When my DM was cross she would always have 'a bone to pick with you.'

When my husband was still my boyfriend, my lovely Grandfather would often ask me "now darling, has he made you an offer yet?"

He was beside himself when we rang to tell him we were engaged!

My grandma used to infuriate us when she put her best coat & hat on to go out & we would ask where She would say Putney on a pig , coming back on a donkey . We would try our upmost to see the pig in the centre of London, but I really wanted to see the donkey she was coming back on , hoping we could keep him .

We would still use a lot of these in our family.
My personal favourites are;

'There's more brains in a false face'

'It's like the wheelbarrow it's all in front of you'

'There no point shutting the gate after the horse has bolted'

'You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear'

' That's not very becoming'
(Usually in response to me swearing)

My dad used to say I was ‘working through a keyhole’ when I was trying to do something without clearing enough space or moving things to make it easier.

I love "You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din" and so rarely hear it said these days.

You'll catch your death. (Probably for leaving the house within three days of having a bath or washing your hair.)

First time I heard an adult say they had arrived on Shank's pony, I went outside to see if Bill Shankly was riding off on a pony.
Obviously, this outs me from where I live so "in for a penny, in for a pound" ie here's some more:
What time will you be home? Answer - when Dick docks (to do with a ship called Richard something that sunk in Liverpool Bay);
he could do with a good pan of scouse down him (skinny person); get off at Edge Hill (coitus interruptus. Edge Hill being the last but one stop from Lime St where the trains terminated); standing there like one of Lewis's (already mentioned); I'll meet you under Dicky Lewis (meet under the Lewis's statue); up the dancers to bed; cow's melt; My nana used to say something was antwacky if it was old fashioned.
Oh there's tons I can't think now.
My other nan would use Catholic imagery: jesus, Mary and Joseph (and if especially exasperated: and all the saints in heaven); Mary mother of god; if we were being naughty - our lord is watching you (used to terrify me). Loads more.

Also remember going to see an elderly relative who said "I've got a bone to pick with you" and getting genuinely excited that we were going to dig a bone up in the garden for the dogs! I think the actual bone was me hiding sweet wrappers down the side of the sofa!

Also my grandparents didn't have a living room or front room, they had a "drawing room", which confused me as I never saw either of them draw.

My wonderful DGM used to refer to herself as a slut when she was spending her time watching tv (meaning lazy I think) or thought herself messy. I found this at first shocking and then hilarious!

'It's a bit dark over Bills mothers' meaning it's grey out & going to rain!

Also 'you're not as green as you are cabbage looking'.

We have best ham, best butter & cutting bread lol

@polarbearoverthere

My wonderful DGM used to refer to herself as a slut when she was spending her time watching tv (meaning lazy I think) or thought herself messy. I found this at first shocking and then hilarious!

Interestingly since it is now predominantly used to mean a loose girl / woman, the usage has skyrocketed. Look at the pic...

Not charming but "face like a slapped arse" .Calls to mind Priti Patel

My dad used to say "dusty roads" when referring to a vagrant ,presumably a shortened version of "dusty roads a tramping "?

Also "dead centre of xxxx" when referring to a cemetery

"suicide blonde "when meaning someone had dyed their hair

"bit seven dayish" weak tea

"she's the cat's mother" said by teachers to mean that one should quote a person's name and not just say "she" caused me confusion for years .