Sayings that your parents (or grandparents) used but you don't hear anymore.

[Fizbosshoes]

Inspired by another poster explaining their username which was a saying, my parents (mainly my dad) seemed to have lots of sayings that I rarely hear any more . I'm sure I don't have as many that I say to my kids - ill have to ask them in 20 or 30 years! These were some I can remember (they probably said them in the 1980s/90s)

For someone being clumsy or making a meal of something they were like
-a bull in a China shop

• a bull at a gate
• a fart in a collander

If laughing at something they didn't think was funny

• you'd laugh to see a pudden (??) crawl

Describing a child who was very chatty

• they had more mouth than grub to put in it

Describing someone who was probably overweight

• they're built to last

Surprised at something

• Well I'll go to the foot of our stairs

If you wanted something you couldn't have

• if wishes were horses, beggars would ride
• beggars can't be choosers

If someone seemed to be lucky or get away with something

• if they fell in the sea, they wouldn't get wet.

And I can't remember in what context it was used but
-If grandma had wheels she'd be a bus.

I'm sure there were more but I can't think of them all . Does anyone else remember these or have other ones?

Oh that reminds me "what's for tea?"
"Bread and pull-it" or "wait and see pie"

My mother used to say, I will swing for you. When we naughty

I'll prob think of more but my fave one my nana said (which I use) is "shhh you're not made of sugar nor salt" if we didn't want to go out in the rain

" I haven't seen x since the old King died"

Lots of terrible
Racist ones I won't repeat

I always liked "Up my arse on the second shelf. " When someone asked where something obvious was such a their shoes.
You look like you've been up the fire back. Meaning you are dirty.

My boss said two too me today neither of which I've never heard before

Its like knitting cats
Its like herding fog

Its raining stair rods (heavy rainfall)
You are damned if you do/damned if you dont (unable to reach an important decision)
Are you stepping out? (going out on a date)

@Fanofcrisps I still use this and quite often get lots of confused looks 🤔🤣

It's not the cough that carries you off, it's the coffin they carry you off in.

I say it to my children and they look blank.

My Gran used to say loads..
The wind will change and you will stay like that (if you pulled a face)
About as useful as a chocolate fireguard
Too many cooks spoil the broth
Two heads are better than one
Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves

"All fur coat and no knickers"

"If brains were gunpowder, you wouldn't have enough to blow your hat off."

@sandwiches77

My boss said two too me today neither of which I've never heard before

Its like knitting cats
Its like herding fog

I think it's the other way round Herding cats Knitting fog

Neither of which are easy to do

My GM used to say:

The cuckoo comes in April, sings its song in May, at the end of June it whistles a tune, and then it flies away.

It's probably not uncommon but I've not heard anybody else say it recently. She always loved birds and I miss her dearly.

Just thought of another one:

He is as happy as Larry (I think Larry was a boxer but why he was happy I do not know)

'Cut your nose off to spite your face' is one I have to explain when dealing with young people.
'Like a matchstick with all the wood scraped off' when referring to legs (skinny).
'Til the cows come home'.
I might be back with more!

Two jumps at the cupboard door.

For fat people "built for comfort, not for speed"

@Fizbosshoes

Oh that reminds me "what's for tea?" "Bread and pull-it" or "wait and see pie"

My stepdad's mother used to say "Bread and thump-it"

My friend's granny said "Pastry pudding and bread sandwiches"

My mother said "You'll get what you're given and like it"

I suppose mothers through the ages have needed answers to the "what's for tea?" question!

My mum says
Up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire (still dont really know what this one means)
Cut off your nose to spite your face

"You'll go off in a bang" if you've eaten too much

@sandwiches77

My boss said two too me today neither of which I've never heard before

Its like knitting cats
Its like herding fog

I think you have those mixed up

In answer to what's for tea we had "a walk round the table"
Like Blackpool illuminations if too many lights on
Up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire

If ifs and ands were pots and pans, there’d be no need for tinkers.

Ships sail east and ships sail west, whilst the self same breezes blow. It’s the set of the sail and not the gale that sends them where to go. Mostly abbreviated to ‘ships sail east…’

Some of the ones mentioned above are such common parlance in my house, I’ve forgotten they’re ‘sayings’.

Another few of my mums favourites
Between a rock and a hard place
Rome wasn't built in a day
You made a rod for your own back
Better the devil you know

@sandwiches77

My mum says Up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire (still dont really know what this one means) Cut off your nose to spite your face

Up the wooden hill (stairs) to bedfordshire (bed)

"bring a tear to a glass eye"
" So tired I could sleep on a clothes line"
"Pale as Marley's ghost"'

My Brother always use to say in reply to whats for tea?-Shit with sugar on!
He also used the Up my arse on the 2nd shelf!!! Not heard that in forever.

A lady I worked with always said these two, and I use them now
"Your Head will never save your legs"(if you forgot something and had to go back for it)
"Never go empty handed"(always take something back with you)