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?

@charliebear78

My mum used to say " she's run off with a black man" when asked where someone was!!!!!! She's the cats mum(when calling someone she instead of their name) Give over crying, or i will give you something to cry about!! when we were moaning and whinging. Mum always called us duck heads( or was it duck eggs?)

I still say the cats mother one

I came on to say the run off with a black man one. My grandmother used to say it all the time every time I asked where my mother was.

‘It’s a bit black over Bill’s mothers’ meaning the weather looks a bit rainy!

My favourite, and one I use with my children, I'm not standing around like cheese at 4pence

If asked her age my Nan would say I’m as old as my tongue and a little bit older than my teeth

@marqueses

I'm not getting this thread at all, most of these sayings are in normal everyday use. Why are posters thinking they are unusual

I started it thinking of sayings my parents used to say but I rarely hear any more.
I guess some are more common than others and some might be regional?

My gran " listen . . . . Isn't it quiet!"

From the other side if the family

" better a door than a window!" If for eg someone is standing in front of the tv

A face that'll turn milk sour. (Sulking)
A face like a slapped arse.(sulking)
I'll give ye something to cry about. (Whining about somthing silly)
More chance of an audience with the pope .( cant get to see some one)
Cant get the staff these days. ( dad jokingly talking about his children)
He/she's an odd fish (talking about a
quirky person )
Get over yourself . (Cop on )
Go way with ye ( disbelief)
Sweet singing jesus (shock)

Sit still you are up and down like the vicar’s knickers!

My mum used to talk about someone ‘looking like something out of Belsen’ if they looked undernourished or underweight. I think people would think twice before using that one now.

Family members in their late 70s:

‘I’ll have your guts for garters!’

When asked what’s for tea…..’two jumps at the back door and a bite of the latch!’

When asked where they’ve been….’there and back to see how far it is.’

‘Fiddlesticks!’ (as a mild expletive for when something has gone wrong)

If you're meant to be hung you'll never be shot (as in whatever will be will be)

Here's your hat, what's your hurry?

Why have a dog and bark yourself?

Thick as two short planks.
Thick as a docker's sandwich.
Daft ha'porth (pronounced without the h, so I used to think an ha'porth was a kind of small ape when I was little 😆)
(If you dropped a low value coin in the street) Oh, leave it for the sweep!

(East End of London)

"You're like a fairy Elephant!" (if you stomp up the stairs)
"Put yourself outside that" (take your food/drink)
"If you had a brain, you'd be dangerous"
"You daft apeth" or, my favourite "You flaming melt" if we did something stupid!

I remember if I was being a pain my mum or dad would ask if I was 'sickening for something' as in coming down with a bug. It was kind of to embarrass me out of the behaviour I think, if I wasn't indeed unwell. Similar to 'stop showing off' to shame you in to behaving in front of friends

We’re you born in a barn
If my grandmother had wheels she would be a bus
He’s a legend in his own lunchtime (someone who had a high opinion of themselves)
2 hairs past a freckle (if you asked the time)

My gran used to call me ‘ducky egg’ and my brother ‘joe soap’

I'll wash your mouth out with soap.

Not heard that in a good 25 years

You look like the wreck of the Hesperus!
...or alternatively The wild woman of Wonga!

(when one happens upon one's granddaughter in a dishevelled state 😆)

Kippers and custard

All gong and no dinner

Slab short of a patio

Well you've pissed on me chips

Couldn't hit a cows arse with a banjo

@Handsoffreturns

Arse over tit has always been a personal favourite

My DF used to say, ‘Arse over breakfast time,’ which had a quaint ring to it, I always thought.

Another one of his was, ‘Farting like a brewer’s dray-horse.’

And, ‘I am going to commune with my soul’, when he was about to disappear into the loo for 20 minutes with the paper.

Or wild woman of Borneo?

When your hair was tatty growing up

@crackofdoom

Thick as two short planks. Thick as a docker's sandwich. Daft ha'porth (pronounced without the h, so I used to think an ha'porth was a kind of small ape when I was little 😆) (If you dropped a low value coin in the street) Oh, leave it for the sweep!

(East End of London)

So did I, daft aper, like great ape cartoon

@crackofdoom or you/I look like the wrath of god

"You've pissed on your chips now"

We got 'look like you've been dragged through a hedge backwards' of scruffy