Obsolete words or phrases

[CharliesAngles]

MIL said so and so came from a "well-to-do" family.
Made me think I don't know when I last heard that phrase being used (probably also in conversation with MIL 😄)

Are there any words or phrases you've recently heard and thought oh I haven't heard that in donkey's years!

“Don’t get your knickers in a twist” said Jack, “Let’s look inside the patchwork sack”. That book was a big favourite of my son when he was 5 or so, so he uses that phrase a lot. He’s only 9 now.

Ooh I've never heard "...and Kevin's your peculiar cousin"! I will definitely be adding him to my repertoire.

To leave something in apple pie order. Not heard that in years!

That is what it means, it means someone who thinks they are above everyone else
it can also mean a woman who is ‘tarty’ !!

Up the wooden hill to go to bed
Children should be seen and not heard

My old colleague insisted it was “donkeys of years”, drove me mad!

I find my 9 year old to be unfamiliar with the concept of “ a fortnight” (yet ironically well aware of the existence of Fortnite).

I got blank looks the other day from some graduates at work when I said that I hoped we were not backing Betamax instead of VHS.

Think it was everywhere. My Norfolk family members said it.

I remember my Mum saying something had “grown like Topsy” and I (an adult) had never heard that phrase before.

I’m frequently teased for saying “wireless”

Go to Scotland, everybody says “Cheerio” there!

Your Betamax convo reminds me of DC1 23 (with an MSc) who asked me very earnestly only about a year ago how I managed to meet up with people in London in the 1980s without a phone. I explained that I had a paper map (that was met with incredulity) and how sometimes people didn’t turn up to the agreed meeting point so all I could do was give up.

We often use glowering to describe the cat staring at us through the window to let her in. I refuse as, if she’s out, then the back door is open and she can bloody walk round

I used to call my daughter scallywag as a nickname,she is 31 now! She was actually pretty well behaved!

I have used 'it's neither use nor ornament' a fair few times recently.

Up the wooden hill to go to bed
Up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire.

I remember my Mum saying something had “grown like Topsy” and I (an adult) had never heard that phrase before.
My mum said it, too. Google tells me it comes from Uncle Tom's Cabin

How do you do? Said on shaking hands when meeting someone for the first time. Haven’t heard it in years.

Not quite verbal communication but I rather miss the flashing a V gesture which seems to have been supplanted by giving a finger. The latter I consider to be a nasty Americanism. Let’s stand up for our own swear words and insults!

I used the phrase 'down at heel ' to describe a character on a tv show and DD said that no one said that..

But equally I havent paid a penny to have a wee in my entire life (Im 50) but still say this!

I've just been messaging friend here in Melbourne, whinging about my minor aches and pains.
She came back with "This getting older has whiskers on it". I'd never heard it , ever. I got the implications immediately but had to look it up to be precise. It's not Australian.

Richard Littlejohn.

Driving me round the bend

Spiffing!

Painting the town red

Night on the tiles

Very well - to mean yes

My mum still says it! But she’s 83!

I'll have your guts for garters

Fair weather for ducks.(UK wide.)

"It was/were like wading through treacle." (Trying to express oneself to a particularly obtuse or difficult person.) Lancashire/Yorkshire.

"Smells like a whore's handbag." Ulster.