To think people should use these words/phrases more often

[SybilRamkin]

Inspired by the 'hubster' thread, there are several words and phrases in our glorious language that have been much neglected of late, and I resolve to use them more often.

My current favourites:

"I don't like the cut of your jib"

"steal a march [on someone]"

"lollygagging"

What words and/or phrases do you think should be brought back into common parlance?

glad I mentioned it then!

My sister refers to any gynaecological issues as 'trouble in Fallujah'.

"Neither nowt nor summat" - for those annoying times when something is crap, just not quite crap enough to make a fuss over, except you want to, only then you'll look like a loser for making a fuss.

I especially like to say this in meetings to posh Southern types.

I love "what the deuce?"

I like to use gadzooks.

And crikey.

And curmudgeonly.

I do love words.

As black as the Earl of Hell's waistcoat.

Usually used to describe the colour of my nasty cat's heart.

One of my favourite phrases is

• big girl's blouse

I know one or two.

Looks as pleasant as snow in harvest was a favourite of my dads

I like lawks-a-mercy. I employ it when tween tantrums are looming, it seems to work. As in, 'lawks-a-mercy, someone get Childline/The Army/the NSPCC on the phone, the international rights of the child have been trampled'.

'Wouldn't give you the skin off her rice puddin'
&
'First out of taxi, last to the bar' are ones I've used on a certain family member

My nan always said 'As much use as a fart in a jar!'

Is it always ok for children to say curses? If so, I'm going with that.

I like z'wind yer neck in'

Fine words butter no parsnips.

Outwith.

It's a Scottish word and I live in England but love to sneak it into work emails every now and again.

Tickety boo

Personal favourite: 'Colder than a witch's titty", also love (and please excuse if you are religious), 'Christ on a bike!' (which is like FFS!)

My Dh uses "flibberdegibet" quite a bit. And "A few sandwiches short of a picnic".

All mouth, no trousers.

I'll do it forthwith, if not sooner!

I also like ergo but have never used it.

You could shoot peas through it - used to describe any cheap flimsy garment.

Love some of these, haven't heard Bobby dazzler for years, nice one.

Thanks for the explanation of lollygagging elQuintoConyo. I'm off to Spain on Sunday, now would it be reasonable to use your name as a nice little phrase over there??

Here's a Scottish one, much used by a friend of mine: hee haw. Love it!

springiton similar sayings are 'he'd peel an orange in his pocket' or 'eat his dinner in a drawer' ie, stingy!

'Brouhaha' definitely needs to be used more often - marvellous word!

I really like "it brings your arse up to your elbows" when eating or drinking something sour

I have always liked "did someone blow out your pilot light?!?" as a substitute for "what kind of ignoramus are you?"

I must use it often enough, I heard my 8 yo DD ask the dog that today...

'Well this won't get the baby a new bonnet' was one if my mother's generations favourites. Sad to say that I don't think my children know a bonnet if it hit them in the face

Oh, and my MiL has described my DD as "a fart in a mitt, looking for the thumb hole".

I haven't the first idea what is means, but I still like it

I like "There'll be wigs on the green", and "I'll show my arse in Lewis' window" .

Also, "I'll have your guts for garters", and "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride".

I actually use all of these...