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?

"You couldnt stop a pig in an alley" (for kids with skinny/ bandy legs)

"Douchebag master level unlocked" (for when people are being particularly twatty)

I use "steal a march" a lot, possibly too much.

I like, 'I'll take Shanks's pony', which means walking somewhere rather than getting a lift, bus etc.

By Jove!

You are pissing into the wind = wasting your time. Should be reserved for men, I suppose

Nincompoop. Numskull. Nitwit.

As useful as a one-legged man in an arse-kicking contest.

And many more...

My small intervention group at school now have a wide range of alternative expressions of pleasure.

Tickety boo is a particular favourite. Then we have, crikey, super smashing great (Jim Bowen style), fandabidozi, what a stellar job matey, super duper....

It's quite entertaining to listen to them praising each other using my naff 70s and 80s phrases .

I have taken to muttering the phrase 'and she's no better than she should be' when talking about a few women of my acquaintance.

Means nothing really but sounds like they are awful

English is not my mother tongue, and I don't live in an English speaking country anymore, but there are some english expressions I just love, and which you cannot translate directly into my language, like:

She doesn't suffer fools gladly.

He was bored to tears.

God's bodikins is one I like.

I haven't heard 'Put that in your pipe and smoke it' for a while either.

Chaps, good-ho, jolly good, super, snifter, spiffing get a regular outing here.

We also go on regular japes.

Isn't that a pip!

As useful as a one-legged man in an arse-kicking contest

I like that! Along with ...

As useful as a chocolate fire-guard [or teapot]

You're giving me the pip

Mad as a box of frogs is used a lot by one of my friends :)
Faffing about is used a lot in our house! As is 'cheeky chops' x

I also like ' s/he's always at the coos tail'

Another of DM's, 'as much use as a glass eye through a keyhole.'

I read a Stephen King book where one of the characters 'couldn't give a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut'.

Love this thread.

Gubbins

She's no better than she ought to be

Hurrah

Yikes

Jolly good

Shenanigans

What a to do!

flibbertigibbet is not used enough these days. That's an ace word

"There's nowt so queer as folk"

"God pays debts without money"

Both favourites of my lovely late grandma.

As useful as a one-legged man in an arse-kicking contest Once used in public by Denis Thatcher about one of Her ministers.

Mad as a box of frogs - a client once emailed me saying he was sending me a box of flies. I said I would get a real buzz when they arrived.

Didactic
Aplomb
Penchant

My mother's favourite, said exasperatedly when one final calamity rounds of a series of mishaps "Well that just caps hen racing".

Rounds off, rounds OFF.

These are wonderful.

Many of these were said by my dad and have reminded me of him in a lovely way. ( Esp "Couldn't knock the skin off a rice pudd'n", "Gordon Bennet" and "What's that then, Scotch mist?")

Pronunciation of forehead - I always said forrid but neither of my kids do. My mum used to say the rhyme to me;
There was a little girl, who had a little curl,
Right in the middle of her forehead
And when she was good, she was very, very good
And when she was bad, she was horrid

"Even if your neighbor's over his head in shit, it doesn't mean what's up to YOUR neck is chocolate pudding."

Nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

Hungry enough to eat the ass end of a skunk.

I use lollygag and say I like the cut of your jib, and the ever useful, ever popular "uffda!"