To ask for words and phrases you no longer say?

[namezchangez]

Not really an AIBU, but I wanted a good list! DH and I were talking about words and phrases we used to say frequently as children in the 80s and which now we rarely use or hear. Some of these refer to things that no longer exist, or which have become rare, some have fallen out of fashion, some now seem tasteless or prejudicial. Would love to hear some more! (And doesn’t need to be from the 80s.)

ozone layer
polystyrene
crybaby
wicked (as a term of approval)
teacake
space race
Indian summer
gooseberries

My mom's classic one from about 1970 was to comment that there must have been a " "N" in the woodpile". Which was a comment on a young child's skin colour when the rest of the family was quite pale in comparison. So not only was the mother playing away but also the result was "miscegenation". It's a bit odd considering how much variety in skin tone there is in our own family.

Also, "having a paddy". I used to say that.

Ha yes, wicked! I used to call everything wicked, forgot about that one! 😂

Stop, drop and roll

“On the continent..<insert some social behaviour, food, way of dressing etc >”

never knew which continent, but no one seems to care anymore what they are doing on the continent, the poor pets

@5foot5Winceyette! My mind was turning its wheels for that one. Not even really sure what it is, but I think winter nighties…?

Slightly archaic: chenille, mohair (though oddly back in itchy fashion last year).

A few others that have come to me: things with -nik on the end, commie, nouvelle cuisine, yuppie, fish n chip crackers

Is that in case you catch fire?

My DD (30) has commented how often as a child they were told to do this in the event of catching fire that she almost believed it inevitable that it would happen at some point.

Mongrel - I know thus isn’t totally obsolete, but dogs are no longer called mongrel. Even in some rehoming centres, they’re called ‘crossbreeds’, which always strikes me as as slightly amusing. Are they cross because they’re unhappy to be there?!

My friend was student nurse and someone hissed at her on the ward 'Charlie's dead!'

She fainted - her boyfriend was called Charlie!

I say blimey all the time. And Gordon Bennett.

Just thought of a couple from my school days. "In the club" for pregnant". And if the girl was pregnant and married, "In trouble".

Slip, meaning petticoat.

Dog tired .. my Mum always said my brother was dog tired

I grew up with the saying 'And Bob's your Uncle Bert'. No idea if this was peculiar to our family or not, but I've rarely come across it since!

You never hear people say they are going for '40 winks' now - my father was always saying it!
Or if he didn't want to do something, he would say 'I've got a bone in my leg'.

A white wash- in the context of a sporting wipeout, different meaning now.
Chinese new year, I say lunar new year.

There's a good list here. Think I still use most of these!

https://www.itv.com/news/2022-01-26/the-50-saying-at-risk-of-being-lost-from-our-language-and-what-they-mean

I’m trying to bring back “wangler” as it’s such a good word!

Continental quilt

Four eyes (yes, I wore glasses from age 9)

Queer is a tricky one. I inwardly cringe when I hear it as it was so pejorative growing up, but I accept it has been reclaimed by the LGBTQ+ community.

That’s interesting regarding Chinese/Lunar new year. It’s only this year that I’ve been aware that it’s been referred to as Lunar new year - it’s always been Chinese new year in the past. I did wonder briefly whether it was something different, then realised it was the same thing, and the reason is because it’s not just celebrated amongst the Chinese people, but by other Asian cultures as well.

Also didn’t know the other meaning of white-wash (just looked it up). You have to be so careful nowadays, and someone could use the term innocently, in for example a sporting context, but then be accused of racism.

I grew up in the 60s and 70s and can remember when tranny meant a small portable radio. Short for transistor.

At my corporate workplace it has been 'renamed'. Among the people of Southeast Asian heritage I know personally it is still very much Chinese New Year

Why would someone accuse you of racism if you referred (I am assuming) to whitewashing history (ie having awareness of the issue)?
Afaik the other usages are still widely known and accepted.

What’s a loan lady? (Or provie)?

getting off with someone
wicked / mint
tarmac - something we got from the tuck shop - was essentially cornflake crispies but made I think with treacle / cocoa powder - not sure if it was a northern thing or just my school

deck someone
tiggy on high
giving someone a backy