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Outdated sayings Do you know any?

(74 Posts)
Solitaire Mon 16-Nov-15 15:25:16

Travelling by coach recently a small boy went to the toilet on the coach. As he emerged his nan asked" did you pull the chain?" and remarked to those nearby that he always forgets. A few minutes went by and the small boy re-emerged " nan I cant find any chain in there"
I also still hear people asked for their 'Christian name' and my gran some years ago made me and my sisters cringe by referring to the colour if her coat as 'ni**er brown' even when we protested she didn't see the relevance ... But that's the colour of it!
I bet there are still many outdated phrases and words in use.

rosesarered Mon 16-Nov-15 20:35:09

That's the glory and wonder of getting on a bit Ana you can have the same conversation many many times.grin

Marmight Mon 16-Nov-15 20:47:17

If anything was lost my Dad would say 'It's up in Annie's room, behind the clock' hmm

Daisyanswerdo Mon 16-Nov-15 23:07:37

Stone the crows!

Grandma2213 Tue 17-Nov-15 00:48:43

Ana it doesn't matter how often. Our language is fascinating especially sayings from different regions. Also new GNers are joining all the time.

Stop being such a mardy bum! If you're not from the North you won't get that but I'm sure you're smart enough to work it out!

Eloethan Tue 17-Nov-15 00:52:05

My mum used to say "san fairy ann" (ca ne fait rien). I don't think people use this expression any more.

Gordon Bennett! (someone I worked for actually had a friend called Gordon Bennett)

Elrel Tue 17-Nov-15 00:54:13

I still get GC, the smaller ones, to go up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire.

MrsEggy Tue 17-Nov-15 09:31:23

Don't play in the horse road.

Charleygirl Tue 17-Nov-15 09:36:40

Love a duck is another

Ana Tue 17-Nov-15 11:21:34

Such a sharp tongue, Granny2213! Mind you don't cut yourself...

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 17-Nov-15 11:27:11

My grandson learned a new saying the other day. Fuckity-doo-da.

That'll be old one day.

Elrel Tue 17-Nov-15 19:12:02

Go Granny2213! Not everyone is aware of previous similar threads!
I was told around 1950 by my lovely granny to 'Mind how you cross the horse road,' Mrs Eggy. I thought this odd although there were still a few horse drawn vehicles around. Manure was still collected for the roses, and horses bringing beer or coal often got stroked while they munched from their nosebags.

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 17-Nov-15 19:31:31

"Suck my bob"

Are you sure you can't work out what that means loopy? (or is it me?! confused)

No wonder your Granny had apoplexy. hmm

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 17-Nov-15 19:32:12

MIL not Granny

downtoearth Tue 17-Nov-15 19:37:38

'ows yer belly orf fer spots ..

LullyDully Tue 17-Nov-15 19:40:34

If we stood in front of the TV, my granny used to say "Your father wasn't a glazier. "

[ kindle wanted to say glacier]

janeainsworth Tue 17-Nov-15 19:41:20

eloethan I think san fairy ann dated from WW1 when the soldiers picked up some French.
We still use 'disherbelly' as in 'I see you are still in your disherbelly' meaning 'I see you haven't got dressed yet', from the French deshabille. Obviously now the children have left home we use it far less often wink
There was an orthodontist at Newcastle Dental Hospital called Gordon Bennettshock

downtoearth Tue 17-Nov-15 19:52:14

standing in front of the open coal fire skirt up "roasting yer chestnuts"
givin'yerself corned beef legs

downtoearth Tue 17-Nov-15 19:53:20

u 'ad a good butchers...

downtoearth Tue 17-Nov-15 19:53:55

sling yer 'ook

Grandma2213 Wed 18-Nov-15 00:19:37

Ana grin I am cut to the quick!

I love all these old sayings. How strange that we had no idea what they meant but that we understood them anyway!

geeljay Wed 18-Nov-15 12:12:14

I love words. And phrases handed down. Even better, I love to see how they originated.

gettingonabit Wed 18-Nov-15 12:22:29

I still use most of these:

All fur coat and no knickers.
We all have our crosses to bear.
San fairy Anne.
All wind and no pee.
She'll talk a glass eye to sleep.
All mouth and no trousers.
Never a borrower or a lender be.
What did your last slave die of?

Auntieflo Wed 18-Nov-15 15:03:37

Not so much an old saying, but misheard words when I was little, ie,
" Mairsydotes and Dozeydotes and little lambsy divey" translates as " Lambs eat oats and Does eat oats, and little lambs eat ivy" At least thats what I think it is. smile

tinaf1 Wed 18-Nov-15 19:31:55

He/she has got a face like a smacked a--e

geeljay Wed 18-Nov-15 22:27:22

And everyday language and meanings. Daughter is an early learning teacher. And has had to explain. To avoid confusion.

Put the kettle on.
Jump on the bus.
Put the fire out.
Don't walk on the carpet.
Get up.
Get dressed.
Skip that, for now.
Please leave the room.
Many more that we think are 'understood'.
She has been told on her Offstead course, that all these statements, used every day, must be clarified and the sentence completed so the children know exactly what is expected of them.