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Common words from your childhood,that woukd have to be explained to your Grandchild.

(275 Posts)
littleflo Wed 14-Mar-18 10:05:49

I am at a total loss sometimes when I hear my Grandchildren speak. Words that they use in every day language are a mystery to me.

However, during the recent cold snap, I mentioned I wore a Liberty Bodice when I was younger and I had to explain it to them. They had also never heard of Fish Kettle.

Are there any words you remember that would have to be explained to the children.

Icyalittle Wed 14-Mar-18 10:10:04

Telephone boxes!

Teetime Wed 14-Mar-18 10:12:43

NO!

Devorgilla Wed 14-Mar-18 10:12:46

Typewriter. I heard, possibly on here, of a group of schoolchildren who saw one in a museum and one child remarked it came with its own built-in printer and how cool that was.

Icyalittle Wed 14-Mar-18 10:16:30

Sorry littleflo that was a bit abrupt. This is a great idea for a thread.
What about mangle? And cod liver oil.

MrsEggy Wed 14-Mar-18 10:20:30

Keep out of the horseroad.

farview Wed 14-Mar-18 10:22:18

One of my granddaughter's,looking at an old photo album,said"what was it like grandma living in a black and white world"

Icyalittle Wed 14-Mar-18 10:31:23

Jack Frost (on the inside of windows in winter).

SpanielNanny Wed 14-Mar-18 10:34:12

I told the little girl next door that I was taping my programme. She didn’t have a clue what I was talking about. Apparently now you ‘record’ the television you don’t want to miss!

Blinko Wed 14-Mar-18 10:36:34

Blacking the grate; polishing the step; polishing the brasses; cleaning the silver.

shysal Wed 14-Mar-18 10:39:16

'Spend a penny' for going to the toilet.
Send a film to be developed.
Spin dryer.
'Dial' a number.

henetha Wed 14-Mar-18 10:42:27

Dimpsey. A Devonshire word meaning just getting dusk.

Jalima1108 Wed 14-Mar-18 11:01:13

The Pictures

Apricity Wed 14-Mar-18 11:10:30

Recently in conversation with two eldest grandsons aged 11 and 12 I used the phrase that "everything would be hunky dory". They just looked at me completely puzzled and burst out laughing. I explained that it meant all would be well and it has now become a funny shared phrase as they wryly ask if something would be hunky dory.

Blinko Wed 14-Mar-18 11:11:32

Clothes horse.

Elrel Wed 14-Mar-18 11:12:47

Call the Midwife prompted a discussion on how a cinema film occasionally broke and the audience responded with whistles and whoops while the projectionist worked to restore it.

Grandma70s Wed 14-Mar-18 11:21:45

Hearth rug, or hearth for that matter. Fender, poker.

Shilling, half-crown and other pre-decimal coins.

Liberty bodice, as the OP mentions.

Gym tunic.

TerriBull Wed 14-Mar-18 11:22:40

Telephone box. Telephone kiosks are still around but in this age of universal mobile phone use, I can't remember the last time I saw anyone use one. One grown up step grandchild was incredulous a couple of years ago when told her that we grew up in an age without mobile phone, "Oh God how did you manage" she wailed. "Quite well" came the numerous replies from the older members of the family smile

TerriBull Wed 14-Mar-18 11:23:47

*we

KatyK Wed 14-Mar-18 11:30:10

Chimney sweep
Ten bob note

Squiffy Wed 14-Mar-18 11:52:26

Choke - as in the choke in a car.

PamelaJ1 Wed 14-Mar-18 12:01:35

I like tee times No, could I add - stop mithering?

Grandma70s Wed 14-Mar-18 12:08:42

Horsepower. We had a ten horsepower car in the 1940s and ‘50s..

goldengirl Wed 14-Mar-18 12:27:02

'Would you like to help me with the dolly and then put the sheets through the mangle?' [I used to love helping my nan do the washing]

football pools [do they still exist?]

harrigran Wed 14-Mar-18 12:51:25

The look on GC 's face when I told them their great grandfather really was Jack Frost.
Talking about my childhood, and not having television until I was married, GD asked me if I managed to catch up with my programmes on the computer.