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

(276 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.

littleflo Thu 15-Mar-18 14:36:16

Wow, what a lot of memories. When visiting my son, he said to the children “let Nanny sit in the one and nines”. This meant the best armchair/seat. A very long explanation followed that one.

Also did any one else “Go tats”.Meaning going out.

pensionpat Thu 15-Mar-18 13:13:50

Treatment for chilblains was to bathe them in your own urine. I wonder if others' urine was effective?

FarNorth Thu 15-Mar-18 13:11:18

That does sound horrid, polly.

pollyperkins Thu 15-Mar-18 12:55:16

Far north -I had chilblanes frequently as a child from putting freezing cold feet on hot radiators (at school) or by the fire at home . My toes swelled up and were red and shiny and itchy and painful. Horrid things.

Bellanonna Thu 15-Mar-18 12:48:44

Five stones (maybe also called jacks)

FarNorth Thu 15-Mar-18 12:32:42

Crackerjacks
Nasty little fireworks that jumped about and could get into your welly - hence them being banned, I believe.

Greyduster Thu 15-Mar-18 12:31:48

Racing carts made out of a wooden box and a set of old pram wheels. Much coveted, a set of pram wheels!

FarNorth Thu 15-Mar-18 12:21:16

Chilblains
These were mentioned a lot, but I don't remember ever having them or being sure what they were.

Grandma70s Thu 15-Mar-18 11:10:05

I got really confused then, when I saw judypark ‘s reference to crooners and then annodomini ‘s “those old Singers were almost obsolete when I was a child”.

Apricity Thu 15-Mar-18 10:24:06

Annodomini I laughed at your mention of "vanishing cream." I remember watching my grandmother put it on and wondering what on earth was going to happen to her face!!!

annodomini Thu 15-Mar-18 10:14:05

Cold, those old Singers were almost obsolete when I was a child 70 years ago. My mum had an electric one.

judypark Thu 15-Mar-18 10:13:07

Crooners who made up the rat pack.
Teddy boys.

annodomini Thu 15-Mar-18 10:07:55

Cold cream
Vanishing cream
Corn plasters
Music Centre

Bellanonna Thu 15-Mar-18 09:49:06

14 yo GD of a friend had never heard of cheques

Cold Thu 15-Mar-18 09:44:18

I was in a trendy cafe with the family recently where one of the tables was made from the base from an old Singer sewing machine with the treadle still in place - had to really explain that one

AlieOxon Thu 15-Mar-18 09:16:21

Bell bottoms....

Bellanonna Thu 15-Mar-18 08:44:25

Leg warmers (fashionable with my girls in the 80s)

Bellanonna Thu 15-Mar-18 08:42:49

Ration books. Mine was blue.

JoyBloggs Thu 15-Mar-18 08:38:12

I bet some of the younger grans haven't heard of half of the stuff on here, never mind the GCs!

pollyperkins Thu 15-Mar-18 08:36:26

Talking of counterpanes what about eiderdowns? Remember candy striped sheets?

JoyBloggs Thu 15-Mar-18 08:36:06

Crimplene grin

cornergran Thu 15-Mar-18 06:33:06

Belt, braces and a piece of string here farnorth, always greeted with hoots of laughter.

NanaNancy Thu 15-Mar-18 04:39:40

Whoopsie Daisy, that's the cat's meow, and for some reason our house always had a Kibosh (spelling? ky-bosh) - meaning "behave yourself or you will get the kibosh".

FarNorth Thu 15-Mar-18 00:28:56

Dog licence

FarNorth Thu 15-Mar-18 00:28:28

Belt and braces. (A mystery to my adult DC until recently)