Outdated expressions can totally give away someone’s age. These old-fashioned sayings might sound charming to some, but they often leave younger folks scratching their heads. Let’s have a fun look at 19 phrases older people use that might make you laugh or cringe, depending on how you see it.
Hold Your Horses
Telling someone to “hold your horses” is an older person’s way of saying slow down or be patient. While it might sound like advice from a cowboy, it’s really just a lively way to say, “hang on a sec,” but it does make you wonder where it came from.
Fiddlesticks
Grandma might mutter “fiddlesticks” when she drops her knitting needles since this phrase is a favorite among older folks who want to express frustration without swearing. It’s quaint and charming in its own way but not as popular today.
Heavens to Betsy
No one really knows who Betsy is or why the heavens belong to her, but older people love this expression of surprise. Although it’s a somewhat funny phrase, it’s definitely not something you’ll expect to hear in a trendy coffee shop or at a music festival.
Dont Take Any Wooden Nickels
This odd bit of advice comes from a time when counterfeit coins were a real concern. Nowadays, it’s just a confusing way to tell someone to be careful. It sounds more like instructions for a bizarre treasure hunt than practical advice.
What’s the Big Idea
This one is a classic, and you’ve probably heard an older person use it before when they want to express disapproval or surprise. It’s not aggressive, but it definitely marks the speaker as someone who remembers when color TV was a novelty.
Cats Pajamas
Another gem from the 1920s, this phrase is used to describe something really amazing. Your great-uncle might call your new car “the cat’s pajamas,” leaving you wondering about feline sleepwear. Using this fun expression today is like wearing a sign that says, “I remember when bread cost a nickel.”
Gee Willikers
Older folks who want to express surprise without being crude often go for “gee willikers.” For example, they might say it when they see the price of groceries these days. It’s cute and innocent, but young people might think it’s from another planet.
Keep Your Shirt On
When an older person wants you to calm down, they might tell you to “keep your shirt on.” It’s an odd way to say relax, making you question this strange expression and why they assume you’re about to start stripping in public.
Now You’re Cooking with Gas
This odd saying is like a cheerful thumbs-up from the past as if your grandpa is comparing your success to finally figuring out a fancy stove. While it might sound strange to younger ears, it’s a snappy way to say, “You’ve got it!” turning a simple “well done” into something more flavorful.
Put an Egg in Your Shoe and Beat It
You may not have heard this phrase before, but it is basically an old-school way of telling someone to scram. It’s certainly more imaginative than “Get Lost.” Although it’s rarely used today, it’s a fun reminder of how colorful language used to be.
Cut the Mustard
Sometimes, older people like to say “cut the mustard” to describe meeting expectations. This is mostly a way to express disappointment, though it might make you crave a sandwich instead. Young people might find this condiment-based idiom confusing, but it’s a fun nod to the past.
Hip and Happening
USA Today explains that being “hip” to something means you know something. However, you might hear many older folks use “hip and happening” to describe a trendy spot or event, completely unaware that it’s been out of style for decades.
The Bees Knees
This quirky expression dates back to the Roaring Twenties, yet some seniors still use it to describe something excellent. It’s a sweet but seriously outdated way to give praise, and younger people might be left wondering what insect anatomy has to do with being awesome.
23 Skidoo
You may think this phrase sounds like pure nonsense, but older folks sometimes use it to mean let’s get out of here fast. This relic from the early 1900s somehow survived in the vocabulary of some seniors, but hearing it might make you feel like you’ve stumbled onto the set of an old-timey movie.
Cool Beans
While not exclusively an older person’s phrase, “cool beans” is definitely more common among those who remember the 80s fondly. Your middle-aged uncle might blurt it out when he’s excited about something. It’s harmless enough, but it certainly pegs him as someone who’s not quite up to date with current slang.
Bite the Bullet
When faced with a tough situation, your grandfather might advise you to “bite the bullet.” This phrase, meaning to endure something unpleasant, is a favorite among older folks. It’s an interesting idiom, but younger generations are likely to prefer more direct language.
Hung Out to Dry
This old saying makes you think of clothes left alone on a clothesline. You have to agree that it’s a clever way to describe feeling abandoned or stuck in a tough spot. While it might sound odd to younger ears, it nails the feeling of being left high and dry.
Blow Your Stack
Imagine a cartoon where someone’s head turns red, and steam shoots out their ears. That’s what this phrase is all about. It’s an over-the-top way to say someone lost their temper. You don’t hear it much now, but it paints a funny picture of anger.
Knee-High to a Grasshopper
This silly saying compares a small child to a bug, and it’s a playful way to talk about how tiny and young someone is. While it doesn’t make much sense if you think about it too hard, it captures how the world looks huge to little kids.
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