“What Is An Outdated Word Or Phrase An Older Family Member Uses That Makes Your Brain Hurt?” (35 Answers)
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you are having a conversation with someone and they use a word or a phrase that you haven’t heard of and have no idea what it means? There are some people who like to use more colorful language and revive words that are no longer used or have changed their meaning throughout time. If you still feel lost when you hear some archaic word or phrase, you are not alone as one Reddit user, @SunRevolutionary8315, asked other people online “What is an outdated word or phrase an older family member uses that makes your brain hurt?” Soon people started sharing sayings their parents, grandparents and other older relatives use in their everyday language and trying to explain the meaning behind these words. So if you’re also looking for ways to expand your vocabulary, the post with more than 34k upvotes is a great source of knowledge.
Do you know someone in your family who also likes to puzzle you with outdated language? Don’t forget to share it in the comments down below!
More Info: Reddit
#1
Anyone else get told they were “Cruisin for a bruisin” as a kid or just me?
Image credits: CuteCanary
#2
My late father (born in '33) used to say he'd been "d**ked by the dangling dong of destiny" when something went wrong that was out of his control.
Image credits: mourninglark
#3
There was an older gentleman, about 70, that I used to work with that looked at me and said “His butter done slid off his biscuit” referring to another coworker acting crazy. I’m in southern Kentucky.
Image credits: Awerunner
#4
When I was a kid and we had a slow start to our day my mother would say “we’re off like a herd of turtles” still makes me smile
Image credits: kurtsta
#5
You can call me anything you like except late for dinner!I use this all the time and my wife tells me that’s something only old men say
Image credits: Flashy_Concern_4676
#6
“If ifs and buts were candies and nuts, we’d all have a merry Christmas”
Image credits: aGrlHasNoUsername
#7
My nana says “That really turns me on” about ANYTHING. Good ice cream, a movie, music, doesn’t matter.
Image credits: spinkyrinky
#8
Went into a speed shop the other day and overheard the shop owner talking to someone on the phone. Man was 60+ and said un-ironically "Catch ya on the flip side Daddio" to end the conversation he was having.
Image credits: ampd1450
#9
My grandpa likes to use the phrase "not my monkey, not my circus"to everyone asking if he's Polish, we're Latino. He says it in both Spanish and English, "no es mi circo, no son mis monos". I didn't realize until writing it out that he flips the order in English.
Image credits: Career_Much
#10
"Davenport" to mean couch. Apparently, it was a name-brand couch back in the day.
Image credits: bradradio
#11
slight stray from question, my english professor says “heavens to betsy”
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#12
answers the phone“Yellow!”
Image credits: fjordbastard
#13
My dad used to say “That’ll put lead in your pencil”.
Image credits: FactoryV4
#14
My mom was not a fan of colorful language, I can't recall ever hearing an f-bomb escape her lips. But if she was mad at someone, she would say "They can just go piss up a rope!" I still don't know WTF she meant.
Image credits: nachobitxh
#15
My father says, and I quote, "Foshizzle Manizzle."
Image credits: Vesper2004
#16
My mom is 71, she says things are cool. But she pronounces it like kewel, or kyoul.
Image credits: OhAces
#17
My older relatives in Michigan (all passed away now) used to say Geez-O-Pete instead of Jesus Christ, I guess so as not to blaspheme? Who f**king knows?
Image credits: motown_missile
#18
When talking about drinking, my dad says "I got plowed the other night" rather than "I got drunk the other night"
Image credits: Practical-Usual-4414
#19
"The devil's been beatin' his wife"- when the sun is out but it's still raining. I heard this a lot growing up but apparently some people have never heard of it?
Image credits: confused_enby102
#20
50/50 chance my mom is gonna say “and we’re off like a dirty shirt” when leaving an establishment.I kinda like it though
Image credits: Moonflufff
#21
My mom says she’s “gotta go tink tink” instead of to the bathroom.
Image credits: VividTangerine
#22
When you put something in your mouth it's really hot and react.Que grandma "well it wasn't cooked on a f*****k sewing machine"
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#23
Well my grandpa doesn’t call Brazil Nuts “Brazil Nuts”.
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#24
My dad still talks about "The Japs!" Like he fought in world war 2. But he's too young and also not American.
Image credits: Sparkes
#25
My mother used to say "he's got his wobbly boots on" whenever she saw someone drunk.
Image credits: kiss_my_what
#26
My grandma would say “bull feathers” instead of bulls**t
Image credits: Hunk_n_Butt
#27
I have a friend, about 15 years older than me, who constantly says s**t like "bump uglies".
Image credits: KomedyChameleon
#28
My coworker says "It's hotter than a blistered d**k in a wool sock"
Image credits: CoolWalrus2085
#29
Mother in law.. "black doctor" or "lady doctor" or "man nurse".. always a point worth noting for her
Image credits: moneyshot62
#30
grandpa: says narcist instead of narcissist. apparently back in the day that was normalgrandma: if wishes were fishes we’d have a big fry
Image credits: Embarrassed-Cream
#31
Cotton picker. My dad said this instead of swears.#32
My father still says oriental#33
I hate when old people ask “can you whack this off for me”For $20 anything is possible tho
Image credits: MarkedHondaMan
#34
not offensive, just weird. my dad still says “sipping the sauce” instead of drinking lol
Image credits: midnight_prophet_