Do you still call things “phat” or “rad”? Do you miss calling things “bogus?” There are a ton of old sayings that will transport you back in time.
Trends come and go, so who knows? Maybe future generations will adopt these phrases and start using them in conversations with their friends. Here are 11 old-fashioned sayings that will make you feel like you hopped into a time machine.
1. “The bee’s knees”
Originating from the 1920s, this quirky phrase epitomizes the Roaring Twenties. If you call something “the bee’s knees,’ it means you believe it’s outstanding or spectacular. Adopt this as one of the old sayings you bring back. It’s much more interesting than saying something is “lit.”
2. “Two shakes of a lamb’s tail”
If you want to express the desire to get something done quickly, then “two shakes of a lamb’s tail” is an old-fashioned idiom you can use. The exact origin of the saying is difficult to trace, but historians do know it was first used in a book published in 1840.
3. “Bite the bullet”
There are many old sayings that come from the military. “Bite the bullet” comes from patients who were undergoing surgery without anesthesia. They would literally bite on a bullet to cope with the pain. We now use this phrase when we need to suck it up and deal with an unavoidable situation.
4. “Cat’s pajamas”
Like “the bee’s knees,” this idiom was popular in 1920’s America. Society must have thought animals were pretty cool at that time since this saying is also used to signify that something is amazing or incredible. The “cat’s pajamas” is a playful reflection of the jazz-age and slang that deserves to make a comeback.
5. “Saved by the bell”
Any 90’s kid may think of the sitcom when they hear this phrase. However, it’s actually associated with boxing. A fighter would be saved from a knockout when the round ended with a bell ring. There is also a spooky association. As the story goes, people who were buried alive would be saved by a bell rigged inside the coffin. Today, we use this old saying when we narrowly avoid a situation.
6. “Mad as a hatter”
Alice in Wonderland may come to mind when you hear this expression. It actually comes from the 18th century when hatters used mercury in the hat-making process. As a result, many customers succumbed to mercury poisoning. The neurological damage they endured caused them to go mad.
7. “Rest on your laurels”
You likely hear many old sayings when you visit your grandparent’s house. One such phrase is “rest on your laurels,” which comes from Ancient Greece. Athens was known for hosting athletic competitions, and winners were awarded laurel wreaths as symbols of victory and honor. Now we use this phrase to criticize anyone who constantly harps on their past achievements.
8. “Ducks in a row”
When you’re getting organized, you probably don’t actually need to put literal ducks in a row. There are many theories on where this old saying comes from. Some believe it originated in billiards where a ball sitting right in front of the pocket is called a “duck.” Others think it’s simply a nod to a mother duck leading her flock into the pond.
9. “Kick the bucket”
Here’s another old saying with a spooky origin story. “Kick the bucket” means someone has passed away. The phrase likely comes from an old method of slaughtering animals where their throats were slit and a bucket was slid underneath them to collect the blood. Pretty gross.
10. “More than you can shake a stick at”
You’d look pretty silly if you were shaking around a stick. Still, this is another old saying that may be worth bringing back! It’s believed to come from 19th-century America, and it means that you have more of something than you really need.
11. “Paint the town red”
Legend has it that this phrase came into being in 1837. Henry Beresford, the Marquis of Waterford, had a wild, drunken night with friends and literally painted the town of Melton red. Now, it generally means to go out and enjoy oneself without any limitations.
Making a Comeback
Who knows? Maybe these old sayings will become popular again with a bit of repetition. New slang crops up with each new generation, but classics never go out of style!
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Alyssa Serio has been a writer and editor since graduating from Aurora University in 2014. In her free time, she loves reading, playing volleyball, and watching any horror movie (even the bad ones) with her husband.