Languages evolve and change constantly, and with the rise of social media, these changes seem faster and more pronounced. Regardless of how youthful you may appear, some phrases will instantly put you in the old people category, not that it is the wrong place. Here are some phrases you might want to avoid if you want to fit in with young adults, though we must admit that some of these are just “totally rad!”
Like a broken record
Telling someone, “You sound like a broken record,” means they are repeating themselves. They are sending you the same message again without adding anything new. While the phrase was coined in the 40s, it gained popularity when vinyl records became part of the mainstream culture. It was still prevalent in the 80s despite the rise of cassette tapes.
See you later, alligator
“See you later, alligator” became popular in the 50s due to a song by Bobby Charles. It was an excellent way to tell someone goodbye. The correct response was, “After (a) while, crocodile.” Other responses included, “Bye-bye, butterfly,” or “By the door, dinosaur.” The phrase likely dates back to the 1930s, though it could be older. It had a good run but almost vanished in the past decade.
For Pete’s sake
The phrase “For Pete’s sake” is a less offensive way to use St. Peter’s name than the original phrase “for Christ’s sake” or “for God’s sake.” The expression goes back to the early 1900s, and despite being ancient, you can still hear it on February 26th, also known as For Pete’s Sake Day.
Read between the lines
The “read between the lines” idiom is fading, partly because more and more people are turning to audiobooks and partly because it has been around for ages. It has an interesting background: Many believe it was a way of hiding secret messages within another text, so it was part of cryptography. The meaning of the phrase is to look beyond what’s openly stated.
Put a sock in
Gen Z does not like the phrase “Put a sock in.” It is not a nice way of telling someone to stop talking, similar to “Shut up.” It is thought to have been coined in the early 1900s, and by 1919, it was in a British magazine, The Athenaeum, which described it as “Leave off talking, singing or shouting.”
Talking to a brick wall
If you hear someone saying, “Like talking to a brick wall,” it means no one was listening to whatever they were talking about. Oscar Wilde famously declared he liked talking to brick walls because they didn’t contradict him. Interestingly, some also believe it is a way of insulting one’s intelligence, and while outdated, the phrase shouldn’t be forgotten.
On a left-handed honeymoon
If you think this phrase has any political affiliations, you’re wrong. The phrase “Being on a left-handed honeymoon” means having an extramarital affair. It has been around 100 years, and the likely reason it went away has everything to do with left-handed people. Throughout history, being left-handed meant dishonesty and other undesirable traits.
It cost an arm and a leg
If someone says, “It cost an arm and a leg,” they get something quite expensive. The origins are unclear, but some believe it was initially used in the 1600s, and in the XIX century, it evolved into “I’d give my right arm for that.” The idiom “It cost an arm and a leg” became prevalent in post-WWII America, but it is rarely used today.
On the fritz
This phrase is no longer used because the replacement makes more sense. Saying something was “on the fritz” means it’s broken or malfunctioning. There are several theories regarding the origin, including the German name Friedrich or Frederick. At the same time, another suggests a connection to the late XIX-century comic book The Katzenjammer Kids. Today, people simply say it’s broken or out of order.
Close, but no cigar
If you want to say someone nearly made it (yet still failed), you can use an almost forgotten expression, “Close, but no cigar.” The idiot likely originated in the 1920s when carnivals would hand out cigars as prizes. Another version states, “Nice try, but no cigar,” and we can almost picture someone nearly succeeding but still failing to gain a cigarette.
Bite the bullet
If something is really painful, yet a person chooses or has to do it, they are said to “bite the bullet.” It was popular in Victorian Britain and dates back to the XVII or XIX century. It appeared in the novel “The Light That Failed” by Rudyard Kipling from 1891. That is believed to be the first time the phrase was written.
Peachy keen
The famous phrase dates back to the mid-XX century, implying something is fine or wonderful in a playful, informal manner. It combined two words that later became idioms, “peachy” and “keen.” Though outdated, the term resurfaced on social networks, but it never gained its previous popularity.
The whole kit and caboodle
The main reason this phrase is no longer in use could be that today, we simply say everything or every part. The idiom made its wave throughout the US in the mid-19th century and evolved into “kit and caboodle.” A similar term, “everything including the kitchen sink,” was popularized during WWII.
Bite the dust
It is believed that the idiot “bite the dust” originated in the American Old West. It makes sense because a person would get shot, fall into the dust, and end up killed. However, the phrase can mean that someone was defeated or got married. Some say the saying has existed since the XVI century because of the King James Bible, which mentions “lick the dust.”
That’s the ticket
Saying, “That’s the ticket!” means “That’s just right.” It became ultra-famous thanks to Humphrey Bogart, and on Saturday Night Live, John Lovitz revived it. The phrase likely comes from France, and though it dates back to the XIX century, it became more prevalent in post-war America.
Cat’s meow
This outdated idiom represented splendid or stylish things. The “cat’s meow” was likely coined by American cartoonist Thomas A. Dorgan, and there was a 1924 lost silent short film starring Harry Langdon with the same title. The phrase was famous in the roaring 1920s and soon lost its spark, but it is an interesting expression.
Heavens to Betsy
The phrase might be from the early XIX century, but it sure knows how to make a comeback occasionally. Jackson Dean released a song, “Heavens to Betsy,” in 2023, and in the 90s, a Washington punk rock group used the same name. The idiot’s origins are unknown, but it was printed in Ballou’s Dollar Monthly Magazine, volume 5, from 1857. It is a mild exclamation of surprise, predominantly used in the South.
Burn rubber
The phrase “burn rubber” comes from the mid-1900s, and it refers to driving so fast that it causes the tires to rotate quickly and heat up, which makes them smoke and smell like burnt rubber. It was popular with people of all ages in the ’60s and the ’70s, and in 1981, the song “Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)” became a hit.
In like Flynn
The slang phrase “in like Flynn” means gaining success quickly, and its origins might be related to Errol Flynn and how, in his movies, he would come to the rescue at the last minute. Another suggestion includes a New York City political boss, Edward J. Flynn, who was extremely powerful between 1922 and the mid-1940s. There are more theories, but it is a phrase coined in the XX century.
Cool your jets
This phrase is relatively new, appearing in papers in 1973. Pilots initially used it to mean cool the jet down, literally. But it took off, and as slang, it means telling someone to calm down or become less excited or worried. Tom Corbett, a Space Cadet from a TV show about extraterrestrial adventures, also said, “Cool your jets.”
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Kate Smith, a self-proclaimed word nerd who relishes the power of language to inform, entertain, and inspire. Kate's passion for sharing knowledge and sparking meaningful conversations fuels her every word.