Expressions that went out of fashion

I was giving some thought to expressions that have fallen out of favour over the last few decades. Probably the only people to use them now would be the elderly, or possibly they might pop up in old films.

These are all T&C friendly although the fact that the F-word is less taboo than it used to be might account for the older, more varied expressions being dropped as it's so much easier to just use that expletive.

Most of these expressions would be used to express surprise:

You could have knocked me down with a feather

Well, I'll be blowed

Lord, luvva duck

Crikey !

Well I'm damned

Stone the crows

Well I never

Gordon Bennett

Don't talk wet -said to someone spouting (in the listener's opinion) rubbish

You daft 'aporth – no idea of the spelling but think it's a short form of halfpence worth

I'll pole-axe you (surprisingly, a favourite expression of my mother's)


A couple of my favourites only popped up in comics such as The Beano:

Corks !

Jings!

I'm guessing those are / were more common in Scotland where the comics were produced.

Obscure Cockney rhyming slang is amusing. It helps if you know the complete expression otherwise you wouldn't have much luck fathoming the following:

Titfer = hat (tit for tat)

Cup of rosie = cup of tea (Rosie Lee)


Anyone got anything to add? I should know heaps more – especially the rhyming slang having been subjected to it for over a decade – but I've gone dry.

I still say don't talk wet.


How about "going to see a man about a dog"?

Here's one that never went into fashion to have a chance to go out of fashion this election season:

'I'm going to vote with my intellect and avoid the two major parties!'

a reply to: berenike

Guess you have given your location away, never mind haha

Apples and Pairs

my favourite, from my old neck of the woods ..... Divvent Dunchus, we're Geordies Man ....... an Insurance company slogan

a reply to: Hazardous1408

I still don't know the meaning of that. Was it the equivalent of 'powdering one's nose' or something else entirely?

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

Here's one that never went into fashion to have a chance to go out of fashion this election season:

'I'm going to vote with my intellect and avoid the two major parties!'

And that would be? and for what reason?

a reply to: berenike


Sling your hook ( get lost or bugger off )

A smidgen ( something small )

Snoggin ( kissing )

Lord All Mighty ( something shocking )

Having a kip ( sleeping )

originally posted by: corblimeyguvnor
a reply to: berenike

Guess you have given your location away, never mind haha

Yep, I don't live in Beanotown.

The Cockney expressions were heard from one specific person. I wasn't located in the East End, either

a reply to: berenike

Basically it's what people say when they don't want to divulge where their going.

When my ol man used to go a buy his cannabis I'd ask where he's going and he'd say "to see a man about a dog"...


He said this for years and never brought a dog home though.

originally posted by: corblimeyguvnor
and for what reason?

Uh, massive suckage.

NO DUH!

originally posted by: berenike
a reply to: Hazardous1408

I still don't know the meaning of that. Was it the equivalent of 'powdering one's nose' or something else entirely?
dog

If you are talking about the dog thing .... its this.............

Newcastle Brown Ale is more commonly known in Newcastle as "dog", a bottle of dog, or whatever, commonly drank from a "Schooner" ...... thats a half pint glass of a certain shape. Now, before the Newcastle and Edinburgh brewery was taken over by the "Federation Brewery", Dog was always brewed at the Newcastle brewery, was never on "tap" with the exception of the brewery premises

Going to "see a man about a dog" was therefore saying, i'm going to the pub for a drink, esp Newcastle Brown Ale.

Certainly in the NE of England

a reply to: Hazardous1408

Perhaps he ate it on the way back

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

From Madonna?

originally posted by: Hazardous1408
a reply to: berenike

Basically it's what people say when they don't want to divulge where their going.

When my ol man used to go a buy his cannabis I'd ask where he's going and he'd say "to see a man about a dog"...


He said this for years and never brought a dog home though.

Yep, whenever my Dad was off out to the pub, he'd always say the same thing.

Get on (no way)

Rad - (meaning cool)

Pull my finger...

Happy as a sand boy

larripin good

pee in a violin

toad floater

and the ever not so popular....stick it up your idiom

a reply to: olaru12

Stick it up your jumper

Moxie. Just wanted to say that

originally posted by: berenike
a reply to: olaru12

Stick it up your jumper

Oompa Loompa before that saying? was in NE, dunno why, perhaps it rhymed

a reply to: corblimeyguvnor

My dad did.

He was born in Scotland so it may be a north of the Isles saying.