Old Expressions

simmo

simmo

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That should be brought back into general use. Use this thread to nominate your favourite old phrases that have slipped from use.

Mine are:

They have driven a coach and four horses through that.

and

How is this fashioned?

Does anyone else have any old phrases/words they think should be used more often?
 
A couple of old one's from when I was younger

"Queens Drive cruiser shot" - my old school cricket coach used this to describe a shot in which the bat and pad are not together (you could drive the QD cruiser, number 71 bus I think through the gap)

"put wood int door" - shut the door

"where you made at Pilks?" - not so much old as regional, used if someone is stood in front of the television in reference to the famous glass manufacturer back in my hometown.
 
Originally posted by simmo@May 23 2007, 11:02 AM
Use this thread to nominate your favourite old phrases that have slipped from use.
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How about that's third consecutive 100/1 winner I've had today. Tragically slipped out of fashion I'm afraid
 
"(insert address here) driver, and don't spare the horses" - upon entering a hackney carriage.

"He/she/they are a thorough shower" - must be spoken in the style of Terry Thomas though.
 
Originally posted by Irish Stamp@May 23 2007, 01:33 PM
"where you made at Pilks?" - not so much old as regional, used if someone is stood in front of the television in reference to the famous glass manufacturer back in my hometown.
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Some great sayings here which I intend to revive.

With reference to that quoted, where I came from that saying would have been "You make a better door than a window" or the ubiquitous "Heid. Move. Now." as featured in yon Mike Myers film.

Other heartfelt classics from childhood include:

Were you born in a field? (I never did quite grasp how that was relevant to leaving the door open).

It's like Blackpool Illuminations in here.

and

Fetch my slipper.
 
'It's amazing what you'd see when you wouldn't have a gun' was a favourite of my grandfather - but he was real Old Skool!
 
Wasn't it modernised to 'a hospital with swinging doors'? There were some real smartasses about in those days :laughing:
 
A bird in the Bush saves nine.
eek.gif
 
Beauty fades but Dumb is forever.
Another that I heard is, If a thief kisses you count your teeth. :laughing:
 
Past Times shops have several books for sale on the origins of sayings, many of which are old. A heck of a lot go back to old Navy days. The saying 'no room to swing a cat in here' referred to naughty sailors being lashed by the cat o'nine tails - nine thongs of knotted rope. There was no room below deck in which to swing the 'cat' to get a good lash on the sailor's back, so they were taken on deck, and tied frontwards to a mast. There was plenty of room to get the requisite swing of the lash on deck.

The word 'posh' refers to the preferred cabin for the Britain to India sea voyage and return: 'Port Out - Starboard Home' to avoid the heat of the sun all day in one's cabin. The cabins were at a premium, so those managing to obtain these expensive rooms were 'posh' people.
 
Originally posted by Gareth Flynn@May 23 2007, 05:01 PM
Were you born in a field? (I never did quite grasp how that was relevant to leaving the door open).
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Was "born in a barn" where I grew up.
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Born in a barn for me too - one I still use. [Simmo, I've always assumed it to refer to the old barns without doors, hence why someone wouldn't shut one]
 
Originally posted by Shadow Leader+May 23 2007, 10:48 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Shadow Leader @ May 23 2007, 10:48 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Gareth Flynn@May 23 2007, 05:01 PM
Were you born in a field? (I never did quite grasp how that was relevant to leaving the door open).
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Was "born in a barn" where I grew up.
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Born in a barn for me too - one I still use. [Simmo, I've always assumed it to refer to the old barns without doors, hence why someone wouldn't shut one] [/b][/quote]
"Put the bush in the slap" ~ meaning the same thing. My mother always told me to "Keep your plate fornenst you" when eating dinner. We kick your arses for quaint expressions in my neck of the woods.
 
But that's pretty modern - I thought this was 'old' expressions? :brows: Like 'many a mickle meks a muckle' and 'cast nary a clout 'til may is out' - the reference being to may, or hawthorn blossom, not May the month.
 
'Born in a field' for me too.

'You make a guid door but no' a guid windae', to someone blocking your view, like the Pilks one.

'Are you talkin' tae me or chewin' a brick?' to someone with whom you want to pick a fight for something they've said to you.

'Wid ye take ma grave as quick?' to someone who jumped on your chair the moment you left it. (Happened a lot in big families with not enough seats for everyone, unless you counted the floor.)

'Whit's fur ye willnae go past ye', to someone who's suffered a disappointment.

Plenty more...
 
DO's additions have reminded me of another one of my father's favourite (non-PC) sayings:

D'ye think ah came up the Clyde in a banana boat?
 
Yes, that was popular in our house too, along with the similar, 'D'ye 'hink ah came up the Clyde on a bike?'

A belter my wife's old aunt used to use was, 'Ach, ye cannae haud whit's no' in yer hauns!' when anyone farted.
 
Round here it's:

'Exmoor':
where men are men,
women are men
and sheep are scared...

Just to clarify - where I live is not Exmoor - there's a definite 'them' and 'us' faction round here!!
 
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