Is it just me?

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Redhead56

It’s probably another Americanism we seemed to be swamped with them lately.

No it isn’t, donkeys years ago my very Londoner Nan used to say it about herself, as in ‘I’m 88 years young!’ If anyone ever asked her.All her mates used to vie with each other as to who was the oldest and they got proud of their age😂I always found the saying a bit cringeworthy tbh.

Desdemona

I have heard it a few times and find it patronising, yes.

What I despise too is being called "my darling" or "my love" by shop assistants etc. Do they only do this to people of mature age? Winds me up A LOT!

I'm not sure if I have ever heard it said or just seen it written, but either way, I can't imagine ever saying it myself (though you never know), but I don't think it is necessarily patronising - depends how it's used, really.

Regarding things like 'my darling', I remember frequently being called things like that by (mostly male) shopkeepers when I was a young woman, but as they did exactly the same to all the other female customers, whatever their age, I didn't have a problem with it.

More recently, I was shopping with my elderly mother when the male shopkeeper made what (I very much hope!) was a joke about us being sisters. I couldn't help telling him that his comment might make one of us happy but definitely not the other.

Desdemona

I have heard it a few times and find it patronising, yes.

What I despise too is being called "my darling" or "my love" by shop assistants etc. Do they only do this to people of mature age? Winds me up A LOT!

In the North where I was brought up people would say ‘love’ to everyone regardless of age. When we moved down south people got funny about me using so I stopped.
But occasionally one slips out, used it not long ago when talking to a woman at the bus stop and instantly apologised but she said she liked it and I shouldn’t apologise for being nice.

Desdemona

I have heard it a few times and find it patronising, yes.

What I despise too is being called "my darling" or "my love" by shop assistants etc. Do they only do this to people of mature age? Winds me up A LOT!

I've never actually heard it - just seen it on cards.But in conversation I would tend to say "I'm 21" rather than "I'm 21 years old" which seems like the way a child would answer a question.
I don't know where you live Desdemona, but all of my life I have been called 'darling', 'love/ly', 'treasure' 'pet' 'me duck'.
I actually think they do it less now, because people complain, and I miss it!

People use it about themselves.

"Of course, I'm 82 years young..." it's another of these ways to tell everyone how youthful we are.

I have heard it a few times and find it patronising, yes.

What I despise too is being called "my darling" or "my love" by shop assistants etc. Do they only do this to people of mature age? Winds me up A LOT!

It's not an expression I'm familiar with.

I haven’t heard it here which is a wonder because we adopt a lot of things from the US. Some good, some not so good.

eazybee

I think '80 Years Young' is seen on birthday cards; I have not heard it in conversation.

Same here. I've occasionally seen it on birthday cards, usually those celebrating 80 and over. It's certainly been around since at least the 1970's. I've never heard anyone actually say it in conversation though.

I dislike this, see it as patronising as well as offensive to those of us for whom health issues lead to pain and feeling old before our time

It’s a well known saying - to me anyway and tends to be used for those who are fit, lively and live life to the fullest possible.
The opposite to those who can be described as ‘old before their time’.

It’s harmless.

easybe maybe that's why I haven't seen or heard it. I don't buy cards with numbers on and so don't know what they tend to say.

I think '80 Years Young' is seen on birthday cards; I have not heard it in conversation.

I just say I’m 65. None of this “years of age” or “years old/young”. No need. I’m 65. You’re 12, she’s 3.

Just seen this on the "have you got a cleaner" thread!

I always say years old. My mom said its never old but older . She also said dances never get old. My parents where excellent ballroom and sequence dances even got trophies for it . Taught my brother and me to ballroom dance from when we where young. And when I was courting dragged my husband to be to evenings dancing and taught him . But he loved it and was in demand he was tall and slim and graceful. Things I was not due to disability. But I am lucky to have grown up in and extended family that never treated me as different.

Had an hearing test recently and told I had nice healthy ear drums they where shiny . Who knew earlier drums where shiny 🤷. And my hearing was very good for my age as some people younger had bad hearing due to ear buds and playing music to loud .

Mind you when they first came out I thought they where hearing aids 🤦. I even asked my daughter about them and told mom you are old🤣.

Yeah - euphemisms are patronising.

Having said that, I had an eye test yesterday and the optician carefully described deterioration as having happened ’over time’ rather than ‘because of ageing’ which did make a difference to the tone of the conversation. Sometimes it’s more about tact than condescension.

It’s probably another Americanism we seemed to be swamped with them lately.

Never heard this!
No thoughts - except that it sounds odd!

I have never used ‘young’ - just today my neighbour and I were talking about another neighbour who recently passed away - can you imagine saying, ‘ D was 77 years young’ ?