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Old fashioned expressions you still use.

(387 Posts)
NanKate Fri 28-Jan-22 21:29:34

When DH serves up his weekly stir fry he always says to me ‘Put on your bib and tucker’ knowing I can be a bit messy. ?

When I trip over or make a mistake I say a man’s name (which I can’t remember). I’ve used the name for years. Can you remember it please ?

EllanVannin Sat 29-Jan-22 10:22:20

Put wood i'thole----close the door.
The sky was as black as your hat.
Wreck of the Hesperus---often used at home.
A fourp'ny one---clip round the ear.
Casey's court---noise from kid's parties at home.
More holy than Godly---if the moths had got at something.
Blimey Charley---the extent of a " swear " word used at home.

There are a lot more of these expressions that were used in our household and I still use many to this day along with " old-fashioned " words rather than the modern twang grin

TerriBull Sat 29-Jan-22 10:33:55

An expression maybe only pertinent to London "Black as Newgate's knocker" my husband tells me his mother often used that. Quite foreboding, the knocker being the last thing on the outside the prisoner would see before being incarcerated in Newgate Prison. Not nice!

EllanVannin Sat 29-Jan-22 10:36:36

Best bib and tucker was another I remember when having afternoon tea with auntie. Had to look our best.

Dust the policies---- standing joke if anyone was ill.
'Owt'll fit a stark-naked man----mum at the jumble sale as I stand pulling a face at her style of clothing.
If it had horns it would poke you---dad looking for a certain tie.
Better than a poke in the eye with a big stick----a small pools win.
Crying before you're hurt.
No use crying over spilt milk.

Music-wise, it was never " The flight of the bumblebee ", instead, it was " The bum of the flighty bee ".

Looking back, we were quite a jolly household really. grin

GreyKnitter Sat 29-Jan-22 10:42:30

When we were children my grandmother always used to say ‘You can always stoop and pick up nothing’. Never been quite sure what this meant!

Kate1949 Sat 29-Jan-22 10:43:18

Better than a slap in the face with a wet kipper.

Grannybags Sat 29-Jan-22 10:53:44

He was as fit as a lop! Usually said after someone had died

If my Mum had had a bad day she said it had been a 'clashy back end'

Clever as Dick's hat band

rafichagran Sat 29-Jan-22 10:58:32

Marydoll

You will be laughing on the other side of your face!

One of my Mothers favourites.

rafichagran Sat 29-Jan-22 11:00:55

GreyKnitter

When we were children my grandmother always used to say ‘You can always stoop and pick up nothing’. Never been quite sure what this meant!

I knew it as "You can always stoop low and pick up nothing. I knew it to mean lowering your standards.

newnanny Sat 29-Jan-22 11:11:10

Cat's got your tongue?
If you made a face 'one day the wind will change and you will be stuck with that face'

Dowt the lights for put out the lights. If we had a lot of lights on my Dad would say where do you think this is Blackpool Illinations?

Kali2 Sat 29-Jan-22 11:17:10

Love those, keep them coming.

ayse Sat 29-Jan-22 11:18:39

rafichagran

GreyKnitter

When we were children my grandmother always used to say ‘You can always stoop and pick up nothing’. Never been quite sure what this meant!

I knew it as "You can always stoop low and pick up nothing. I knew it to mean lowering your standards.

Wonder if that saying comes from She Stoops to Conquer?

Mum used to use Wreck of the Hesperus and Black as Newgate’s Knocker so you can tell how I was as a child ?

Squiffy Sat 29-Jan-22 14:28:44

Daft Apeth ( daft halfpenny)!

Urmstongran Sat 29-Jan-22 14:39:10

Loved my mum’s sayings.

“One volunteer is better than ten pressed men” was one of my favourites. So descriptive.

Urmstongran Sat 29-Jan-22 14:40:03

“Where there’s a will there’s a relative” was another.

Urmstongran Sat 29-Jan-22 14:45:51

“There’s nowt so queer as folk”.
“Well at least those two don’t spoil another couple!” ?
“I could eat a scabby horse and come back for the bandages”
“He’s got short arms and long pockets”

Maggiemaybe Sat 29-Jan-22 14:53:03

Let the dog see the rabbit.
It’s like Stage-a-Bank Fair in here.
You make a better door than a window.
Fit as a butcher’s dog.
I’ve seen more fat on a greasy chip.
One sniff of the barmaid’s apron….
You must have hollow legs (when you eat one tatie more than a pig).

Urmstongran Sat 29-Jan-22 14:59:49

“I’ve seen better hair on bacon!”.

Chardy Sat 29-Jan-22 15:04:01

Squiffy

Daft Apeth ( daft halfpenny)!

I think I was about 35 (and my gran was long gone) before I realised that 'apeth' was a half penny worth. Maybe it was around the time I started calling my 5yr old these daft names!

AreWeThereYet Sat 29-Jan-22 15:04:57

'He/She is sixpence short of a bob.' Have to explain usually.

Kate1949 Sat 29-Jan-22 15:05:49

I've seen more meat on a butcher's pencil.

Kate1949 Sat 29-Jan-22 15:09:03

Somebody being 'Two sandwiches short of a picnic'.
Someone described as 'As thick as pudding'.

Callistemon21 Sat 29-Jan-22 15:19:02

DH's pronouncement at lunch-time:

"He's about as much use as a nine bob note"
I'll leave you to guess who he meant!

felice Sat 29-Jan-22 15:39:09

DD had to explain some of DGS expressions to some of his school teachers. He is in a French speaking school and some of the teachers speak English and did not have a clue what he was talking about.
DGS is fully bilingual, and some of the Scottish phrases we use confused them. We just hope he was not using the slang ones he has picked up.

rockgran Sat 29-Jan-22 15:42:18

My Scottish mum used to say "it's better than a slater up your nose" (a woodlouse) and indeed most things are!

GillT57 Sat 29-Jan-22 15:49:40

Better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick
You'll have someone's eye out with that (carrying ladders or similar)
Who's she, the cat's Mother? ( I shouted that at Johnson at PMQs)
It's like bloody Blackpool in here! (lights left on)
As black as the Earl of Hell's waistcoat
a scotch egg short of a picnic

Urm, I love your scabby horse and bandages one grin