Your Grandparents Said What?
Oh no. According to an article I read, I apparently sound like my grandparents. I found this little gem on Bing — I love checking out their shorts. They’re perfect bite‑sized sparks when I’m stuck for ideas, and honestly, even when I’m not stuck, they serve up all kinds of interesting things.
So today I was reading 17 phrases your grandparents said that nobody says anymore… except I use a lot of them. As I put this list together, I had to laugh — I still use so many of these. My grandparents would be proud… or concerned. But don’t worry, we’re not going through all 17. I’ll just touch on the ones I still use today.
“Happy as a clam.”
Are you enjoying life? Are you content? I can tell you that Banner, curled up in his sink, is happy as a clam. Living in Massachusetts, where clamming is practically a sport, it’s no surprise this expression stuck around — dated or not.
“Close the door — were you born in a barn?”
Ouch. I don’t use this one myself (no kids to yell at), but I can still hear my mother shouting it, and wow did it sting. None of that “sticks and stones” stuff for me — words absolutely can hurt.
“Keep your shirt on.”
Did you know this probably goes back to the early 1900s, when men would take off their shirts before a fight? Apparently they were more afraid of coming home with a torn shirt and facing their wife than they were of getting a bloody nose.
“I’ll be there with bells on.”
I use this one all the time. If someone invites me over, I might very well say it without thinking. Turns out it comes from the bells used to decorate a horse’s bridle or sleigh. Who knew? But I still say it today.
There are so many more. Don’t take any wooden nickels. Go pound sand. You got your ears lowered. I’ll be a monkey’s uncle. The list goes on, but we’re out of time. And honestly, I don’t like to think I’m outdated. After all, I still use wicked to be cool.
How about you — do any of your grandparents’ sayings still sneak into your vocabulary? Drop yours in the comments — I’d love to see which ones you grew up with.