With technology and lifestyles advancing at essentially the speed of light, the kids of today are living different lives than we did, say, 50 years ago.
A child born today may very well never even lay eyes on a VCR, and if they saw the tapes that went inside of them, they would be shocked at how blocky and cumbersome they are. It's strange to think of it, but the things we used to use every single day of our lives are outdated: obsolete technologies that no one ever needs to use again.
Many sayings that we do still use today, though, were born from these old technologies and ways of living life. While younger generations may still use them, they'll never really be able to get a full grasp on their meaning, or why we used to say them in the first place.
Do you say any of these phrases still?
Please SHARE with your family and friends on Facebook who will also remember where these sayings came from.
[H/T: Dusty Old Thing]
1. Like A Broken Record
Few kids these days know what it sounds like when a broken record scratches, so they'll never know the full gravity of this saying.
2. Bite The Bullet
Before anesthesia came around, surgeons would have their patients literally bite a bullet to distract them from the pain. Ouch!
3. Dial You Up
Back when rotary phones were around, you had to take the time to dial the number, watching the little circle go round and round. These days, dialing a 0 or a 9 isn't a big deal.
4. Put Through The Wringer
Washers and dryers no longer need this step to get clothes clean, so getting put through the wringer doesn't mean anything to kids today. They may know what it means as a saying, but they won't ever use the machine themselves.
5. Time To Hit The Hay
Back when mattresses were stuffed with hay, you'd literally hit it to make it cozier and make sure there were no bugs inside. Sleeping on hay would be unthinkable to most kids now, and they would probably envision someone lying in a pile of hay.
6. On The Flip Side
Kids toss this phrase around as a way to say “I'll see you later,” but very few have had to actually flip a record to hear the second half of an album.
7. Yank My Chain
Miners used to do their business on rails in something called a honey cart. Jokesters would sometimes play a prank and take the breaks off of the cart while someone was using it, so miners would carry around a short chain to throw on the tracks if someone decided to pull a prank.
8. Blow Off Steam
This saying comes from back when steam engine trains had to release steam in order to stabilize the whole train. The only time kids get to see steam engines are when they watch Thomas The Tank Engine.
9. Clean Slate
Remember chalkboards? Well, kids hardly see them anymore. Schools have opted for digital boards, or at least whiteboards in most areas. Starting off with a clean chalkboard made of slate is not relatable to kids these days.
10. Stay Tuned
This used to mean you literally had to keep the dial tuned to the proper frequency. Now it just means that you shouldn't touch that fancy, multipurpose remote of yours.
11. On The Other Line
Sure, we can still have people waiting on the other line, but when this phrase came around there was an actual operator waiting to plug in a different cord, or line, to connect the call. These days, the lines are just signals floating through space.
12. Pot To P*ss In
Everyone's still got to pee, but not in a chamber pot in their bedroom. Now we go to the bathroom for the toilet, because, you know… plumbing.
13. Close But No Cigar
People still say this everywhere, all the time, but few realize that cigars used to be given away as prizes for carnival games. Often, with those rigged games, you got oh-so close, but hardly ever won the prize.
Do you use any of these sayings? Did you ever think that your kids or grandkids wouldn't even know where they came from? Please SHARE with family and friends on Facebook!
