Sayings that make you look old?
Discussion
The window cleaners arrived at work, announced by a long handled thing appearing at the window, someone goes "When i'm, cleaning windows, MOTHER", cue two younger members of staff looking at him using a similar look as my dog gives me when I read him Tolstoy.
He was, if you are under fifty, or particularly knowledgeable, referring to George Formby, an actor, singer and entertainer prominent from the 1920's into the 1950's, this reference is to a song called "When I'm cleaning windows" where he describes his voyeuristic tendencies and how that particular career enables that behavior.
He died in 1961, in 51 born 9 years later in 1970 and have seen bits of the odd film and picked up on the references but its strange how many folk still mention him.
So, what other references do you come out with and then suddenly feel very, very old ?
Another one for me is 1990s/2000 comedy catch phrases, like the Fast Show "Scorchio" and you remember its 20 odd years ago now
He was, if you are under fifty, or particularly knowledgeable, referring to George Formby, an actor, singer and entertainer prominent from the 1920's into the 1950's, this reference is to a song called "When I'm cleaning windows" where he describes his voyeuristic tendencies and how that particular career enables that behavior.
He died in 1961, in 51 born 9 years later in 1970 and have seen bits of the odd film and picked up on the references but its strange how many folk still mention him.
So, what other references do you come out with and then suddenly feel very, very old ?
Another one for me is 1990s/2000 comedy catch phrases, like the Fast Show "Scorchio" and you remember its 20 odd years ago now
vixen1700 said:
I mentioned Carlos Fandango wheels to my niece recently and got the same look. 
She's 28.
I dont remember that from in period but I must have seen it, only really know about it off PH. She's 28. I think sometimes, you kind of get stuff even if you dont get the whole reference, sounds like a generic/comedy name for big wheels based on a 70s racing driver stereotype, Carlos Reuteman/Fangio maybe ? Even if you dont remember the cigar ad. But guess if you dont know the period at all you have no idea.
jumare said:
I was waiting for a lift recently and said "at least it's not sulking in the basement" to the bafflement of the 'young' people I was with.
Douglas Adams, Hitch-hikers Guide to the Galaxy which to be fair was first broadcast 42 years ago...
"Share and enjoy"
To be fair I am 48 and I didn't get that reference either. I admit I have never read the book although I did watch the 80s BBC TV version. If you had said "Don't Panic" or "Thanks for all the fish" I would have instantly got it.Douglas Adams, Hitch-hikers Guide to the Galaxy which to be fair was first broadcast 42 years ago...
"Share and enjoy"
My Nan would use the expression “ I’m going to finger one of you”
Ie me and 5 cousins had broken something expensive and all deny it. Fingering means working out who did it and telling the relevant parent
My mum used it the other day on some naughty grandchildren
I have another 30 years before I start to use it.
Ie me and 5 cousins had broken something expensive and all deny it. Fingering means working out who did it and telling the relevant parent
My mum used it the other day on some naughty grandchildren
I have another 30 years before I start to use it.
Not one I used myself, but a Danish colleague was asking people in the UK if he was using the correct phrase - like taking coals to Newcastle - in a video he was making, and I was quite surprised that nobody in the UK under the age of 35 had either heard the phrase or knew what it meant.
I am not sure if this makes me old or them stupid. I like to think the latter.
PS. I got the HHGTHG reference though...
I am not sure if this makes me old or them stupid. I like to think the latter.
PS. I got the HHGTHG reference though...
Spare tyre said:
My Nan would use the expression “ I’m going to finger one of you”
Ie me and 5 cousins had broken something expensive and all deny it. Fingering means working out who did it and telling the relevant parent
My mum used it the other day on some naughty grandchildren
I have another 30 years before I start to use it.
I would strongly suggest you think twice before threatening to finger your grandchildren...Ie me and 5 cousins had broken something expensive and all deny it. Fingering means working out who did it and telling the relevant parent
My mum used it the other day on some naughty grandchildren
I have another 30 years before I start to use it.
Om said:
I am not sure if this makes me old or them stupid. I like to think the latter.
Hah! This is always the question, isn't it?I think it needs to not just be an older reference/saying, it also very much depends on how obscure it is, and your audience.
I saw a meme yesterday referencing Ea-nasir and his poor quality copper, and that happened nearly four thousand years ago...
GetCarter said:
I still turn the TV round.
(For those too young, it was a dial on early TVs that you 'turned round' to change channel).
That's an interesting one that I've never come across.(For those too young, it was a dial on early TVs that you 'turned round' to change channel).
The TV that greeted me at birth and into childhood was a Grundig with wood effect trim. You'd have to go up to the TV and press the button to change channel. Followed by a Hitachi with nicam stereo...
I remember how up until Channel 5 (which had a watermark in the top left of the screen) you had to more or less guess which channel you had just tuned if you didn't know what was being broadcast.
Anyway, rant aside, it is interesting how certain words/phrases are here to stay from the earlier days of technology even though they are in fact obsolete:
- stay tuned,
- tune in,
- turn the volume up/down,
- rewind,
- wind the car window up/down,
- floppy disk icon for 'save',
etc
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