Old Sayings No Longer Relevant, But Persistent.

[Canary42]

Many people of my generation (born 1940s) still refer to post-toilet activity as "pulling the chain" although these days it never involves such an action.

E.g. Have you pulled the chain ?

What other similar examples covering the last 80 years or so can you think of ?

[Maydup]

Talking of pulling the chain, people still spend a Penny too.

[hc4361]

Strip wash. Who does that these days, at the kitchen sink because there is no bath or shower, let alone running hot water?

[Hopkirk]

Under Euro Directive 313.5 annex III, it is no longer permitted to say the phrase 'spend a penny'









The new phrase that must be used is 'Euronate'

[jno]

"clockwise" must be losing its meaning.

[Jeza]

The last time I spent a penny it cost 50p.

[hc4361]

That's true, jno, I have more than a dozen 'clocks' in my house but only one has a dial

[Hopkirk]

Dialing someone when you telephone them.

[chrisgel]

Turning the wireless on?

[TheWinner]

Put'th'wood in'th hole

meaning shut the door.

[Sammy48]

Lol I say 'pull the chain'. Also I say 'going to the pictures', which comes from the old saying of 'picture palace'.

[Hopkirk]

Going to the flicks is older - from the days when films did flicker

[Alston]

You want me to give away my age because I am able to remember Strip washing.....First you washed down as far as possible; then up as far as possible; then last of all , you washed possible.:-)

In all seriousness, when I was a young lad it was necessary to bring into the kitchen the 'tin bath' and enjoy a soak in front of the kitchen range. I remember an occasion when I rose from the bath and then sat on the edge nearest the fire....I must ask my wife to see if the scar is still visible.

Al.

[magicmick]

In the 50's we used to go and see Flash Gordon at the Flea Pit or flicks, now my grandson goes to the multi cinema complex

[Hopkirk]

You can't even 'watch the box' any more (well I can, but I haven't got a flatscreen yet)

[hc4361]

We had an outside loo (beg pardon, outside toilet) and when asked where we were going would always say 'to see a man about a dog' if we were headed for the loo.

[Georgiesmum]

"Taping " a television programme
Hearing your favourite record on the radio.
Watching a bought video
Stacking up records on your record player, ready to play.
Adding numbers up in your head , when serving at a till
Seeing cheese cut up on a counter with a cheese wire
, same with cherry genoa cake
Using the I zal toilet paper, which came useful for tracing pictures at school

Eating porridge for breakfast with lots of condensed milk!
Eating bread and milk for supper.
Drinking hot Bovril when anyone had a cold.

[Alston]

Outside Toilet......Surely that was a 'Thunderbox'

[vulcan42]

I wonder why we had/have strange euphemisms for going to the toilet. In my local there was a man who always said he "was going outside to turn his bike round".

[hc4361]

What did we call the pub nights where pub goers sang a solo before it was called karaoke? Was it 'free and easy nights'?

[Georgiesmum]

Talking about the scullery
Talking about the pantry

Talking about the best room, or drawing room
Mincing left over meat up from Sunday with a metal mincer attached to the kitchen table
Using the word parlour.