Colloquial expressions, idioms, and slang once common, now archaic…

[bobcat]

I still use "Blows my mind" a lot.
I also like
"Feelin' groovy"
"No skin off my nose"
"My two cents worth"
"Just yankin' yer chain"
"Holy smokes"
"Hit the bricks"
"Dodged a bullet"
"Getting wasted"
"On the same page"
"Don't let it eat your lunch"

 

[Paco Dennis]

Here some for "bummer" times

Wet blanket
Party pooper
Downer
Bummer
Killjoy
Buzzkill
Drag
Stick in the mud

 

[bobcat]

You're freakin' me out
Hold your horses
Cool your jets
Give me a jingle
Making a mountain out of a mole hill
Get real
I get your drift
Blew me away
Now you're cookin'
Get a grip
All fired up
Don't make a scene
The cat's meow

 

[JBR]

"Make the scene" (be there) "but don't make a scene" (do something & embarrassing).

 

[Happyflowerlady]

One that I remember my folks always using was that “something is haywire”, and I had to ask my dad about that one, since it made no sense to me.
Back in the day, they could fix just about any problem with a length of hay-wire, so when something didn’t work, it had gone haywire.

 

[bobcat]

You're toast
That's the way the cookie crumbles
Zip your lip
If the shoe fits
Cool threads
Letting the cat out of the bag
Put your money where your mouth is
Gimme five
Lay it on me
Take your best shot

 

[Fyrefox]

Going way back…
”What’s buzzin’, Cousin?”
”The cat’s pajamas.”
”Don’t give me that jive!”
”Sixty-two skidoo.”
”Kicking the gong around.”
”Haven’t heard that since Hector was a pup.”

 

[horseless carriage]

The Bees knees. The phrase does not relate to bees or knees but is an idiom for excellent.

Bog Standard. Something that is "bog-standard" is completely ordinary with no frills, embellishments, or add-ons.
Its origins are somewhat unclear, but a "bog" is another word for a toilet in British slang, adding to the connotations that something "bog-standard" is unglamorous and unspecial.

Curtain twitcher. A nosey neighbour, often caught peering out on their street's activities from behind a curtained window.

Faff. To "faff" is to waste time doing very little. "Faff" comes from the 17th century word "faffle," which means to flap about in the wind. Faff is also a good alternative to the profane 'F' word.

 

[JBR]

There was a term in this region (probably from 1970s) for a young woman who had a love of nature and granola, and having a bubbly good nature: "she's an earth muffin". Seemed a benign label, said in a genial way.

Not sure whether or not it had a widespread currency.

 

[jujube]

Back in the late 50's, we'd say goodbye with, "See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya!"

Of course, in the 60's it was, "Keep on keepin' on!"

 

[JBR]

Back in the late 50's, we'd say goodbye with, "See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya!"

Hadn't heard. But that one's a doozy.

 

[dobielvr]

There was a term in this region (probably from 1970s) for a young woman who had a love of nature and granola, and having a bubbly good nature: "she's an earth muffin". Seemed a benign label, said in a genial way.

Not sure whether or not it had a widespread currency.

We called her Mother Earth

flipping out

 

[Capt Lightning]

'Stoater' - a person or object of beauty, usually a young lady. eg. she's a wee stoater.
'Judas' - a carry out drink or meal - It comes from the joke...Hey Jesus, whose is that carrier bag? Oh, that's 'Judas's carryout.'

 

[sailormann]

Having grown up in the deep south I have some real "doozies" but they are a bit too R and X rated to list here.

 

[Pinky]

Be there, or, be square.
Gee, willikers!

 

[RadishRose]

Don't be L7

 

[Gary O']

What are some expressions from your past that you don’t hear people using much anymore

Drop a dime
Tell on someone via a phone call

Or

Rat someone out

 

[Gary O']

One that I remember my folks always using was that “something is haywire”, and I had to ask my dad about that one, since it made no sense to me.
Back in the day, they could fix just about any problem with a length of hay-wire, so when something didn’t work, it had gone haywire.

Reminds me of this far side toon;

 

[Nathan]

My wife says "goodness", reminds me of my grandmother saying that, or "goodness gracious".

I'll say "Rats!" when something doesn't go as planned, and I'm trying not to be potty-mouth.

 

[Gary O']

No way
seems a bit old

 

[oldman]

Yogi Berra on baseball.

“90% of the game is mental. The other half is physical.”
“It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”
“He hits from both sides. He’s Amphibious.”
“Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.”

 

[jujube]

I still say, "Mercy Maude!" when something surprises me. It was one of my grandma's frequent exclamations.

 

[RadishRose]

Keep on truckin'.
Man alive
Brewski
Heavy

 

[jujube]

"Mind your own beeswax!" (Business)

 

[Fyrefox]

“You’re acting like a bunch of wild Indians!” - - My 3rd grade teacher, Miss Tory, in critical and now politically-incorrect comments made to my class back in the day…

”Oh, crow!” - - My Mother, when disgusted