Expressions my grandparents used

[DaveA]

When I whined to my mother that I couldn't find something and it was in plain view my mother would say 'if it had teeth it would bite'.

Very familiar, Rose.

 

[Ronni]

My German grandparents would say outen the light. That brought back great memories .

When I was young my best friend was Italian.

She would always say “close the light” if I forgot to turn off the light.

Instead of saying “need to brush my teeth” she would say “wash my teeth”

My folks were good friends with another couple whose last name, unfortunately, were Mr and Mrs Sidebottom. In private my Dad would refer to them as “the Swivel asses.” “The Swivel asses have invited us to dinner” etc.

My Mum would say “If you can’t be good be careful. If you can’t be careful buy a pram (stroller)”

 

[IrishEyes]

My Grandmother had a love/hate relationship with the Jockey William Shoemaker (Santa Anita Racetrack)
expression 1. Welllllllllllllll s_ _ _T!!!!!! Bill you couldn't push that nose a bit further????"
2. "Bill!!! You Wonderful, Fabulous Jockey, I could kiss you!!!"

 

[bobcat]

My dad used to say: "I'll bet you a dollar to a donut that ........."
He would say that whenever he was sure of something.

 

[TeePee]

1) This is going to hurt me more than it's going to hurt you!
2) Close the door? Were you born in a barn?
3) I'll give you something to cry about
4) Me: "Why?" Mother: "Because I said so!"
5) If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times!
6) I told you once. I'm not telling you again.7)
7) Pretty is as pretty does.
8) Finish your plate! There's kids starving in China
9) Mother would say she looked like the last rose of summer
10) I wouldn't do that for all the tea in China.

 

[hollydolly]

1) This is going to hurt me more than it's going to hurt you!
2) Close the door? Were you born in a barn?
3) I'll give you something to cry about
4) Me: "Why?" Mother: "Because I said so!"
5) If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times!
6) I told you once. I'm not telling you again.7)
7) Pretty is as pretty does.
8) Finish your plate! There's kids starving in China
9) Mother would say she looked like the last rose of summer
10) I wouldn't do that for all the tea in China.

my granny didn't say thos things, but my mother said every one of them ..except the finish your meal China one......when I was growing up..it was Biafra...

 

[Bretrick]

Even a cat can look at the Queen - everyone is equal

If Johnny told you to jump off a cliff, would you do it? Don't just blindly follow someone's lead, think for yourself

What's good for the goose is good for the gander. huh? - if something is fair or acceptable for one person, it should be fair for another as well. It's often used when pointing out double standards, especially between genders, workplaces, or rules.

You would forget your head if it was not screwed on. You are forgetful and often lose things

I'm sure it was only a lick and a promise. A quick and careless attempt to do something

Who's got a bee in their bonnet then? To talk incessantly about something one thinks is important, even when others don't

I'll give you what for. Meaning "I will scold or punish you" It's a response to someone asking "what for?

 

[RadishRose]

maternal grandmother-
'Oh yoy yoy'

 

[Aunt Bea]

You don’t have to tell everything you know.

This is not to leave this table.

 

[jujube]

my granny didn't say thos things, but my mother said every one of them ..except the finish your meal China one......when I was growing up..it was Biafra...

I think everyone got different starving children, probably depending on your religion (what area your church was supporting missionaries in). Generational differences, too.

For me, we had missionaries in Africa so I always heard "an entire African village can live for a month on what you leave on your plate!" My offer to send those Brussels sprouts to them never got a great reception.....

My late husband was Catholic. He got the starving Chinese babies.

My dad said for him it was the starving Armenians.

My grandmother said it was "the little starving heathern (sic) babies all over the world."

 

[Jazzy1]

Some things my grandma has said:

“You’re campaigning for an ass whooping and you’re about to win the election”

“Do as I say and not as I do”

“I’m going to see a man about a horse”

“Scratch a lie, find a thief”