Sayings Our Parents Used; Do you use them now?

Ruthanne

Ruthanne

Caregiver
Location
Midwest
What kinds of sayings did your parents use and do you use them now? Do you find the old cliches helpful or not?

Mine said "that's water under the bridge" and "wait till your dad gets home" and "I won't give up my day job" and there's lots others. I just can't

remember them all right now. Maybe you can jog my memory!
 

My father always used the expression, "Don't take any wooden nickels." Usually when you were leaving, meaning, take care of yourself. No, I don't use this routinely.

There are more but, I can't think of them right now. Will get back later.
 
Ruthanne said:
What kinds of sayings did your parents use and do you use them now? Do you find the old cliches helpful or not?

Mine said "that's water under the bridge" and "wait till your dad gets home" and "I won't give up my day job" and there's lots others. I just can't

remember them all right now. Maybe you can jog my memory!
Click to expand...


I use old sayings all the time, now and then my son[age 37] will question me as to the meaning and origin.

"water under the bridge"
"no sense cryin' over spilled milk"
"we're in fat city"
"that's pretty cheesy"
"all bark and no bite"

laptop battery dying- will add some later
 

Most often said by my dad (when I was a teen), "You can sleep when you're dead." I don't use it but do think of it occasionally.

Another when he was in his late 80's and in poor health, "I hope they pull me up quick."

I heard this a lot from my mom. "What will the neighbors think?"

One I repeat a lot, is "For Pete's sake!"

Maybe more later

tnthomas, if you're looking for meaning of phrases/expressions, check out Chrysti the Wordsmith.
 
My mother used to say these, and I have used them myself once in a blue moon.

Money doesn't grow on trees

There's no free lunch
 
Some I remember and I still use are:

"Pot calling the kettle black", "What's good for the goose is good for the gander", "Two wrongs don't make a right", "You can't take it with you". And how well I remember hearing them say, "What will the neighbors think". Now that's one I don't use because I don't care what my neighbors think. These days, people don't know their neighbors.
 
Wow, now I recall my parents saying practically all of the things all of you said. How about "a penny saved is a penny earned". I recall, too, "the pot calling the kettle black." My mom used the saying "Two wrongs don't make a right" all the time maybe because she had 6 fighting kids! :) I think of that one a lot and it is true but sometimes feels good to make the other wrong. How about "pushing up daisies", "kick the bucket" and "you can't take it with you when your dead" (I'm not sure of the exact words on that one.) "One foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel". These are funny when I think about them. lol.
 
My father got an expression from his mother that I remember, about every mother believing in her child and being on his/her side:

"Every mama crow thinks her little crow is the blackest."

Not very PC these days!
 
Four come to mind from my dad

"Friends & relatives will ruin you in a business"

"Show me a good pool player & I'll show you a wasted youth"

"Give a man an honest days work for an honest days pay"

"Never trust a religious school teacher"

He was a Mason Contractor.
 
Guitarist said:
My father got an expression from his mother that I remember, about every mother believing in her child and being on his/her side:

"Every mama crow thinks her little crow is the blackest."

Not very PC these days!
Click to expand...
That's a new one on me!
 
I thought of another saying my mom used to say a lot; "patience is a virtue." I have always tried to be patient because of that. Sometimes, though, I'm not patient.
 
My paternal Grandmother Edith used to refer to my Grandfather's adult beverage as "Kickapoo Joy Juice". Never heard anyone else use that phrase. This was in the 1950s.
 
One I can remember ...you made your bed now you can lie on it
and...more hands make light work.....and don't count your chickens before they hatch.
 
AuntieV said:
Mom used to tell my brothers "If you hoot with the owls you can crow with the rooster".
Click to expand...

....and that leads to "birds of a feather flock together."

...did anyone mention "as the crow flies" ?

"Why did the chicken cross the road?" Oh, this is actually off topic, and has more to do with chaos matrix theory.

Continuing:

"The early bird gets the worm"
"Who ruffled her feathers"
I say this one when appropriate:
"What's good for the goose is good for the gander"
 
It occurred that I still use a couple of sayings that my mother used .....

"A lick and a promise" = a quick wash.

"Pruch & plunder" Pruch = a 'perk' or goods earned for extra work. The expression means a random selection of goods possibly found, given or bought at a sale or market.

"A face like a Lurgan spade" This is one I heard in Ulster and means to look unhappy. A Lurgan spade is a style of spade with a long thin blade. Hence someone with a long face.
 
My father frequently used the comments, "Steal a penny and you are a thief....steal a million and you are brilliant", regarding politicians and questionable businessmen. Along with, "A weak person blames their shortcomings on what their life has been." (This one got me through many life situations...made me a very strong woman)
 
Hoot N Annie said:
My paternal Grandmother Edith used to refer to my Grandfather's adult beverage as "Kickapoo Joy Juice". Never heard anyone else use that phrase. This was in the 1950s.
Click to expand...

Yes, I've heard that one used. I think it originally referred to the liquor given to Indians (there is a Kickapoo tribe) which tended to intoxicate them quickly as they were not used to it.
 
Ruthanne said:
I thought of another saying my mom used to say a lot; "patience is a virtue." I have always tried to be patient because of that. Sometimes, though, I'm not patient.
Click to expand...

I well remember the "patience is a virtue" one. I'm not very good at patience, either.

Also, "if 'everyone' jumped off a cliff, would you jump too?" This in response to my wanting to do something or go somewhere because "everyone" was doing it.

"Don't count your chickens . .. ." is another one I heard a lot. And "what if your face freezes that way?"
 
Act in haste. Repent at your leisure. Was one I heard quite a lot.

I can't help it! It's the way my mother put my hat on. Was a traditional London cockney saying.

Stone the crows. Was another.

Everyone must have heard Close your mouth, or the flies will get in.
 
If your friend can stay up late and do anything she wants....go live with her family.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top