Country Roads

It’s the sign of the times. Some of the sayings and words we used years ago might get a blank look if used today.

Here are a few of those back-in-time sayings and words that have given way to the modern times. The word “baloney” or “hogwash” were used to describe something thought to be false or misspoken. Today some like to say it’s “fake news.” What was once thought of as being an “icebox” is now a refrigerator. A “pocket book” is now a purse. Going “courting” is now a couple going out on a date. Years ago a person was thought to be a “hottie,” “cool,” or a “real dude” today that person is in style or up-to-date. “Fiddlesticks” was a frustration term. Getting an “ear full” was when someone gave you a lot of information or talked “your leg off.”

The youth of today might not have an idea of what a sheet of carbon paper is but back in the day some people were said to be a “carbon copy” of a relative, meaning they were just like a relative. People wouldn’t think of describing their vehicle for sale as being a “jalopy” or an “ old beater” years ago. If you were happy, you would say you were “tickled pink.” If you kept repeating a story you might be told you sounded like a “broken record.” Movies used to be called a “picture show.” What was once called a “clicker” is now a remote control. In the days of the early radio, an announcer might have asked his listeners to “stay tuned” or “don’t touch that dial.” The large and awkward “mobile phones” are now the “hip” cell phones. If a person was termed to be a “whippersnapper,” they were young. Today that term might apply to a person causing problems or doing something unusual. When someone was too upset, he or she might have been advised to “don’t have a cow.” If someone was too anxious about getting something, they may have been advised, “Don’t count your chicks before they are hatched.” What our parents may have called a “percolator” today is a coffee maker.

Clothing and fashion terms and sayings have changed. “Dungarees and britches” are now simply jeans. This went along with the old sayings “you’re getting too big for your britches” or “don’t be a smarty pants,” meaning you were being too outspoken for your age. The word “slacks” is even a term of the past. Pants is the replacement. What was once called “galoshes” are now overshoes. To our great-grandmothers a dress was called a “frock.” I remember how men tried to keep their shirts tucked into their jeans or pants. Mothers worked to keep their little boys’ shirts tucked in. Now they are designing shirts so they don’t have to be tucked in.

How soon will words used today fade away? I’ll even admit I’ve once used some of those now forgotten sayings.