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The idea of this thread is to list phrases that are still used in the same context, but refer to cultural or physical objects that are, for all intents and purposes, obsolete.

For example: "I'll cc you on that" - the original CC refers to carbon copy, which indicates that this memo was copied and given to those people on the list
Another example: "Here's a dime/quarter call someone who cares"- refer to the cost of a call on a payphone. The phrase is still used, but very few working payphones exist in today's world

Two examples of things that don't fit the criteria:
- "A penny for your thoughts" - because people still have pennies and occasionally use them.
- "Beam me that app" - both the method and the phrase are more or less obsolete.

Examples pulled from the thread:
That and a token will get you on the subway
Here's a dime/quarter, call someone who cares.
V'Nafal li Ha'Asimon (Hebrew)
You sound like a broken record
Hang up the phone
Off the hook
Dialing a number
Rewind the tape / Be Kind Rewind
Leave me a message on my machine
Let's go to the video tape / roll the tape /The highlight reel / show me the clip* (Clip can refer to a modern video, but literally refers to a cut piece of film)
Getting clotheslined
Put something on the map
Roll down the window
A music 'Single'
"You've got mail"
"Mind if I borrow the sports section?"
"Do you have change for a dollar?"

Note - not a definitive list, and very subjective. Feel free to edit.





« Last edited by Yonah on January 29, 2020, 11:24:01 AM »

Author Topic: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well  (Read 37290 times)

Offline Yonah

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Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« on: January 24, 2020, 11:43:13 AM »
I started this on the PC question of the day thread, but upon @aygart 's suggestion, moved it here (original post - https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=106368.885).

what're some phrases people use, that refer to things that kids today might not have seen. I thinking about this the other night, when Larry Walker was inducted to into the Baseball hall of fame alongside Derek Jeter - he said "It's like an old 45, Jeter is the A-Side, and I am the B-side on the single".

Those of us who had record players, understood what he meant, where kids today, would need to be explained, even though they might get the context. Three others that I find myself using:

"That and a token will get you on the subway".
"Here's a quarter, call somebody who cares"

And the hebrew confluence of the two: "V'nafal li ha'asimon" (this literally means, "and then the token fell (into the coin slot)" - it's the Hebrew equivalent of I put 2+2 together, and refers to the Pay Phone tokens that haven't been used in at least 25 years)

What are some other good ones?


Online aygart

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2020, 12:22:32 PM »
With the repost now you sound like a broken record.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline Yonah

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2020, 12:31:26 PM »
With the repost now you sound like a broken record.

I see what you did there :)

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2020, 01:29:39 PM »
I actually have a record player....
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Offline CountValentine

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #4 on: January 24, 2020, 01:32:24 PM »
I actually have a record player....
...who doesn't?
Mine is vertical. You ever see one of those?
Only on DDF does 24/6 mean 24/5/half/half

Offline EliJelly

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #5 on: January 24, 2020, 01:33:23 PM »
My Bubby had a ton of Hungarian good phrases, didn't aged well either, forgot most of'em.

Offline 12HRS

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #6 on: January 24, 2020, 02:09:45 PM »
...who doesn't?

You need to get out more

Offline Yonah

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #7 on: January 27, 2020, 10:32:56 AM »

Mine is vertical. You ever see one of those?
No, can't imagine how it works, only because I picture the turntable and putting the arm down on top of the record.

Offline CountValentine

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #8 on: January 27, 2020, 10:45:20 AM »
No, can't imagine how it works, only because I picture the turntable and putting the arm down on top of the record.
http://s.ecrater.com/stores/252697/50961052aee6e_252697b.jpg
...and a cassette.  :)
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Offline Dawie

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Offline ltttc

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #10 on: January 27, 2020, 03:43:55 PM »
Call me collect

Offline Yonah

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #11 on: January 27, 2020, 03:55:31 PM »
Call me collect

My dad did a gap year in Israel long before it was a thing (in 1968, one year after the 6-day war). He would tell stories about how his friends would make collect calls, but instead of saying their names, they'd use a short yiddish phrase to send their parents a message. He said the most common thing was a collect call from "Shick Gelt" (Send Money).

So a kid would call their parents collect from "Shick Gelt" and the parents would reject the call and send him some money.

Every once in a while, they'd get a yiddish speaking operator who would jump into the game - i.e. the kid would say "Collect call from Shick Gelt" and the operator would ask them "Viful? (How much)"


Offline ltttc

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #12 on: January 27, 2020, 03:59:34 PM »
LOL!

Offline as2

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #13 on: January 27, 2020, 04:02:11 PM »
My dad did a gap year in Israel long before it was a thing (in 1968, one year after the 6-day war). He would tell stories about how his friends would make collect calls, but instead of saying their names, they'd use a short yiddish phrase to send their parents a message. He said the most common thing was a collect call from "Shick Gelt" (Send Money).

So a kid would call their parents collect from "Shick Gelt" and the parents would reject the call and send him some money.

Every once in a while, they'd get a yiddish speaking operator who would jump into the game - i.e. the kid would say "Collect call from Shick Gelt" and the operator would ask them "Viful? (How much)"
I used to do this back in the day when I needed a ride home from shul. I'd call my house collect from the shul payphone, and say my name was pickmeupnowplease!
Memories last forever, make them while you can.

Offline ltttc

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #14 on: January 27, 2020, 04:06:14 PM »
Who's calling please?

Offline as2

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #15 on: January 27, 2020, 04:09:57 PM »
Who's calling please?
Goes hand in hand with leaving your callback number when leaving a message, when it's the same as the number you're calling from.
Memories last forever, make them while you can.

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #16 on: January 27, 2020, 04:13:48 PM »
How did you know it was me calling?  :)
Only on DDF does 24/6 mean 24/5/half/half

Offline ltttc

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #17 on: January 27, 2020, 04:16:14 PM »
You mean you've never tasted "choo-choos"???

Offline whYME

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #18 on: January 27, 2020, 04:34:36 PM »
You mean you've never tasted "choo-choos"???
my teeth hurt just from reading that.

Offline as2

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #19 on: January 27, 2020, 04:47:44 PM »
How did you know it was me calling?  :)
Because my phone automatically blocked it ;D
Memories last forever, make them while you can.