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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 37289 times)

Offline ltttc

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #40 on: January 27, 2020, 06:14:45 PM »
Can you develop this film for me?

Offline Dan

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #41 on: January 27, 2020, 06:15:23 PM »
Hang up the phone so I can go online already :)
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline avromie7

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #42 on: January 27, 2020, 06:19:18 PM »
Hey, who remembers dialing without an area code??? I'll never forget the day I kept calling people only to hear the annoying "please press 1 and then the area code to complete your call" >:(
Was it really that long ago that this changed?
I wonder what people who type "u" instead of "you" do with all their free time.

Offline ltttc

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #43 on: January 27, 2020, 06:23:36 PM »
Was it really that long ago that this changed?
1997 IIRC

Offline CountValentine

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #44 on: January 27, 2020, 06:27:24 PM »
Was it really that long ago that this changed?
October 11, 1996
Only on DDF does 24/6 mean 24/5/half/half

Offline avromie7

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #45 on: January 27, 2020, 06:34:24 PM »
October 11, 1996
I think different places changed at different times, I remember when is changed in Lakewood, and there's no way I would remember it if it was in 1996.
I wonder what people who type "u" instead of "you" do with all their free time.

Offline CountValentine

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #46 on: January 27, 2020, 06:35:30 PM »
I think different places changed at different times,
Only place that mattered was where I was at.  :)
Only on DDF does 24/6 mean 24/5/half/half

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #47 on: January 27, 2020, 06:36:38 PM »
I think different places changed at different times, I remember when is changed in Lakewood, and there's no way I would remember it if it was in 1996.
You might be remembering when you it changed to needing to press "1" before the area code, when calling from a land-line but not a cell phone.
Memories last forever, make them while you can.

Offline as2

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #48 on: January 27, 2020, 06:37:11 PM »
Only place that mattered was where I was at.  :)
They changed this in Poland too?
Memories last forever, make them while you can.

Offline avromie7

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #49 on: January 27, 2020, 06:38:48 PM »
You might be remembering when you it changed to needing to press "1" before the area code, when calling from a land-line but not a cell phone.
-1
I wonder what people who type "u" instead of "you" do with all their free time.

Offline good sam

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #50 on: January 27, 2020, 06:41:16 PM »
Roll the tape
Leave a message on my machine
Carbon copy
Roladex
If you don't care why would you comment?
HT: DMYD

Offline CountValentine

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #51 on: January 27, 2020, 06:43:38 PM »
They changed this in Poland too?
I was doing my thesis in the US at that time.  :P
Only on DDF does 24/6 mean 24/5/half/half

Offline chff

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #52 on: January 27, 2020, 06:52:03 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)"
https://youtube.com/watch?v=V04bh-G4-qU

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #53 on: January 27, 2020, 06:58:05 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)"
Those calling methods were still common in the mid 80s.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline yuneeq

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #54 on: January 27, 2020, 07:08:37 PM »
Getting clotheslined
Visibly Jewish

Offline Dan

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #55 on: January 27, 2020, 07:10:12 PM »
Have any good apps to beam me?
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline ltttc

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #56 on: January 27, 2020, 07:22:38 PM »
Stopping at a gas station to ask for directions

Offline ltttc

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #57 on: January 27, 2020, 07:37:27 PM »
That's a cool walkman

Offline whYME

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #58 on: January 27, 2020, 07:38:45 PM »
Stopping at a gas station to ask for directions
How about using a (paper) map for directions?
Or for that matter actually knowing where you're going instead of blindly following the GPS

Offline grodnoking

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Re: Phrases that Haven't Aged Well
« Reply #59 on: January 27, 2020, 07:39:39 PM »
Try changing your location to Brooklyn or Lakewood  ;)
Someone hit my car today in Lakewood, and left a note without an area code.
I'm not who you think I am.