Terms Which Have Disappeared

[dh66]

There was a brief time in American life, around 1947-48, when the phrase "Open the door!" was never heard without being followed by the word "Richard!"

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[skydog757]

I also recall "I'll settle this hash" or "I'll settle his hash", meaning to resolve an issue or argument. Generally, this was said in irritation or anger about some person and implied physical conflict or the threat of it.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I also remember the phrase "Let George do it"; referring to any task that the speaker did not plan on doing.

Not certain UT that might be because Pullman Porters were commonly referred to as George.

 

[HudsonHawk]

There was a brief time in American life, around 1947-48, when the phrase "Open the door!" was never heard without being followed by the word "Richard!"

One of my favorite lines in a Bugs Bunny cartoon is from 1948's High Diving Hare, in which Yosemite Sam forces Bugs to fill in for Fearless Freep in the high diving act. One of Bugs' tricks on Sam is to build a door at the top of the platform, which Sam pounds on demanding Bugs "Open the door...open the door!" At one point Sam breaks the fourth wall, turns to the "camera" and says "notice I didn't say Richard?"

 

[Stanley Doble]

Yesterday the starter failed on my car and turned me into a pedestrian. I got to thinking how long it has been since I heard the word pedestrian, it must be 20 or 30 years.

 

[Stearmen]

Yesterday the starter failed on my car and turned me into a pedestrian. I got to thinking how long it has been since I heard the word pedestrian, it must be 20 or 30 years.

Now that you mention it, only a few places do we have signs that say yield for Pedestrians. Most are just the standard yellow with the man and women caring a purse stick figures!

 

[LizzieMaine]

As a kid I used to be confused when I'd read some magazine or newspaper article where the author criticized society for its "pedestrian tastes." I mean, who didn't like to walk?

 

[Inkstainedwretch]

Does anyone still use "crackerjack"to mean "first class"? I never could figure out that one.

 

[vitanola]

As a kid I used to be confused when I'd read some magazine or newspaper article where the author criticized society for its "pedestrian tastes." I mean, who didn't like to walk?

Considering the "Melting Pot analogy", as an American I have personally always thought that Protestants, Musselmen and Jewish folk would do well to develop more catholic tastes

 

[Stearmen]

Considering the "Melting Pot analogy", as an American I have personally always thought that Protestants, Musselmen and Jewish folk would do well to develop more catholic tastes

As some one who grew up Catholic, school and all, I hope not. We already have enough neurotic people on the loose!

 

[vitanola]

I used the word "catholic" with a lower case "c". Doesn't mean quite the same thing.

 

[LizzieMaine]

And here I always thought "catholic tastes" meant you liked fish.

 

[docneg]

And here I always thought "catholic tastes" meant you liked fish.

I love your sense of humor.

 

[Stanley Doble]

As a kid I used to be confused when I'd read some magazine or newspaper article where the author criticized society for its "pedestrian tastes." I mean, who didn't like to walk?

I wasn't going to reply to this, thinking you were kidding. But just in case you never figured it out the origin of the term probably came from the contrast between the 'carriage trade' and the 'pedestrian trade'.

 

[ChiTownScion]

As a kid I used to be confused when I'd read some magazine or newspaper article where the author criticized society for its "pedestrian tastes." I mean, who didn't like to walk?

I remember being about eight when I heard that the British government had just "fallen." I envisioned riots in the streets and another Reign of Terror. Then my dad reassured me that it only means that the prime minister failed to gain a vote of confidence and that there would be a general election in a few weeks. Sometimes, he could really be the incarnation of the well read working man.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Does anyone still use "crackerjack"to mean "first class"? I never could figure out that one.

I used to have my hair cut at the "Crackerjack Salon," until Mrs. Crackerjack retired a few years ago.

My grandfather used to call something that was crackerjack "a cockah." Eventually I realized what he was saying was "corker," a popular piece of 1910s slang distorted thru his use of Maine dialect.

 

[HudsonHawk]

Yesterday the starter failed on my car and turned me into a pedestrian. I got to thinking how long it has been since I heard the word pedestrian, it must be 20 or 30 years.

I hear the term almost daily. So I'm wondering...what do you call them?

 

[Zombie_61]

I hear the term almost daily. So I'm wondering...what do you call them?

Considering the number of people I see walking down the street oblivious to their surroundings because they're so entranced by their stupid cell phones...well, let me just say what I call them is a word that shouldn't be used in polite company.

 

[skydog757]

Falling-down easy.
Easy as falling off a log.
Easy as pie.
Piece of cake.
(I've also heard the combo "Cake and pie" to describe a simple task or set of tasks.)

 

[Fading Fast]

I believe somewhere back in this thread we chatted about "catawampus" being a term that had disappeared. I even think it was Hudson Hawk and I who discussed it. Well, I was blown away this morning reading a WSJ article about the sad state of LaGuardia Airport when this line popped up:

In Concourse B, home to Southwest, Spirit and JetBlue, there are deep cracks in the floor, the slats in the ceiling are catawampus in many places. Some fluorescent lights are dim, some flicker and others are burned out.

So I guess the term hasn't completely disappeared. It was great to see it in use.