They Say Em' From the Golden Era - Slang & Memorable Phrases

[funneman]

So does anyone answer the Don Ameche?

"..ona counta because I couldn't raise ya on the Alexander."

 

[MikeBravo]

Could be worse

In upstate New York, they refer to it as the 'basement'! I hadn't a clue what they were referring to! In England it's the 'bog' or the 'loo'! I don't care for this trend that is now starting, referring to it simply as the 'toilet'. I saw signs in the terminal at DFW recently; 'Toilet'. That's a bit crase for a public venue me thinks.

-dixon cannon

In Australia always beencalled the toilet. Better than "the *bleep*" lol

 

[Feraud]

Would it be giving away too much from my childhood to say I was always threatened with, "a good shellacin'. Got it usually too..

 

[funneman]

My mom used to say...

-He's tighter than Dick's hat band.

-I didn't know him from Adam.

-You put a hand on me and you'll draw back a bloody nub.

 

[Zig2k143]

That's a Dossie!!!

 

[RondoHatton]

Response to: "How Ya Doin?"...

(Answer) Fair to middlin' - keepin the forked end down - whatta you know that you're willing to tell?
...As a kid my father would call me Skeezix - "Hey, Skeezix!".
...Dick Lane's awe-struck "Woah, Nellie!"

 

[Jack Scorpion]

"Search me."

"Now that's just fine." Or is that just a Jimmy Stewart thing?

"On the level."

"Tight," meaning drunk.

 

[The Wolf]

I believe Skeezix comes from the Gasoline Alley comic strip. Not that you asked.lol

Sincerely,
the Wolf

 

[dhermann1]

When I was in elementary school in western New York State, we called the bathrooms "the basement" because that's where they were. Maybe that was a standard construction practice in turn of the century schools?????
Also, when I was a kid, in the e 50's, the old geezers (lie in their 70's) referred to your bike as your "wheel".
A WWII phrase my mother used all the time was "Is this trip necessary?"
My grandmother used to say "That and a nickel will get you a cup of coffee", in response to any statement she wasn't impressed with. Shows you how long ago she started buying coffee.
The term "loo" for bathroom comes from the old French phrase "Gardez l'eau". In pre plumbing days, people would empty their chamber pots right out the window (one of many reasons to be glad we live in the current era) and shout that phrase, which means "look out for the water". It became "Gardey loo" eventually. Finally the word loo came to refer to the bathroom.
Any of you youngens not know what a chamber pot is? Be glad.

 

[Joie DeVive]

Describing drunkenness: 3 sheets to the wind.

And when describing the size of something: "Yay big" (showing size with hands)
I had to explain that one to a roomful of confused 3rd grade students once! lol

 

[Prof Branestawm]

In upstate New York, they refer to it as the 'basement'! I hadn't a clue what they were referring to! In England it's the 'bog' or the 'loo'! I don't care for this trend that is now starting, referring to it simply as the 'toilet'. I saw signs in the terminal at DFW recently; 'Toilet'. That's a bit crase for a public venue me thinks.

-dixon cannon

I've not heard a W.C. called a 'bog' for ages; I think it might be a schoolboy word. 'Loo' is more common, but both are more characteristically 'working class' words in England than 'lavatory' or 'toilet'.

Since both 'lavatory' and 'toilet' are places/processes of washing rather than defecation, neither is really crass - they're both euphemisms. And they sound less prissy and contrived than the standard American 'bathroom'/'washroom' or, worse, 'little boy's room'.

 

[Prof Branestawm]

The term "loo" for bathroom comes from the old French phrase "Gardez l'eau". In pre plumbing days, people would empty their chamber pots right out the window (one of many reasons to be glad we live in the current era) and shout that phrase, which means "look out for the water". It became "Gardey loo" eventually. Finally the word loo came to refer to the bathroom.
Any of you youngens not know what a chamber pot is? Be glad.

While that derevation makes sense, the OED believes that the term 'loo' is somehow derived from 'lavatory' or from 'Waterloo' (station) as slang for Water Closet (W.C.).

 

[Dixon Cannon]

That's a Dossie!!!

This one is in reference the the Dusenberg automobile, which was considered the standard of luxury in it's day! "What a Dussie!", was a high compliment.

-dixon cannon

 

[CharlieH.]

A few more that came to mind -

Well, whaddya know...
Something's rotten in Denmark...
Get wise to (blank)
Ain't I a stinker?
I'll knock him colder'na wet mackerel!
YOWSAH!
How d'ya like dat...

 

[JazzBaby]

My gran was born in the countryside, so she has some great expressions. For example, when someone is particularly dishevilled: "You're like an ass looking over a half-door." For clarification purposes, ass as in donkey...

 

[Zig2k143]

This one is in reference the the Dusenberg automobile, which was considered the standard of luxury in it's day! "What a Dussie!", was a high compliment.

-dixon cannon

I actually knew this... Although I spelt it wrong.... I am a trivia geek but I suck at spelling.

 

[dhermann1]

When my mother was a Welfare worker in rural Chautauqua County, NY in the late 50's she heard an old farm lady say that she wore her shoes "to meeting, to market and to mill". Very quaint.

 

[Dixon Cannon]

... suck at spelling.

Suck. Now that is an old expression from ...... well, nevermind! We'll forget that one, shall we! :eusa_doh:

-dixon cannon

 

[MoxieGrl]

How about "It's cold enough to slaughter a hog in here!".
There's another one with a nun in it that my grandma always used to say, but I can't remember it right now.
-Stormi

 

[Parallel Guy]

"There's frost on the pumpkin," was one of my grandfather's favorites. I've always liked mutts as in, "All right ya mutts, listen up."