11 Phrases People Used to Say That No One Understands Now
These old-school phrases once made perfect sense, but now, they just leave people confused.
- Daisy Montero
- 3 min read
Some phrases were once a staple of conversation, tossed around like common slang. Fast forward a few decades, and they sound like riddles from a forgotten era. This list unpacks expressions that have faded from everyday use, leaving younger generations scratching their heads. You might’ve heard a few from grandparents, but chances are, you never really knew what they meant.
1. “Get on the Horn”
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This phrase meant to make a phone call, especially during the days of rotary phones. To younger ears, it might sound like you’re about to shout through a megaphone. The charm is vintage, but the meaning’s long gone.
2. “Drop a Dime”
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Originally about making a payphone call with a dime, this one morphed into slang for snitching. Most folks today have never touched a payphone, let alone dropped a coin in one.
3. “Carbon Copy”
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Before CC meant an email function, it was a literal copy made using carbon paper. The phrase stuck, but its origin faded into the typewriter dust.
4. “Don’t Take Any Alarm Clock on Table”
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This quirky warning meant “stay out of trouble,” but to someone today, it sounds more like advice from a cartoon cowboy than a real-life caution.
5. “Riding Shotgun”
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It means sitting in the passenger seat now, but its roots go back to stagecoach days when someone literally sat beside the driver with a gun in hand. It’s a cool history, but it’s a confusing phrase.
6. “Dressed to the Nines”
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This meant someone looked incredibly sharp, but ask anyone under 30 what it means, and you’ll get a blank stare—or a math guess.
7. “Don’t Touch That Dial”
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Used during TV and radio broadcasts, this phrase told you not to change the channel. In the age of touchscreens and remotes, dials are a thing of the past.
8. “Extra! Extra! Read All About It!”
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It once echoed through city streets as newspaper hawkers shouted for attention. Now, it sounds more like the start of a movie flashback than anything real.
9. “I’ll Pencil You In”
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Before calendar apps ruled the world, this meant you were tentatively scheduled. Today’s generation just wonders why you’re using a pencil at all.
10. “Sound Like a Broken Record”
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This insult refers to a scratch on a vinyl that causes it to repeat. It means someone kept saying the same thing. For those raised on streaming, it’s a total mystery.
11. “I’ll Call You on the Flip Side”
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A laid-back way to say goodbye, often referencing flipping over a vinyl or tape. Nowadays, it just leaves people wondering what side you’re flipping.