12 Common Phrases That Have Completely Vanished
Everyday language is always changing, and some once-popular phrases have quietly faded into the past. What people used to say without thinking now sounds strange or completely unfamiliar. Exploring these lost expressions shows just how much words reflect the times.
- Tricia Quitales
- 3 min read
Language evolves with culture, and certain phrases that were once common have slowly disappeared from everyday speech. Whether due to changing technology, outdated references, or just shifts in communication style, many sayings no longer make sense to modern ears. Some might sound amusing or confusing today, even though they were once totally normal. Here are 12 phrases that were once everywhere but have now nearly vanished from conversation.
1. “Don’t touch that dial”
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This was a common reminder back when televisions and radios had physical knobs. People said it to keep others tuned in during commercial breaks. Now that everything is digital, the phrase no longer applies.
2. “Roll down the window”
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Car windows used to be lowered with a manual crank, not a button. Saying “roll down” made sense when you had to physically turn something. Today’s drivers rarely think about windows in those terms.
3. “Hang up the phone”
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Early phones had receivers that had to be placed on a hook to end a call. The phrase persisted for decades, even as technology evolved. With touchscreen smartphones, there’s nothing to actually hang up anymore.
4. “Dial a number”
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Rotary phones required users to spin a dial for each digit. That slow, clicking sound is long gone, but the word “dial” still lingers now and then. Most people today have never touched an actual phone dial.
5. “Put a sock in it”
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This phrase was meant to be quiet and originally referred to muffling the sound from early phonographs. It was once a sharp but common way to ask for silence. Now, it sounds outdated or even confusing to many.
6. “In like Flynn”
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This meant getting something easily or being very successful, often with charm. It came from 1940s actor Errol Flynn, who was known for his quick success with women and roles. Modern generations don’t recognize the reference at all.
7. “Don’t flip your wig”
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Telling someone not to flip their wig meant asking them to stay calm or not overreact. It came from a time when wigs were a trendy fashion item. Today, it sounds more like a joke than real advice.
8. “Carbon copy”
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Before email, people used carbon paper to make duplicates when writing letters or documents. Saying someone was a “carbon copy” meant they were an exact lookalike. Now, it’s mostly remembered through the “CC” line in emails.
9. “Know your onions”
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This quirky phrase meant someone was very knowledgeable about a subject. It was popular in the UK and parts of the US in the early 1900s. Today, it’s mostly forgotten or misunderstood.
10. “That’s the bee’s knees”
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This old phrase was used to say something was excellent or top-quality. It became popular during the Roaring Twenties as part of a wave of playful slang. Today, it’s mostly used for fun or to sound retro.
11. “You sound like a broken record”
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A broken vinyl record would repeat the same sound or phrase over and over. People used this saying to call out someone who kept repeating themselves. Now that streaming has replaced records for most people, the meaning is fading.
12. “Caught on tape”
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Back when video and audio were stored on magnetic tape, this phrase meant someone had solid proof of wrongdoing. It made headlines often in the 80s and 90s. With digital recordings everywhere now, few people mention “tape” at all.