16 Phrases from the Past That Would Be Offensive Today
These outdated phrases were once common in everyday speech but are now recognized as offensive due to their racist, sexist, or ableist origins.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
Language reflects culture, and many phrases from the past reveal biases that were once socially accepted. Words once said casually are now seen as perpetuating harmful stereotypes or erasing painful histories. Recognizing these phrases helps us communicate more respectfully and consciously in today’s more inclusive society.
1. “Long time no see”
Cytonn Photography from Unsplash
This phrase mimics broken English and likely originates from mocking the speech patterns of Native Americans or Chinese immigrants. Though still used casually, it’s rooted in linguistic stereotyping. Today, it’s recognized as insensitive due to its mocking undertone.
2. “Sold down the river”
kazuend from Unsplash
Originally used to describe betrayal, the phrase comes from the practice of selling enslaved people down the Mississippi River to harsher plantations. Its everyday use erases the brutal context of slavery. It’s now considered deeply offensive due to its historical roots.
3. “No can do”
Anastasiya Badun from Unsplash
This phrase is a mocking imitation of Chinese immigrants’ limited English during the 19th century. It was commonly used to belittle non-native speakers. Modern awareness has led many to avoid it due to its racist connotation.
4. “Gypped”
Shlag from Unsplash
Used to mean being cheated, this term comes from the stereotype that Romani people (referred to as “Gypsies”) are untrustworthy. It perpetuates a harmful generalization about an already marginalized group. Today, it’s considered a racial slur in disguise.
5. “Call a spade a spade”
Emilie from Unsplash
While it originally meant speaking plainly, the term “spade” became a racial slur in the 20th century. Its dual meaning makes it problematic in modern contexts. People now avoid it to prevent racial offense.
6. “Indian giver”
Kira auf der Heide from Unsplash
This phrase implies someone who gives a gift and then takes it back. It misrepresents and stereotypes Native American gift-giving customs as dishonest. The term is now seen as both racist and historically inaccurate.
7. “Uppity”
Bewakoof.com Official from Unsplash
Once used to describe someone acting above their social station, it was often applied to Black people in a derogatory way during segregation. It implied that minorities should “know their place.” Its racialized usage makes it unacceptable today.
8. “Basket case”
ZACHARY STAINES from Unsplash
Originally used for soldiers who had lost all four limbs in World War I, the phrase has evolved to mean someone who is mentally unwell. It trivializes serious physical and mental health conditions. Today, it is viewed as ableist and insensitive.
9. “Peanut gallery”
Tom Hermans from Unsplash
Originally referring to the cheapest (and often rowdiest) section in a segregated theater, the phrase has racist undertones. It was frequently occupied by Black audiences during the Jim Crow era. Using it today can unwittingly invoke a history of racial exclusion.
10. “Paddy wagon”
Stephen Hui from Unsplash
This term referred to police vehicles used to transport prisoners, especially Irish immigrants. It stems from the stereotype that Irish people were prone to drunkenness and criminal behavior. It’s now considered an ethnic slur against the Irish.
11. “Hysterical”
Claudia Wolff from Unsplash
Derived from the Greek word for uterus, this word was historically used to dismiss women’s emotions as irrational. It reflected the sexist belief that women were emotionally unstable due to their biology. The term still carries sexist baggage today.
12. “Lame” (to mean uncool or boring)
Romain Virtuel from Unsplash
While widely used to mean something is boring or bad, it originated from describing people with physical disabilities. Using it as a negative term reinforces ableist attitudes. Many now avoid it out of respect for disabled communities.
13. “Moron”
AbsolutVision from Unsplash
This word was once a clinical term for intellectual disability but became a casual insult. Its history is rooted in eugenics and medical discrimination. It’s now seen as offensive and outdated.
14. “Grandfathered in”
JD Mason from Unsplash
This phrase comes from laws in the American South that allowed white voters to bypass literacy tests if their grandfathers had voted. It was a method of disenfranchising Black voters after the Civil War. The term carries racist historical baggage.
15. “Dutch courage”
Sérgio Alves Santos from Unsplash
Refers to false bravery gained from drinking alcohol and stems from anti-Dutch sentiment during wartime. It ridicules an entire nationality by tying it to drunkenness. It’s now seen as an unnecessary ethnic jab.
16. “Crippled”
Hans Moerman from Unsplash
Once a common term for people with physical disabilities, it’s now considered deeply offensive. The word reduces individuals to their impairments and lacks respect for person-first language. Today, it’s replaced with terms like “person with a disability.”