20 Phrases Your Parents Used That No One Says Anymore
From quirky expressions to old-school slang, our parents had a way with words that aren’t heard today.
- Chris Graciano
- 4 min read
Every generation has its own way of speaking, and the phrases our parents used are slowly fading into history. Some were meant to teach life lessons; others were just colorful ways of saying simple things, but all of them bring back memories. Here are 20 classic sayings your parents used that have all but disappeared from everyday conversation.
1. “Don’t touch that dial!”
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Before remotes were everywhere, changing the channel meant actually turning a dial on the TV. Parents would say this to keep you from flipping to another station.
2. “You sound like a broken record.”
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Used when someone kept repeating themselves, this phrase made perfect sense in the era of vinyl. A scratched record would play the same section over and over.
3. “Heavens to Betsy!”
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This is a dramatic way of expressing surprise, but who was Betsy? No one really knows. This old-fashioned exclamation has long since been replaced by simpler reactions like “Oh my God” or “Wow."
4. “Don’t let the bed bugs bite.”
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It is a way of saying goodnight, often followed by “sleep tight.” Originally, it referenced actual bed bugs, but today, we’d rather not think about that before sleeping.
5. “Hold your horses.”
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Meaning “be patient,” this phrase comes from a time when people actually had horses. Nowadays, no one is literally holding horses, and we just tell people to “calm down” instead.
6. “That’s the bee’s knees.”
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A way of saying something was fantastic, this phrase came from the 1920s and somehow survived into our parents’ generation. Bees do have knees, but why they were considered so great is anyone’s guess.
7. “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
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This was a warning about not investing all your hopes or money into one thing. If you dropped the basket, you lost all your eggs—a simple but effective imagery.
8. “I’m going to give you a knuckle sandwich.”
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A playful way of threatening a punch, this phrase sounds more like a deli order than an actual warning. It was mainly used jokingly between siblings or friends.
9. “If that don’t beat all!”
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An old-fashioned way of expressing disbelief, this phrase was a staple in many households. You might hear it in old movies, but it’s almost vanished from daily conversation.
10. “Quit your lollygagging.”
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Parents used this to tell kids to stop wasting time and get moving. It’s a fun word, but it’s fallen out of favor in modern speech.
11. “Don’t have a cow!”
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A dramatic way of telling someone not to overreact, this phrase was especially popular in the ’80s and ’90s. Bart Simpson helped keep it alive for a while, but it’s barely heard today.
12. “For Pete’s sake!”
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This phrase was a household staple for expressing frustration without using profanity. Pete’s identity remains a mystery until now.
13. “More than you can shake a stick at.”
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If you had more of something than you could count, this was the go-to phrase. The origins are unclear, but it sure made an impression.
14. “He’s got ants in his pants.”
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Used to describe someone who couldn’t sit still, this phrase painted a vivid picture. It was often said about restless kids in church or school.
15. “That’s a real humdinger!”
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If something was amazing or unexpected, it was a humdinger. Where did the word come from? No one has a clue.
16. “Burning the midnight oil.”
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This is a way of saying someone was staying up late to work or study. It comes from a time when people used oil lamps instead of electric lights.
17. “She’s got a hitch in her giddy-up.”
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If someone was walking funny or moving slowly, this phrase was a favorite. It’s a cowboy-era saying that somehow stuck around for decades.
18. “Hunky-dory.”
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Meaning “everything is fine,” this phrase had a fun, almost musical ring to it. It’s unclear where it originated, but it was a staple of casual conversation.
19. “In a coon’s age.”
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This was an old way of saying it had been a long time since something happened. The phrase has fallen out of use, partly because no one knows exactly how long a raccoon’s lifespan is.
20. “As happy as a clam.”
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Clams don’t show emotions, so why they were the gold standard for happiness is a mystery. Still, parents used this phrase to describe someone who was completely content.