LOST WORDS FROM OUR CHILDHOOD

[Karl S]

Mergatroyd! Do you remember that word? Would you believe the spell-checker did not recognize the word Mergatroyd? Heavens to Mergatroyd!

 

The other day a not so elderly (I say 75) lady said something to her son about driving a Jalopy; and he looked at her quizzically and said, "What the heck is a Jalopy?" He had never heard of the word jalopy! She knew she was old ... But not that old.

 

Well, I hope you are Hunky Dory after you read this and chuckle.

 

About a month ago, I illuminated some old expressions that have become obsolete because of the inexorable march of technology. These phrases included: Don't touch that dial, Carbon copy, You sound like a broken record, and Hung out to dry.

 

Back in the olden days we had a lot of moxie . We'd put on our best bib and tucker , to

straighten up and fly right.

 

Heavens to Betsy! Gee whillikers! Jumping Jehosofat! Holy Moley!

 

We were in like Flynn and living the life of Riley ; and even a regular guy couldn't accuse us of being a knucklehead, a nincompoop or a pill. Not for all the tea in China!

 

Back in the olden days, life used to be swell, but when's the last time anything was swell? Swell has gone the way of beehives, pageboys and the D.A.; of spats, knickers, fedoras, poodle skirts, saddle shoes, and pedal pushers.

 

Oh, my aching back! Kilroy was here, but he isn't anymore.

We wake up from what surely has been just a short nap, and before we can say, "Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle!"  Or, "This is a fine kettle of fish!" We discover that the words we grew up with, the words that seemed omnipresent, as oxygen, have vanished with scarcely a notice from our tongues and our pens and our keyboards.

 

Poof, go the words of our youth, the words we've left behind. We blink, and they're gone. Where have all those great phrases gone?

 

Long gone: Pshaw, The milkman did it. Hey! It's your nickel. Don't forget to pull the chain. Knee high to a grasshopper. Well, Fiddlesticks! Going like sixty. I'll see you in the funny papers. Don't take any wooden nickels. Wake up and smell the roses.

 

It turns out there are more of these lost words and expressions than Carter has liver pills. This can be disturbing stuff! (Carter's Little Liver Pills are gone too!)

 

Leaves us to wonder where Superman will find a phone booth...

 

See ya later, alligator! Okidoki.

 

You'll notice they left out "Monkey Business"!!!

 

WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE FABULOUS 50'S ... NO ONE WILL EVER HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY AGAIN .. WE WERE GIVEN ONE OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS GIFTS: LIVING IN THE PEACEFUL AND COMFORTABLE TIMES, CREATED FOR US BY THE "GREATEST GENERATION!"

[Rockytime]

Ah yes, the memories. I love them! Thank you for posting that.

[wombatie]

Still say quite a few of them, including Bloody Nora!

Marg

[John B]

Most of these are specific to the US, I do know almost all from movies and would you believe Donald Duck comics , but the great Australian sayings and unique expressions are also disappearing. I still am amazed when I have to explain something to my son or grandson, that I have heard and used all my life l.
I never actually new anybody really said swell, except for Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Mouse

[Fab4]

Hi Karl:
Good ones
After reading through this list 
Based on the first one
All I'm going to say is
EXIT, STAGE LEFT
Fab4

 

[danny]

Yepper ALL MEMORIES....  :+}

 

[RabidAlien]

Ah, yes...the fluidity and tidal surges of Language, even more interesting when compared between regional dialects.  American vs British vs Australian, for instance.

[amazingkevin]

Thanks for refreshing my memory!!!

[teachnlearn]

Kick back turn on the Hi Fi and listen to an Album. RJF

[Jim McDonald]

@JohnB , if you hit my knee, it WILL swell--but it will NOT be swell. 

[Jim McDonald]

Just in case you find a nervous looking Clark Kent, this is at the corner of 6th Avenue and 1st street in Huntington. WV.

Not much privacy, but any port in a storm.

[LarryEA]

What a great bunch of memories!!

Are these words ... Whoopsedo, upsedaisey

I may copy and share this

Many thanks

[kywoodmaster]

On 5/25/2020 at 11:05 PM, Jim McDonald said:

Just in case you find a nervous looking Clark Kent, this is at the corner of 6th Avenue and 1st street in Huntington. WV.

Not much privacy, but any port in a storm.

Hey what are you doing in my neck of the woods?

[Jim McDonald]

5 hours ago, kywoodmaster said:

Hey what are you doing in my neck of the woods?

Having the absolute best ham sandwich in the world at Cam's.