Terms Which Have Disappeared

Hm ... growing up, I was told a tale about the origin of the term "honky" that is (most likely) not the same as what LizzyMaine claims

 

Would that account be suitable for a family-friendly (hah!) forum such as this?

If so, well, enquiring minds want to know.

 

Not all that bad but pretty darn racist

 

No one seems to say presently when they mean soon. Which is understandable, as it sounds like a word for immediately. ha.

Also, I don't hear people say Fair to middlin for okay - that one comes from my mom who was born in Missouri in 1946 but moved to So Cal at about age 10. She used it throughout my childhood, but I haven't heard it from her (or anyone) in the last couple decades.

 

Fair to middlin is still used, by and large, by the older generations here. It's a lighthearted response to: "How's you?"
Can't say that I've heard, "Cat caught your tongue," in a while.

 

^^^^^
Either of those phrases as spoken by people younger than 80 (at least) would likely sound affected to my ears.

Which I to say I heard those phrases uttered by people my grandparents’ ages, and people of their era are almost entirely gone now. The youngest were born well more than a century ago.

 

This one is very situational. I'd say that I still hear it pretty regular when the occasion calls for something of the sort. I don't hear it often, but I attribute that solely to rarity of the circumstances in which it would be said.

 

I say it to our Siamese cat every now and then. Siamese cats are usually very vocal... but not this one. My wife and I also use it with our granddaughters when the situation calls for it.

 

One phrase that I have not heard in the last 15 years or so is something needing "a woman's touch"; meaning needing the input of feminine style or taste. Most likely due to the blatant sexism that it implies in this day and age.

Also, I don't hear "People will talk" or "Let 'em talk" referring to doing something that can be perceived as inappropriate or scandalous. People tweet, post, blog, etc.; they seldom just talk anymore.

 

I've always understood the show-biz application of the word "drop" to mean "discontinue" or "cancel," as in "NBC Drops Two From Saturday Lineup" But now, it has apparently changed to mean precisely the opposite: to release, not cancel -- "Hulu Drops Two New Shows Tonight"

Since when? And why?

 

Its one of those weird things where it means 2 completely different things depending on the context, and both are still pretty commonly used.

Most recently, Taylor Swift dropped a new album, but many theatres dropped the newest Xmen movie. Taylor Swift released a new album, but the theatres removed the movie. Same word, opposite meaning. English is a fun language.

 

The English language is plain wacky. You can completely change the meaning of the sentence "She loved him." depending on where you place the word "only."

 

You don't hear: "A picture is worth a thousand words," said very much at all. It might still be used at training sessions for would be sales people. It's where I came across it. I started out working for a large conglomerate, as part of my management training program I was put to work in various departments.

In forums like this, social media and comments sections, the written word is just that, it has no nuance, eye contact, body language. Wherever I can, I will emphasise a post with a picture, it goes a long way and helps avoid the unintentional spat.

In the UK we used to use the term: "Penny wise, pound foolish," for a spendthrift. I guess it's not an expression that lends itself to other currencies. Has anyone heard the saying: "A penny saved, is a penny earned?"

 

Yes, have heard and used all of them.

 

In rebuttal to "A picture is worth a thousand words," writers used to say "Draw me a picture of the Gettysburg Address."

 

Technically a picture of Lincoln giving the Getty’s bird a dress does exist.

As I recall, it came from the old Photoshop contest site, Worth1000, coincidently enough.

 

that's funnier than it should be

 

Lincoln at the time believed that his remarks had fallen flat compared to those of the keynote speaker, Edward Everett .

Everett saw it differently: "I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes."