Words and Sayings of Our Youth
By Tom Morrow
“Poof” go the words of our youth — the words we’ve left behind. We blink, and they’re gone along with the years of our lives.
Where have all those great 1940s and ‘50s words and phrases gone? Words like: “Pshaw” (pronounced “shaw,”) “Shoot a bug.” “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.”
If you remember those, you’re probably drawing Social Security.” Here are a few translations to those above:
“The milkman did it” – a sudden or unexpected pregnancy in the family or neighborhood.
“Be sure to pull the chain” – in the first half of the 20th century, many toilets were configured with the water tank high above the stool. The flush was accomplished by putting on a chain from the tank.
“Going like sixty” – working at a fast pace.
“Pshaw” and “Shoot a bug” – expression of disappointment (darn it).
“I’ll see you in the funny papers,” or “Don’t take any wooden nickels.” – a departing expression for farewell.
The others are rather self-explanatory.
It turns out there are more of these lost words and expressions than Carter has liver pills. This can be disturbing stuff! By the way, I think “Carter’s Little Liver Pills” are gone as well.
All of this leaves us to wonder where Superman now will find a phone booth? Got it?
That’s all for this week. Okidoki? (Okay, or, depending upon what part of the country you were from: “Oki-ma-doki?”
SCAG SEZ – “Had to think a bit for the answer when my granddaughter asked me if dog catchers get paid by the pound.” – Cecil Scaglione, Mature Life Features
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