With the advent of the internet and social media many old sayings have fallen by the wayside, replaced by abbreviations (LOL and BTW and IMHO) or by emojis (😀👌👏💋).
Before they are completely lost, here are 30 once common everyday sayings that are worth remembering, if only for nostalgia's sake. How many can you recognize?
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| "Wait broke the wagon." |
Running to beat the band. Running ahead of everybody else. Running very fast.
Wait broke the wagon. Delay can lead to negative consequences or missed opportunities. Strike while the iron is hot.
For all the tea in China. You wouldn't do something no matter what you were offered in return. As in "I wouldn't take that bet for all the tea in China."
The apple of his/her eye. The teacher's pet or a personal favorite.
You can't put the toothpaste back in the tube. When something that is done cannot be undone. "What's done is done."
He's got a burr under his saddle. or She's got a bee in her bonnet. Meaning someone is irritated or agitated about something.
Don't get your panties in a bunch. Don't get too upset about something, especially something trivial.
Don't have a cow. Don't overreact to something.
In like Flynn. Describes someone getting what they want quickly, or on an inside track.
After a fashion. To a certain extent but imperfectly or unsatisfactorily. As in, "Can you play the piano?" "Well, yes -- after a fashion."
All hat 'n no cattle. A dig at someone who talks big but doesn't deliver -- a phony.
Like herding cats. Used to refer to a difficult or impossible task, typically an attempt to organize a group of people.
He/she doesn't have a pot to piss in or a door to throw it out. Someone destitute who may be trying to act otherwise.
The whole kit 'n caboodle. The entire collection or group. All of it, as in "everything but the kitchen sink".
We got him/her on the ropes. You've gained the upper hand. The person may be almost defeated, on his/her last legs or up against the wall.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Don’t be ungrateful for a gift, an offering or good fortune. Accept it while you can.
Go fly a kite or Go to blazes. A mild way of telling someone to go away, get lost or go to hell.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it. Accept what is said, even if you don't like it or find it unwelcome. Often used as a retort. Touché!
Make hay while the sun shines. Take advantage of opportunities while you can.
Put a sock in it. Shut up!
Like water off a duck’s back. Refers to criticism or trouble that doesn’t affect someone.
That’s a horse of a different color. Meaning something completely unrelated or unexpected.
Look what the cat dragged in. Expresses surprise or disapproval when someone arrives looking tired, messy, or generally unwell. As in: "OMG, where did he/she come from?!"
Cut a rug. Dancing.
As the crow flies. Refers to the shortest, most direct route between two points.
If the creek don't rise. As in "Lord willing and the creek don't rise," meaning if everything goes according to plan and nothing unforeseen prevents it.
Let sleeping dogs lie. Don’t stir up old trouble or reopen old wounds.
He’s got his tail between his legs. Used when someone is embarrassed or defeated. He/she is in retreat.
Cat got your tongue? Why aren't you speaking? Why are you so quiet?
Come hell or high water. It will be done no matter what, regardless of the difficulties or obstacles that may be in the way.
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