words your grandparents used (tense, money, quote)

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by Copanut

You never had a steelie?

No! There must a be a lot I don't know about marbles.

(Have I lost my marbles?)

[skippercollector]

1. "tide" in reference to the season: Christmastide, Yuletide, Passiontide
2. Candlemas, Feb. 2, was the presentation of Jesus in the temple, but it is also known as the halfway point of winter and we now call it Groundhog Day.
3. Michaelmas, Sept. 29, the feast of St. Michael the Archangel
4. two bits
5. Don't take any wooden nickels.

[Cunucu Beach]

"rake", "rapscallion", "knave", "bounder", "rotter", "cad", "cur", "dastard", "blackguard" - a scoundrel

"propositioned" - used in past tense and indicates an indecent suggestion to engage in immoral behavior as in "He propositioned me".

"damper" - noun: a movable plate for regulating the draft in a stove. When applied to a person, indicates someone who spoils the good mood, esp. at a party.

"killjoy" - see damper

"fuddy-duddy" - see killjoy

"stick-in-the-mud" - see fuddy-duddy

"tar", "salt" - a seafaring man

"doughboy" - a WWI soldier

[Ohiogirl81]

Sorry for being such a killjoy, but the ductwork for my furnace has dampers. So does the fireplace. What else would you call 'em?

Or am I one of those fuddy-duddies who clings to words that are now deemed old-fashioned by those hip and in the know?

[sskkc]

I gave my oldest child up for adoption. They named her Alyson, call her Ally.

My grandmother just about keeled over and got upset anytime she was mentioned.

It wasn't the adoption - it was the name. 'In her day'... you called a girl "Ally" when she was "loose" (CD won't let me say "s lut".

[Tracysherm]

Um,......no forget it

[Bette]

You all have had some good ones.

My grandmother used an expression all the time:

"A place for everything and everything in it's place!"

I remember them coming to visit and my grandfather would say "where's your icebox?" and we all looked at each other and said "I don't think we have one of those!!"

[Bayarea4]

Back in the day, it was a compliment to call someone "square." It meant that you were honorable, fair and that you could be relied upon to keep your word.

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by Bayarea4

Back in the day, it was a compliment to call someone "square." It meant that you were honorable, fair and that you could be relied upon to keep your word.

I never knew that. Like a square deal. When I was growing up it meant old fashioned and backwards--a bad thing. Our parents were hopelessly square. Meanings certainly do change!

[Mainer61]

Scarcer than hen's teeth

Busier than a one-armed paper hanger with hives