words your grandparents used (quote)

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

I hear that a lot, especially when people are trying to avoid the word "disabled."

The current accepted phrase among social services professionals is "intellectual disability," although "developmental disability" / "developmentally disabled," or even "developmentally delayed" (especially in children), are still widely used.

Frankly, I think "developmental disabilities" is more accurate. I know an awful lot of people with "intellectual disabilities," but there's no organic reason for it; they're just thick in the head.

There's a shift in terminology, I'm estimating, every 20 years or so. Sometimes, things seem to change just because they can.

My aunt was born during the Depression and died in 1994. She had the intellectual capacity of a five-year-old. She didn't live to be reclassified as "developmentally disabled" or "challenged". She was mentally retarded her entire life.

[Cunucu Beach]

"reducing diet" - a concept greatly expanded in the last 50 years. Now most diets intended for weight reduction have names that specifically identify them e.g. "low carb", "Atkins", "Weight Watchers", "high fiber", etc.

"reducing salon" - small businesses that usually had a variety of machines that would roll you, shake you, massage you. There was no exercise involved and they didn't work.

[in_newengland]

I think in that old song, it goes on to explain it something like.......if the words seem ***** and funny to the ear just think--

Mares eat oats and Does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy.

(Of course we can't say ***** anymore and have it mean what it used to.)

[Cunucu Beach]

Originally Posted by in_newengland

I think in that old song, it goes on to explain it something like.......if the words seem ***** and funny to the ear just think--

Mares eat oats and Does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy.

(Of course we can't say ***** anymore and have it mean what it used to.)

Once a word gets "tainted" with political incorrectness, all is lost.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by skippercollector

I am asking about words or terms that your grandparents said that aren't used any more. I'm not talking about pre-1950s slang, just generic words.
I am 50 years old, so my grandparents and their siblings were born in the 1890s. My father's mother always used the word "grip" for "luggage" and my mother's mother always used the term "filling station" for "gas station." What words do you remember your family's older generations saying that you don't hear any more?

"Icebox" for refridgerator.

[glamatomic]

The Wireless

when referring to the Radio

[Cunucu Beach]

My aunt used to say "larrapin" (spelled phonetically), as in "a larrapin good time". I never have known what that word meant.

[Cunucu Beach]

"frock" - a dress

"tomboy" - don't hear this one so much anymore

[Cunucu Beach]

"coffee cake" - a little like sticky buns but in cake form and served with coffee. Were often served at women's club meetings along with coffee and tea.

[Cunucu Beach]

"juvenile delinquency" - 50-60 years ago this was touted as the country's worst problem. My, how far we have come.