29 Outdated Words And Phrases Older People Use That Some Of Us Can't Digest Today

Someone once told me not to burn the midnight oil, leaving me confused because what's midnight oil, anyway? SMH.

Seniors and older people are full of secrets that you can't fully understand. The lives they've lived, or better put, their way of living, is completely different from how we live now.

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Things like "groove" and "break a leg" have transformed into "crunk," and before we know it, it'll be something else altogether.

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The first time my uncle told me not to "burn the midnight oil," I was confused. Wouldn't you be too?

We were talking about someone when, out of the blue, he asked me not to burn the midnight oil. Since he was staying with us for the holidays, I thought I was burning something in the night that irritated him.

Instead of asking him what he meant, I stopped lighting my candles at night, thinking that was probably what he meant. The next day, he said the same thing to one of our neighbors.

Instead of taking the hint, I asked him how our neighbor's midnight oil mattered to him. It's safe to say that, years later, my family still talks about it.

Not only did my uncle laugh his heart out, but my neighbors also had the time of their lives at my expense.

I was little. That was my excuse.

Anyway, here are 29 ancient words and phrases you might have heard that may have confused you too!

1. Frying wishes doesn't sound great.

1. Frying wishes doesn't sound great.u/SunRevolutionary8315
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2. Makes sense.

2. Makes sense.u/SunRevolutionary8315
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3. The visuals are traumatizing, though.

3. The visuals are traumatizing, though.u/SunRevolutionary8315

4. LOL.

4. LOL.u/SunRevolutionary8315

5. I've heard 'Geez Louise.'

5. I've heard 'Geez Louise.'u/SunRevolutionary8315

6. That's horse feathers.

6. That's horse feathers.u/SunRevolutionary8315

7. That's weird.

7. That's weird.u/SunRevolutionary8315

8. Well, it sounds gentlemanly.

8. Well, it sounds gentlemanly.u/SunRevolutionary8315

9. It means for sure my ...

9. It means for sure my ... u/SunRevolutionary8315

10. ROFL.

10. ROFL.u/SunRevolutionary8315

11. That's cute!

11. That's cute!u/SunRevolutionary8315

12. What is this supposed to mean? I mean, I get I'm the pencil, I guess.

12. What is this supposed to mean? I mean, I get I'm the pencil, I guess.u/SunRevolutionary8315

13. I've heard a few people say that too.

13. I've heard a few people say that too.u/SunRevolutionary8315

14. I say cool beans. Wow, I'm old.

14. I say cool beans. Wow, I'm old.u/SunRevolutionary8315

15. Aww, cute!

15. Aww, cute!u/SunRevolutionary8315

16. How is this even possible? I can't even visualize it.

16. How is this even possible? I can't even visualize it.u/SunRevolutionary8315

17. Still better than 'Whazaaaap!'

17. Still better than 'Whazaaaap!'u/SunRevolutionary8315

18. That's what we call the Generation Gap.

18. That's what we call the Generation Gap.u/SunRevolutionary8315

19. You're not alone.

19. You're not alone.u/SunRevolutionary8315

20. Never heard this, but oh well.

20. Never heard this, but oh well.u/SunRevolutionary8315

21. No sir, I most certainly can't.

21. No sir, I most certainly can't.u/SunRevolutionary8315

22. That's a tough gentleman.

22. That's a tough gentleman.u/SunRevolutionary8315

23. Oh boy, this brought back lots of memories.

23. Oh boy, this brought back lots of memories.u/SunRevolutionary8315

24. It is kind of cute.

24. It is kind of cute.u/SunRevolutionary8315

25. I guess this meant 'Not my problem.'

25. I guess this meant 'Not my problem.'u/SunRevolutionary8315

26. Didn't Sheldon use this in an episode of The Big Bang Theory? I could be wrong.

26. Didn't Sheldon use this in an episode of The Big Bang Theory? I could be wrong.u/SunRevolutionary8315

27. Um.

27. Um.u/SunRevolutionary8315

28. Well, ice cream does turn me on, to be honest.

28. Well, ice cream does turn me on, to be honest.u/SunRevolutionary8315

29. That's an epic phrase we should all adopt.

29. That's an epic phrase we should all adopt.u/SunRevolutionary8315

In Summary...

The generation gap is so evident in these archaic phrases and words, don't you agree? I bet things we say today won't make sense a few decades in the future too.

I'm curious to know what the future will sound like, honestly. Seeing that we use half-normal words today, I think a few decades later, people will probably talk in digits.

Things like, 'I'll be right back' became 'be right back.'

But that's only when you're asking someone in person. If you're texting, it's 'BRB.' Maybe the future generation will talk in acronyms.

Truth be told, I'd rather travel back in time when language made more sense than learn acronyms.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments!

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