Older generations have a treasure trove of phrases that often sound like they’re speaking another language to the uninitiated younger ears. From baffling metaphors to outdated references, these expressions can leave millennials and Gen Z scratching their heads. Here’s a list of 18 such phrases that might require a translator for anyone born after 1990.
“Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater”
Imagine the confusion when young people first hear this. No, it’s not about literal babies or bathwater but about caution and discernment. If you are accused of throwing the baby out with the bath water, they’re trying to tell you that in your haste to get rid of the bad parts of something, you’re also throwing out what’s good. Who knew cleaning could be so profound?
“The cat’s pajamas”
You’re not alone if you think this means a feline fashion show. In reality, it’s a term from the roaring ’20s that means something is cool or awesome. Merriam-Webster defines the slang as “a highly admired or exceptionally excellent person or thing.” Apparently, cats in pajamas were the peak of cool at one point.
“Close but no cigar”
It sounds like a health-conscious refusal, but it actually comes from old carnival games where cigars were prizes. It means you almost achieved your goal but didn’t quite make it. Sorry, no smokey treats for you!
“More than one way to skin a cat”
First off, no cats were harmed in the making of this idiom. It simply means there are several ways to achieve the same goal. Still, it’s a bit gruesome for a saying that could just as easily involve peeling potatoes.
“Burning the midnight oil”
Before the world was lit up 24/7, people used oil lamps to stay up late working. Grammarist says, “The first known use of the term midnight oil to mean ‘late night work’ comes from “Emblems,” a book written by Francis Quarles in 1635: ‘Wee spend our mid-day sweat, or mid-night oyle; Wee tyre the night in thought; the day in toyle.’” Now, it just means working late into the night, probably binge-watching a series or scrolling through memes.
“Don’t count your chickens before they hatch”
This is sage advice wrapped in farmyard logic, meaning don’t plan on benefits before they’re secure. It’s a reminder that eggs (like plans) can be fragile, and not all of them make it to chickenhood.
“Bite the bullet”
No, this isn’t about dental care for ammunition. It originally referred to patients biting on a bullet as a way to cope with pain during medical procedures without anesthesia. Now, it just means to face a tough situation bravely.
“Let the cat out of the bag”
Again, no cats were harmed in the writing of this article. This phrase does not concern actual cats or bags but refers to revealing a secret. It originates from a sneaky old market trick where pigs were sold in bags, and sometimes less valuable cats were swapped in.
“Mad as a hatter”
Thanks to mercury used in making hats in the 18th and 19th centuries, hatters often developed neurological diseases, appearing insane, according to Vanderbilt University. Now, it just means someone is completely crazy—no mercury required.
“It’s raining cats and dogs”
Yes, you still have to go to the shelter to get a new pup; pets are not falling from the sky. It’s just a colorful way to describe heavy rain. The origin is a bit murky but might relate to animals hiding in thatched roofs and being washed out during storms.
“Fit as a fiddle”
Don’t bring your violin to the gym; it doesn’t need to work out. It just means to be in good health. Apparently, keeping a fiddle in good condition is comparable to maintaining one’s fitness.
“Straight from the horse’s mouth”
This isn’t veterinary advice, but a phrase that means getting information directly from the most reliable source. It comes from horse racing, where tips on a horse’s condition would ideally come directly from the horse (if it could talk).
“Shoot the breeze”
Put your gun safety signs down. Shooting the breeze means having a casual conversation and has nothing to do with firearms or weather manipulation. It’s all about shooting the fat, which somehow doesn’t sound any clearer.
“Spill the beans”
Sorry, clumsy cooks, this isn’t about your notorious kitchen accidents but about revealing secret information. Reader’s Digest tells us that back in Ancient Greece, it was about voting; “White beans were used for positive votes, and for negative votes, black beans or other dark-colored beans were used. These votes were cast in secret, so if someone knocked over the beans in the jar—whether by accident or intentionally—they “spilled the beans” and revealed the results of the votes prematurely.”
“Cool as a cucumber”
It may sound like a great cocktail or spa treatment but this means to remain calm under pressure, not a salad ingredient’s temperature. Cucumbers stay cool to the touch, hence the comparison.
“Put a sock in it”
If you’re picturing a kidnapping with a sock in someone’s mouth, we are too, and it does mean to be quiet or stop talking, so the concept is there. However, it comes from a more innocent story of the days before remote controls, when people literally put a sock in the gramophone horn to lower the volume.
“Over the moon”
We wish it were about space travel, but unfortunately, it is about being extremely happy or pleased. It’s from the nursery rhyme where the cow jumped over the moon, which is a pretty high bar for happiness.
“Beat around the bush”
Not a method of aggressive gardening; this is a hunting reference. “In medieval times, hunters hired men to beat the area around bushes with sticks in order to flush out game taking cover underneath,” writes Ginger Software. Now we say it when someone is avoiding getting to the point or saying what they mean.
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