Not Fade Away
The other day, I picked up a copy of the AARP Bulletin. (And yes, it is delivered to my home.) I roll my eyes when it arrives, but occasionally, nestled among articles about healthcare and egregious injustices done to older Americans, there’s some lighthearted content.
The cover of this particular issue promoted a piece titled “Beam Me Up Scotty! And 49 other phrases that refuse to die.” Flipping to it, I came upon a smorgasbord of wonderful expressions.
I chuckled over “Big cheese,” as in “He thinks he’s such a big cheese.” I mused over “Sound like a broken record,” which has particular poignancy for those who had monster collections of vinyl. And I thought about how young women of yore wanted to have a “full dance card.” These expressions fire up memory, imagination, and curiosity about what life was like in the olden days. They invite time travel, if only through old novels and vintage flicks.
Each era abounds in expressions that are wonderfully evocative, and, thank goodness, many of them hang around for generations. I look forward to saying “Groovy” or “What a bummer” well into my dotage and passing it along.
(The title of this post, by the way, is shamelessly cribbed from “Not Fade Away,” that fabulous tune recorded by Buddy Holly, the Dead, and my fave bad boys of all time, the Stones.)
Andre says
My favorite that is used constantly even when it isn’t relevant any more is the use of the word “dial” as in “I’ll dial in to listen on that conference call.” One day I want a cell phone with a rotary dial just for the juxtaposition of concepts. I’m sure I’ll be the only one with it.
The funny thing about these words and phrases that have come and gone is that today’s hyper-extended-thumbed youths have their own language that will some day become passé too. LOL! : )
Andre