# "Aw, Nerts!" Antiquated Phrases You've Heard or Used **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 29, 2002, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286 "2002-04-29T14:07:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286/21 "2002-04-29T19:28:30Z")
And I totally made somebody’s day a couple of months ago by starting a Pit post, “Oh my stars and garters!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286/22 "2002-04-29T19:37:17Z")
I enjoy those prospector-style swear replacements like “dadgum it!” and “consarn it!” ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286/23 "2002-04-29T19:38:55Z")
Ike, I had never even THOUGHT of jay-walking orginating from there, but now it makes such perfect sense. Oh, I also like, “why, bless your little cotton socks!” ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286/24 "2002-04-29T19:46:03Z")
“Why, I hope I may never.” Translation: “I’ve never heard of such a thing.” “Oh, go on!” Translation: “I don’t believe you.” “Godfrey Daniels!” Translation: “God damn it!” “Drat!” ---
**Author:** ![\_your\_name\_here](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/919ad9/32.png) [@\_your\_name\_here](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_your_name_here)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286/25 "2002-04-29T20:12:51Z")
i guess it’s not old, but i say “quite” alot. i also enjoy saying “poo”. not old either, but hardly anyone says it. (ynh) ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286/26 "2002-04-29T20:18:49Z")
One phrase I use frequently is “Sheesh, Louise!” I am also fond of “Lordy Lou!” which I haven’t heard a whole lot of other people use. I like British exclamations. Although they’re not antiquated (at least in Britain), they’re not used here in the States much, but sometimes saying “Blimey” or “Crikey” just fits the situation. Other phrases that I use for comedic effect are “Hubba hubba” “Good night, nurse” and “Nuts and Phooey!” ---
**Author:** ![donnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@donnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donnat)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286/27 "2002-04-29T20:51:06Z")
geez louise jimminy christmas deadernadoornail (all one word) shazam shines like a diamond in a goats ass…(my personal fave) like buttuh Clever Hans: I live in Sweden these days…and your yumpin yiminy made my day…_S_ ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286/28 "2002-04-29T21:47:24Z")
“Oh rubbage.” (A wonderful variant of ‘rubbish’ which I picked up from Mark Twain) “Criminy!” ---
**Author:** ![Clever\_Hans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Clever\_Hans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clever_Hans)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286/29 "2002-04-29T22:30:15Z")
**donnat** as much as I would like to take the credig **Gundy** said it first. Besides, the joy you brought with the goat’s ass anecdote more than repays in my book. ---
**Author:** ![grendel72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/91b2a8/32.png) [@grendel72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grendel72)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286/30 "2002-04-29T22:35:25Z")
_“Love a duck!”_ is one of my favorites, from an old movie version of **Pygmalion**. Occasionally I’ll say the full line _“Love a duck! Me beads!”_ ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286/31 "2002-04-29T23:08:08Z")
it’s the bee’s knees! it’s the cat’s meow! it’s just swell! ---
**Author:** ![Nacho4Sara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Nacho4Sara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nacho4Sara)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286/32 "2002-04-29T23:15:29Z")
Many older ladies in Baltimore are fond of saying, **Go to war, Miss Molly!** to express shock or disbelief. I thought they were saying **Goada ward, Miss Molly** for the longest time, but once my dear grandma explained it, I started saying it a lot. Still do. I also like saying **Bee’s knees!** and **Criminy!** as exclaimations. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286/33 "2002-04-30T00:08:56Z")
It’s not too old, but the other night, upon witnessing the FIFTH kitten pop out of Miss Cleo, I exclaimed, “SHAZAM!” My daughter gave me quite a curious look . But SHE often says, “Geez Louise”. ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286/34 "2002-04-30T00:22:40Z")
I say “Shazam” as well, but with the Gomer Pyle inflection, so I doubt that counts. I’m fond of the overly long nigh-expletives. “Great Caesar’s Ghost!” and “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in Tinseltown!”, but sometimes something ridiculously sacreligious will just pop out involving a method of transportation, such as “Saint Peter on a skateboard!” or “Christ in a sidecar!” I think I’m just making some of these up, but they certainly _sound_ somewhat authentic… ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286/35 "2002-04-30T00:33:55Z")
I say “hunky dory” quite a bit. If it’s not antiquated, it should be. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286/36 "2002-04-30T01:56:30Z")
Now you guys are on the trolley! Personally, I really like the following phrase, used in context: _I like that song, but it totally sticks in my craw_. Colin ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286/37 "2002-04-30T02:31:00Z")
Does “hell fire and save matches” count, or is that my mother’s own invention? ---
**Author:** ![RobGraham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e8cbc/32.png) [@RobGraham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobGraham)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286/38 "2002-04-30T03:16:34Z")
I like to use the word ‘persnickety’ to describe folks who are a bit high maintenance. I’d like to find more opportunities to follow my Grandmother’s lead and use the word ‘splendid’ to describe daily events. Its a nice word. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286/39 "2002-04-30T04:18:01Z")
**Ike** said > [@](#): > > Although “jay-walker” is still in common use, derived from the the spectacle the poor bumpkin made rushing across the avenue flapping his arms and ducking between the horse-cars.) Now I know why they won’t let you replace **Jill** in **GQ** 😃 > **[Penguin Random House](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com?date=20000328)** > > Committed to publishing great books, connecting readers and authors globally, and spreading the love of reading. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286/40 "2002-04-30T04:27:37Z")
i’ve always said that things are “nifty” or “spiffy”. i spent my afterschool moments (and summertime too) at my grandmother’s house, so i’ve picked up a lot of stuff from her. it’s “tin foil” even though it’s been made of aluminum for god knows how long. if you’re looking for something and it’s right in front of you, she’ll say, “it’s knockin’ your eyes out!” i often say “dadgum it” or “consarn it”. i love “jeezum crow” and “jumpin jehosophat” and “great caesar’s ghost” (remember that episode of the old superman tv show where the editor said ‘great caesar’s ghost’ for the [insert however many times] and \*\* the ghost of caesar really appeared?! \*\* :eek: ). i make a point of using old slang. and actually, i’ve gotten a lot of people around me to use it too. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-nerts-antiquated-phrases-youve-heard-or-used/106286.md?page=3)