# Grandpa, what does "wind up a watch" mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 20, 2005, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080 "2005-10-20T14:42:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/1 "2005-10-20T14:42:38Z")
Inspired by this quote from an old Bloom County episode, at work we’re compiling a list of phrases kids these days won’t understand or whose original meaning is lost - phrases describing some action or process obsoleted by newer technology - wind up a watch - refill the inkwell, replace the blotter - adjust the rabbit ears - “dial” the telephone - driving goggles - wait for the vaccuum tubes to warm up - insert Disk 47 into drive A: ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/2 "2005-10-20T14:55:44Z")
> [@Nature's Call](#): > > - “dial” the telephone I say this for pushing buttons on the touch-tone phone. Doesn’t everyone? I’ll add some more: the Johnny Carson show Soviet Union(I teach; many students haven’t heard of this) West and East Germany(same as above) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/3 "2005-10-20T14:55:49Z")
Actually… I _do_ have to wind my watches. I keep four on the winder, so those are okay. But if I go about a day and a half without wearing the one that’s _not_ on the winder I have to wind it with the stem. And yes, I do fill my pen from an ink bottle. ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/4 "2005-10-20T15:01:18Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I say this for pushing buttons on the touch-tone phone. Doesn’t everyone? True, which is why the “quotes” - and the "or whose original meaning is lost " in the OP. It’s admittedly not the best example, though. But kids & I were window shopping in an antique store and saw an rotary phone. My 12 year old was amazed. He never grokked why the word “dial” was used when operating a phone. > [@](#): > > the Johnny Carson show > Soviet Union(I teach; many students haven’t heard of this) > West and East Germany(same as above) Excellent. ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/5 "2005-10-20T15:02:27Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] Actually… [QUOTE] The list is not to say the technologies are no longer existent - just the reaction of a kid’s encounter with it is, “hunh?” ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/6 "2005-10-20T15:03:29Z")
Sheesh… how 'bout “What’s a preview button?” for us fogies… ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/7 "2005-10-20T15:03:40Z")
> [@Nature's Call](#): > > True, which is why the “quotes” - and the "or whose original meaning is lost " in the OP. It’s admittedly not the best example, though. But kids & I were window shopping in an antique store and saw an rotary phone. My 12 year old was amazed. He never grokked why the word “dial” was used when operating a phone. Enough already. You sound like a broken record. ---
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/8 "2005-10-20T15:06:47Z")
“Go outside and play until it’s time for dinner” (vs. Play Station, etc.) “It’s Friday afternoon, I need to go to the bank and write a check for cash for the weekend” (vs. ATM) “Go to the library and do some research for your term paper” (vs. online sites) “Don’t stack too many records on the turntable at once, they’ll warp” (vs. I-Pod) “Those TV dinners should be ready in an hour or so” (vs. microwave food) ---
**Author:** ![keeper0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@keeper0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keeper0)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/9 "2005-10-20T15:39:27Z")
“Son, I keep trying to talk to you but all you give me is a busy signal” “Dad, what’s a busy signal?” “Here’s a quarter, call someone who cares.” “Dad, what does a quarter have to do with a telephone call?” “Son, rewind that DVD before you return it.” “Wow, I know that like I know my multiplication tables.” “Dad, what’s a multiplication table?” ---
**Author:** ![Leviosaurus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Leviosaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leviosaurus)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/10 "2005-10-20T15:49:01Z")
> [@beckwall](#): > > “Don’t stack too many records on the turntable at once, they’ll warp” You know, I’d actually forgotten that one. 😃 Wow that brings back memories. “Don’t dance so hard! You’ll make the record skip!” ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/11 "2005-10-20T15:53:42Z")
> [@Leviosaurus](#): > > You know, I’d actually forgotten that one. 😃 Wow that brings back memories. “Don’t dance so hard! You’ll make the record skip!” Reminds me of, “Don’t you hate when the program changes mid guitar solo?” closely followed by “Daddy, what’s an 8-track?” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/12 "2005-10-20T16:05:47Z")
It occured to me lately that calling someone and then asking where they are is no longer a hilariously stupid question. ---
**Author:** ![Leviosaurus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Leviosaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leviosaurus)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/13 "2005-10-20T16:12:45Z")
> [@Nature's Call](#): > > Reminds me of, “Don’t you hate when the program changes mid guitar solo?” closely followed by “Daddy, what’s an 8-track?” I remember I had a procedure in high school - the minute I bought a record, I would copy it to cassette tape, play the cassette until it fell apart, then make a new one. This inevitably led to creating “Mix Tapes”. I miss mix tapes. My friends and I would make them for each other, critique them. if I liked a girl, a good gift was alsways a mix tape. Putting together a song list burning it to CD just isn’t the same. It doesn’t require the hours of attention that you knew went into the creation of a really good mix tape. The mix tape is a dead pastime. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/14 "2005-10-20T16:27:58Z")
Formatting diskettes. They still know what diskettes are, though… Driving a stick. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/15 "2005-10-20T16:28:44Z")
“Be kind, please rewind” My nephews were visiting and I told them how I could make popcorn on the stove top in a pot with a little oil. They didn’t believe me since all they’ve known is microwave popcorn or the old fashioned hot-air popper. They were amazed. Try telling kids how movies worked back in the 70s. Blockbusters remained in the theatre for almost a year. Once they were gone they were gone. If you were lucky maybe they would show them on TV a few years later. No DVDs or VHS meant no home movies period. ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/16 "2005-10-20T16:33:38Z")
> [@Leviosaurus](#): > > The mix tape is a dead pastime. Yes! Or “taping songs of the radio” Or “splicing a tape” ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/17 "2005-10-20T16:34:40Z")
> [@Nature's Call](#): > > Yes! Or “taping songs of the radio” Or “splicing a tape” I forgot to add “Shhhh… I’m recording!” ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/18 "2005-10-20T16:43:38Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > It occured to me lately that calling someone and then asking where they are is no longer a hilariously stupid question. I’ve heard this commented on before, from the opposite angle: _When I was a lad, we had to call a building, and hope the person we wanted was inside_ In the same vein, petrol-powered cars will be what steam trains are to us. I suspect there’s plenty of kids who’ve never knowingly encountered a dial-up modem, and for whom 56k would be a strange beast. In the museum I volunteer in, we regularly have to explain to primary-school groups how a record player functions. That they can actually see and feel the grooves which make the sound is a real novelty. Another one which would get a ‘huh?’ from that generation would be the idea of going to a travel agent just to buy a plane ticket. I’ve only ever done this once. For 20 minutes. In 1998. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/19 "2005-10-20T16:56:47Z")
UHF/VHF Friuts and vegetables being “out of season” and thus “unavailable” Letters Good customer service ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080/20 "2005-10-20T17:04:00Z")
**Booting** from a floppy. Modem screeches ("…there was a time before broadband…") Pressing hard when signing your MasterCharge or BankAmeriCard slip so your sig would go through the carbons. This was after they ran the little brick-thing chunka-chunka back and forth over the raised numbers to make them imprint on the form. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandpa-what-does-wind-up-a-watch-mean/327080.md?page=2)