# Phrases that don't mean what they used to **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 31, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862 "2011-05-31T16:42:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862/21 "2011-06-02T00:59:04Z")
I heard a pretty cool piece on NPR the other day about the phrase describing one apple’s ability to spoil the whole bunch. Originally, the expression went that one apple _could_ could ruin the entire bunch, as it once referred literal spoiled apples. Later, as the phrase became more figurative, its antithesis gained popularity and now we more often hear about one bad apple not being able to spoil the whole bunch. So this may not exactly what the OP is calling for, but close enough. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862/22 "2011-06-02T02:34:29Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Later, as the phrase became more figurative, its antithesis gained popularity and now **we more often hear** about one bad apple not being able to spoil the whole bunch. (emphasis mine). Do you have any links to popular usages in this manner? I don’t recall ever hearing in this context. To me, one bad apple will still almost always spoil the bunch. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862/23 "2011-06-02T03:04:17Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > 😕 Is that a common phrase where you come from?! Yeah, I’ve never heard that one before either. ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862/24 "2011-06-02T03:52:27Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Yeah, I’ve never heard that one before either. Actually, I was referring to a sentence out of an old novel I read once (no cite.) Remembering it, I was struck by how modern technology made that scene look almost ridiculous today (modern telephones being pretty poor weapons,) and inspired me to look for other examples. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862/25 "2011-06-02T06:54:29Z")
The “Tea Party” used to be the one in Boston in 1773. ---
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862/26 "2011-06-02T09:17:32Z")
“of all time” writers used to write this referring to past, present and future. now it’s past to present. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862/27 "2011-06-02T11:18:52Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > (emphasis mine). Do you have any links to popular usages in this manner? I don’t recall ever hearing in this context. To me, one bad apple will still almost always spoil the bunch. [Yes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQV2OZDC_FI). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862/28 "2011-06-02T12:52:16Z")
Inconceivable! ---
**Author:** ![Rala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@Rala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rala)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862/29 "2011-06-02T14:21:50Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > _Making love_ used to mean _act charmingly toward_, not engage in coitus. I recall being mildly surprised when a little girl in the Chronicles of Narnia was described as “making love” to everyone in the castle of the giants. I had the same reaction when I read about Anne Shirley and her friend Leslie lying on the floor “making love” to Anne’s baby son in _Anne’s House of Dreams_. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862/30 "2011-06-02T14:44:04Z")
“Don’t touch that dial!” The what, now? ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862/31 "2011-06-02T15:12:44Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > “Don’t touch that dial!” > > The what, now? Referring to TV sets, but also referring back to telephone anachronisms. Millions of people still call themselves “dialing a number” every day. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862/32 "2011-06-02T16:00:23Z")
> [@AtomicDog](#): > > Millions of people still call themselves “dialing a number” every day. That’s what originally inspired me to post. Neither phones nor TVs have dials anymore. And we still “hang up” phones. On what? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862/33 "2011-06-02T16:05:28Z")
Yes, he was making love to me, but there was nothing improper about our intercourse," use to mean “He was wooing me, but there was nothing improper in our conversation.” ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862/34 "2011-06-02T16:08:57Z")
> [@AtomicDog](#): > > Actually, I was referring to a sentence out of an old novel I read once (no cite.) > > Remembering it, I was struck by how modern technology made that scene look almost ridiculous today (modern telephones being pretty poor weapons,) and inspired me to look for other examples. Wouldn’t it still hurt, though? Not a little cell phone but a landline. They’re smaller, too, but I wouldn’t like it if someone threw a landline phone at me. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862/35 "2011-06-02T16:31:43Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Yes, he was making love to me, but there was nothing improper about our intercourse," , she ejaculated. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862/36 "2011-06-02T16:42:51Z")
“Mailing it in”. It used to mean not going to very much effort. But nowadays finding a stamp, writing something on a piece of paper, sealing it in an envelope, and walking all the way to the mailbox sounds like a lot of work. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862/37 "2011-06-02T16:58:33Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > “Mailing it in”. I’ve never heard that phrase before. I’ve heard “phoning it in”, which sounds nearly as archaic. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862/38 "2011-06-02T17:18:16Z")
> [@YaraMateo](#): > > I’ve never heard the first one, except on a tv show. I’m going to say “Hazel.” ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862/39 "2011-06-02T17:18:42Z")
I’ve also never heard of “mailing it in”, but “phoning it in” is still in use. It means “this person didn’t even bother to do this in person”. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862/40 "2011-06-02T17:24:46Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I’ve also never heard of “mailing it in”, but “phoning it in” is still in use. It means “this person didn’t even bother to do this in person”. I’ve heard it used more in performing arts. “The actors put on an electrifying performance, but Keanu Reeves was just phoning it in.” That doesn’t mean that he didn’t bother to show up, rather that his performance was little more than reading the lines. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-dont-mean-what-they-used-to/583862.md?page=3)