Things change, and words do too. Many expressions that were once popular – now sound old-fashioned to younger generations. Millennials find certain sayings outdated and even a bit cringy. These phrases might remind older folks of their youth, but to Millennials, they feel awkward and out of touch. Here are eight common expressions that Millennials think should be left in the past.
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“Burning The Midnight Oil”
This phrase means staying up late to work on something. This is from a time when people worked by the light of oil lamps at night. Millennials don’t have that image in mind. They’re more likely to say — ‘pulling an all-nighter’ or just ‘working late’ — because it makes more sense to people today.
“Take A Chill Pill”
This was common slang in the 1980s and ’90s, but to a Millennial, it sounds super-dated and cheesy. A Millennial would most likely just respond with – ‘Relax’ or ‘Calm down.’ Or perhaps something more entertaining like – ‘Take a breather’ or they’d probably just send a hilarious meme.
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“Cool Beans”
This once used to indicate that something was awesome and impressive. But now the expression feels awkward and contrived – a bit quaint. For millennials, it sounds a bit silly. Better to opt for a simpler word like – ‘cool’, ‘awesome’ or even ‘great’. It sounds more natural.
“What’s the 411?”
This expression used to mean asking for information, as people would dial 411 to get details. Today, Millennials are more likely to say – ‘What’s the news?’ or ask ‘What’s up?’ because to the Net Generation it seems more in tune with how they receive information nowadays – instantly, online.
“Don’t Touch That Dial”
This phrase reminds us of TVs and radios that had a dial for changing the channel. With digital technology now being the primary way to use all of these devices — most millennials think this phrase is better suited for a different era. Using “Tune in” is the most common replacement. The next generation would also be likely to use the phrase – ‘stay tuned’ or ‘don’t go anywhere.’
“The Bee’s Knees”
This is an archaic phrase meaning ‘great’ or ‘the best of its kind.’ It became popular in the 1920s, but now it feels like a relic of the past. Millennials prefer saying “amazing” or “fantastic” — words that get the point across without sounding like you’re stuck in a time warp.
“Dialing Someone’s Number”
This phrase made sense at a time when phones had rotary dials and you had to literally dial the number. But this is no longer true with smartphones. Millennials will probably say – ‘I am calling him/her’ or ‘I’m texting them’, because that’s what they actually do with their phones. It’s quicker.
“Long-distance Call”
This phrase was used when calling someone far away cost extra money. But with today’s mobile plans and apps like WhatsApp and FaceTime, people can call each other without worrying about distance or cost. Very few, if any, would ever say “long-distance” to refer to a call because it doesn’t really apply to their lives anymore.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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