Phrases we still use that no longer make sense

[Londonboy]

My boiler heats my house and water. A hot water heater is for homes with a furnace or electric heat.

Nah, over here it's a generic term for anything that heats water (except a kettle or saucepan), it's also a slang term for a fat girl.

 

[OmerV]

Cave??? What am I, rich?

Dude, I was trying to prop up your image and I thought cave sounded better than under a bush.

 

[Runwildboys]

Dude, I was trying to prop up your image and I thought cave sounded better than under a bush.

Bushes aren't for shelter.......Bushes are for eating.

 

[OmerV]

Bushes aren't for shelter.......Bushes are for eating.

Still haven't figured out how to use a spear and the secret of fire have you?

 

[Runwildboys]

Still haven't figured out how to use a spear and the secret of fire have you?

What are those?

 

[Reverend Conehead]

In Titanic, elderly Rose says, "Wasn't I a dish?" to mean "Wasn't I a babe?" I'm not sure how "dish" came to mean someone was good looking or if it applied to only women or both sexes. It must refer to some kind of meaning that has gone away. Maybe it refers to a good looking person reflected in a shiny, new dish. Anyone know?

 

[Runwildboys]

In Titanic, elderly Rose says, "Wasn't I a dish?" to mean "Wasn't I a babe?" I'm not sure how "dish" came to mean someone was good looking or if it applied to only women or both sexes. It must refer to some kind of meaning that has gone away. Maybe it refers to a good looking person reflected in a shiny, new dish. Anyone know?

I've only ever heard it used about women, and I'd assume it's meant to say she's "tasty".

 

[YosemiteSam]

I've only ever heard it used about women, and I'd assume it's meant to say she's "tasty".

This, it is a reference to tasty or something you would like to eat. That dirty old lady!

 

[Reverend Conehead]

I've only ever heard it used about women, and I'd assume it's meant to say she's "tasty".

Oh, the dish as in the meal, not the plate. I get it.

 

[Londonboy]

In Titanic, elderly Rose says, "Wasn't I a dish?" to mean "Wasn't I a babe?" I'm not sure how "dish" came to mean someone was good looking or if it applied to only women or both sexes. It must refer to some kind of meaning that has gone away. Maybe it refers to a good looking person reflected in a shiny, new dish. Anyone know?

It's derived from dishy, which is an olde English word for attractive.
There is a Mills and Boone novel called "Seduced by Dr Dishy", I shelved a stack of ;'em yesterday at work.

 

[timb2]

CORTEX---the outer layer of the cerebrum (the cerebral cortex), composed of folded gray matter and playing an important role in consciousness.

I hear that Occasional Cortex is the New Age and is rotting of one's mind with figments of delusion and paranoia. Symptoms consist of making up fuzzy math that doesn't add up and thinking the world is going to end and dancing like a nitwit.

 

[OmerV]

I've only ever heard it used about women, and I'd assume it's meant to say she's "tasty".

If that's the case, then it would really be a compliment if I called a woman "lasagna", or "prime rib".

 

[Reverend Conehead]

In the 19th century and very early 20th, a machine that flies would be called a "flying machine." The word "airplane" had not been invented yet.

 

[Runwildboys]

If that's the case, then it would really be a compliment if I called a woman "lasagna", or "prime rib".

or cheesecake.......Oh wait!

 

[OmerV]

or cheesecake.......Oh wait!

I'm thinking there may be groups that would object to prime rib or cheesecake, although I can't imagine why. Either is a pretty serious compliment.

 

[Ranched]

CORTEX---the outer layer of the cerebrum (the cerebral cortex), composed of folded gray matter and playing an important role in consciousness.

I hear that Occasional Cortex is the New Age and is rotting of one's mind with figments of delusion and paranoia. Symptoms consist of making up fuzzy math that doesn't add up and thinking the world is going to end and dancing like a nitwit.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

“I’m sorry.”
“I was wrong.”
“That was rude of me.”

 

[daschoo]

Nah, over here it's a generic term for anything that heats water (except a kettle or saucepan), it's also a slang term for a fat girl.

Must be a London/English thing, never heard either of those up here.

 

[Londonboy]

Must be a London/English thing, never heard either of those up here.

You Guys have Your own unique language/slang, My 1st ever flat was shared with a Glaswegian and a Scouser, We used to take turns confusing each other.