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08/18/07 Grif.Net – Words at Play? Dying out . .

08/18/07 Grif.Net – Words at Play? Dying out . .

I came across this phrase yesterday “FENDER SKIRTS”. A term I haven’t heard
in a long time and thinking about “fender skirts” started me thinking about
other words that quietly disappear from our language with hardly a notice
like “curb feelers”. And “steering knobs” (AKA) suicide knob.

Since I’d been thinking of cars, my mind naturally went that direction. Any
kids will probably have to find some elderly person over 50 to explain some
of these terms to you. Remember “Continental kits?” They were rear bumper
extenders and spare tire covers that were supposed to make any car as cool
as a Lincoln Continental.

When did we quit calling them “emergency brakes?” At some point “parking
brake” became the proper term. But I miss the hint of drama that went with
“emergency” brake.

I’m sad, too, that almost all the old folks are gone who would call the
accelerator the “foot feed.”

Didn’t you ever wait at the street for your daddy to come home, so you could
ride the “running board” up to the house?

And driving “Coast to coast” is a phrase that once held all sorts of
excitement and now means almost nothing. Now we take the term “world wide”
for granted. This floors me.

I always loved driving to the “picture show,” but I considered “movie” an
affectation. And what ever happened to the “passion pit”. Don’t think we
have an outdoor movie theater left in the state.

“Car hops” (some on roller skates) are replaced by the neon rows of
look-alike fast food joints. And my “white-walls” are just a tiny stripe
(for a large price).

Most of these words go back to the ’50s, but not time to discuss more. It’s
almost time for supper. Some words aren’t gone, but are definitely on the
endangered list. And as I think about it, “supper” is one of them. Now
everybody says “dinner.”

Hey, let’s save a great word. Invite someone to supper. Discuss fender
skirts.

[copied]

~~
Dr Bob Griffin, www.grif.net
1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given