Common Expressions of the 1960's, 70's, and 80's.: Over 200 "Momisms and Dadisms": As told by a Boomer

Mom and Dad left some indelible imprints on our young brains. As me and my siblings were growing up, it was impossible not to notice the way Mom and Dad spoke, with phrases and expressions that seemed to echo in our daily lives. Their words became woven into the fabric of our own speech, shaping how we communicate today. It wasn't just what they said, but how they said it—those familiar sayings, words, jokes, and even stern reminders that always seemed to carry a deeper meaning. These aphorisms, idioms, and euphemisms were not unique to just my mother and father. They were used by other boomer parents, and many of them were likely learned from their parents a few generations back as well. Whether it was "It’s not the end of the world," when something went wrong, or "It’ll all pan out," when we faced the consequences of our actions, those verbal expressions were more than just words—they were life lessons in a few carefully chosen phrases. As we grew older, we realized many of these expressions may have been passed down from their parents (like Mum, our grandmother), perhaps not as explicitly as they might have told us, but certainly through the repetition of these sayings. The cadence of their voices, the slight shifts in tone when they uttered a particularly familiar phrase, all became part of our own vocabulary. Whether you grew up hearing “It takes a village” or “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down,” the deeper truth is that language is a living legacy. It evolves, generation by generation, sometimes fading into obscurity—like “Heavens to Murgatroyd”—and sometimes enduring as evergreen reminders of life’s little lessons. This book has been a tribute to that legacy. It’s a celebration of the words that made us smile, the wisdom that shaped us, and the family that we continue to cherish. From Chicago Cubs games to family dinners and Sunday drives, every phrase we repeat is like a breadcrumb trail back to where we came from. Some stuck, many didn’t—even though they are remembered dearly. So, as you flip through these pages—or better yet, as you share your own family’s sayings with the next generation—remember: it’s not just about the words themselves, but the stories they tell, the people they remind us of, and the love they carry. In the end, expressions are more than just clever turns of phrase. They’re the echoes of our families’ voices—passed down, cherished, and, I hope, never forgotten. Read more