Lisa O
Every generation has its own language, shaped by culture, technology, and trends. Boomers (all those born between 1946 and 1964) grew up in a completely different world than Gen Z (those people born between the late 1990s and early 2010s). So, it’s no surprise that some of their phrases leave younger folks scratching their heads. Here are 20 common Boomer expressions that might sound like another language to Gen Z.
“Don’t touch that dial.”
Before remote controls, changing the TV or radio station required physically turning a dial. If you wanted to switch channels, you had to get up, walk over to the TV, and twist the knob. (Yes, it was basically an arm workout.) Boomers still say this when they mean “Stay tuned” or “Don’t change the subject.” Meanwhile, Gen Z only deals with touchscreens and voice commands—no dials necessary.
“Rolodex.”
Imagine a pre-smartphone version of your contacts app, but in physical form. A Rolodex was a rotating file system where people stored business cards and contact details. If a Boomer says, “I’ll check my Rolodex,” they don’t literally mean they have one (hopefully). They just mean they’ll look through their list of contacts. Meanwhile, Gen Z is more likely to say, “Let me check my LinkedIn” or “I’ll DM them.”
“Close, but no cigar.”
This phrase comes from old carnival games where cigars were given out as prizes. If you almost won but didn’t quite make it, the booth operator would say, “Close, but no cigar.” It’s the vintage version of “So close, yet so far.” Today, prizes at fairs are stuffed animals, not cigars, so that this phrase might sound extra bizarre to Gen Z.
“Burning the midnight oil.”
Before electricity, people literally burned oil lamps to work late into the night. If a Boomer tells you they were “burning the midnight oil,” it means they stayed up late to get something done—though they probably just had a late coffee and used LED lights like everyone else. Meanwhile, Gen Z would say, “I pulled an all-nighter,” usually fueled by energy drinks and endless scrolling.
“Kodak moment.”
Once upon a time, Kodak was the king of photography. Their slogan, “Kodak moment,” meant something was so special it deserved to be captured on film. Boomers still use this phrase to describe a perfect, picture-worthy moment. But for Gen Z, it’s more like, “That’s so Instagrammable,” since film cameras are now mostly a nostalgic aesthetic.
“That’s the $64,000 question.”
In the 1950s, a game show called The $64,000 Question had contestants answering increasingly difficult questions for cash. The highest-stakes question was worth—you guessed it—$64,000. Boomers use this phrase to refer to an important, tough question. To Gen Z, this might sound oddly specific—why not $1 million? (Well, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? came much later.)
“Don’t let the bedbugs bite.”
Originally, this phrase was just a cute way to say “Goodnight.” But if you’ve ever had a real bedbug problem, you know there’s nothing cute about it. Boomers use this as a harmless send-off, while Gen Z might hear it and think, “Wait… are bedbugs a real threat? Should I be worried?” (Short answer: Yes, sometimes.)
“Bite the bullet.”
Before anesthesia, injured soldiers in battle were given a literal bullet to bite down on to endure surgery without screaming. (Brutal, right?) Now, Boomers use this phrase when they want someone to face a tough situation head-on. Meanwhile, Gen Z might just say, “Suck it up” or “Gotta deal with it.” Fortunately, no actual bullets are involved.
“Carbon copy” (or “CC” in emails)
Before photocopiers and printers, people used carbon paper to make duplicates by placing a thin, ink-coated sheet between two documents. If someone wanted a copy, they’d get a “carbon copy.” The phrase still lives on in email, where “CC” (carbon copy) means sending a duplicate to someone. But ask a Gen Z’er what “carbon paper” is, and you might get a blank stare.
“You sound like a broken record.”
Back in the vinyl record days, a scratched record would get stuck on a loop, playing the same part over and over. If a Boomer says this, they mean you keep repeating yourself. It’s their way of saying, “You’ve said this 10 times already; move on.” Meanwhile, Gen Z might say, “You’re stuck on repeat,” or simply “We get it.”
“Jump on the bandwagon.”
Back in the 1800s, politicians and entertainers rode on fancy wagons during parades to attract supporters. If people liked what they saw, they’d literally “jump on the bandwagon” to show allegiance. Today, Boomers use this phrase when someone follows a trend just because it’s popular. Gen Z, on the other hand, would say someone is “hopping on the trend” or “chasing clout.” No wagons required.
“Back to the salt mines.”
Historically, salt mining was exhausting and dangerous, and in some places, it was even a punishment for prisoners. Boomers use this phrase jokingly when returning to work after a break—like after a vacation or even just lunch. But Gen Z, who already complains about hustle culture, might hear this and think, “Are we being forced into labor or just checking emails?”
“Long in the tooth.”
This odd phrase comes from horse trading. As horses age, their gums recede, making their teeth appear longer—so “long in the tooth” means “old.” Boomers still use this phrase for aging people, but Gen Z might just say, “They’re ancient,” which, to them, could mean anyone over 30 (we’re serious).
“Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it.”
This phrase is all about dealing with problems if they happen, rather than worrying about them ahead of time. It’s a classic Boomer way to say, “Let’s not stress about something that hasn’t even happened.” Gen Z, on the other hand, might just say, “That’s a future me problem.” (Which, honestly, sounds like procrastination, but who’s judging?)
“A flash in the pan.”
This phrase comes from the 17th century when muskets had a little tray (or “pan”) for gunpowder. Sometimes, the powder would spark (“flash”) but not fire a bullet—meaning lots of noise but no real impact. Boomers use this to describe something that starts off big but quickly fizzles out, like a viral internet celebrity who disappears after a week. Gen Z? They’d just call it a “one-hit wonder” or say it “flopped.”
“Cooking with gas.”
Before gas stoves, people cooked over wood or coal fires, which were slower and harder to control. When gas stoves became popular, they were a game-changer—faster, more efficient, and a sign of progress. So when a Boomer says, “Now you’re cooking with gas,” they mean you’re doing great or making real progress. Gen Z, though, would probably just say, “You’re on fire!”—which, ironically, sounds more dangerous.
“Don’t flip your wig.”
In the 1950s, wigs were a big fashion trend. If someone got really angry, it was as if their wig had flown off in a fit of rage—hence, “flipping your wig.” Boomers use this phrase to tell someone not to overreact. Gen Z, however, might just say, “Chill,” or if they’re feeling extra dramatic, “Why are you so pressed?”
“Put a sock in it.”
Before volume controls, gramophones (early record players) played music loudly, and the only way to muffle the sound was to literally stuff a sock into the horn. Boomers use this phrase to tell someone to be quiet in a (sometimes rude) way. Gen Z, however, might just say, “Mute yourself,” or the classic, “Shhh.”
“He’s a real wet blanket.”
This phrase has nothing to do with actual blankets. It comes from firefighting, where wet blankets were used to smother flames. A “wet blanket” is someone who ruins the fun—like the friend who won’t let you blast music on a road trip because they “need quiet time.” Gen Z would just call this person “a buzzkill.”
“Steal my thunder.”
In the 1700s, a playwright named John Dennis invented a special stage effect that mimicked the sound of thunder. When another play copied his idea without crediting him, he famously complained, “They will not let my play run, but they steal my thunder!” Boomers use this phrase when someone takes credit for their idea or steals attention from their big moment. Gen Z? They’d probably just say, “Why are you stealing my clout?”
