Boomers have a whole bunch of sayings they use without a second thought. Some of these are lines they picked up from loved ones, others are from ‘80s sitcoms. Either way, they’re usually meant as polite gestures or throwaway small talk, but Gen Z tends to hear them literally. Here are 17 of these phrases that the younger generation simply doesn’t understand.
Don’t Take Any Wooden Nickels
“Don’t take any wooden nickels” is a relic from a time when counterfeit souvenirs were more commonplace. Many Boomers still use it as a friendly way to say “take care” or “don’t get fooled.” However, Gen Z takes it like an actual scam warning, and they might Google “wooden nickel” to see if they’ve been duped. The phrase has aged out of context completely, so younger people interpret it literally.
See You in the Funny Papers
In the past, newspapers were in every home, and the “funny papers” referred to the comic strips, so saying “See you in the funny papers” was a line that jokingly meant “see you later.” Gen Z hears it and immediately thinks it’s either an insult. They might think it’s a pop culture reference they missed because, for them, the sentence doesn’t register as humor.
Let’s Make Like a Tree and Leave
The quintessential dad joke is “Let’s make like a tree and leave.” Lots of Boomers use it to lighten the mood when they’re wrapping things up, and while it’s corny, it’s also rather endearing. Unfortunately, not everyone in Gen Z gets that it’s wordplay, and they may think it’s a reference to going green or sustainability. But it’s not.
Don’t Sell Me a Bill of Goods
In Boomer-speak, saying, “Don’t sell me a bill of goods” is a way of telling someone not to fool you with a bad deal. The phrase came from actual con men handing out fake receipts for products that didn’t exist. However, Gen Z hears it literally. They assume the person thinks they’re running some kind of side hustle because the old sales slang doesn’t translate at all.
That Dog Won’t Hunt
“That dog won’t hunt” is a phrase you’ll hear among Southern Boomers in particular when they’re trying to tell someone that a plan won’t work. Sadly, Gen Z doesn’t get that. They picture someone’s dog refusing to chase birds because, without context, it sounds like random country imagery. The meaning comes from a world of hunting trips and outdoorsy wisdom that younger people just don’t live in anymore.
It’s Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other
Whenever Boomers want to say that both options are the same, they might say something like, “It’s six of one, half a dozen of the other.” Gen Z hears it and starts counting. Of course, they understand the numbers, but it feels unnecessarily complicated. They’d rather the older generation just tell them directly that this thing doesn’t matter.
That’ll Put Hair on Your Chest
Gen Z takes the saying “That’ll put hair on your chest” way too literally, and they think it’s more of a physiological warning than encouragement. However, Boomers use it after drinking strong coffee or spicy food. It just means that the substance in question will toughen you up, and the phrase was never meant to be taken seriously. Sadly, that distinction’s totally lost now.
Take a Number
The older generation grew up in a time when deli counters and motor-vehicle lines were everywhere. As such, they’ll tell people to “take a number” to help them understand that they should be patient, their turn’s coming. But Gen Z rarely deals with paper tickets. In fact, they might look around for a touchscreen or app to “take” a number on because the concept of literally holding a numbered slip feels so outdated.
Go Pound Sand
Boomers weren’t the kind of generation that would always be polite. One of their best insults was “Go pound sand,” which roughly means “go away” or “stop bothering me.” Gen Z hears it and gets stuck on the image. Why sand? Why pounding? It’s difficult for them to read the bite behind it because, well, the literal version just sounds oddly specific.
Keep Your Powder Dry
Once upon a time, “Keep your powder dry” meant that you should stay alert and be ready. It came from a time when soldiers had to keep gunpowder dry to fire effectively, and Boomers still use it to warn that you shouldn’t let your guard down. Yet Gen Z has none of that context. To them, the phrase feels rather random and kind of nonsensical.
We Should Get Lunch Sometime
The saying, “We should get lunch sometime,” is essentially Boomer code for “Nice talking to you.” They’re not actually planning a calendar event or anything. It’s simply a soft social goodbye. However, Gen Z treats it as a real plan, and they often follow up with questions like, “What day works for you?” They get confused when the other person never responds.
Come By Anytime
Boomers will say, “Come by anytime,” to be nice, rather than to actually issue a 24/7 open invitation. Yet Gen Z just hears “anytime,” and thinks it literally means any time. They might show up mid-afternoon or after work, and then feel awkward when they realize the host isn’t thrilled to see them. They see the phrase as a standing offer instead of polite fluff.
My Door is Always Open
Likewise, in office settings, Boomers say “My door is always open” to sound approachable, and they really just mean “You can talk to me if you need to.” However, some Gen Zers focus on the “always open” part and think it’s literal, no appointment needed. They might knock once and walk right in, without realizing it was more of a figure of speech for leadership style.
No Rush
When Boomers say there is “no rush,” what they really mean is that they’re trying to sound relaxed, but you should get to this work soon. Gen Z hears it word for word. As such, they might take their time, assuming there’s no deadline at all, and they’ll move it to the bottom of their list. To them, “no rush” means there is, literally, no rush.
I’ll Let You Go
For Boomers, saying, “I’ll let you go,” is a polite way to end a call or conversation without sounding abrupt. They’re trying to end things pleasantly. However, to Gen Z, it’s a cue that the conversation should end now, and they’ll immediately say goodbye and hang up. This makes the Boomer feel cut off, as they can’t understand why the younger caller took the statement at face value.
Dress for the Job You Want
A Boomer who says, “Dress for the job you want,” is trying to motivate other people. They’re essentially telling them to look professional and take their work seriously. Yet the issue is Gen Z hears it as literal, almost instructional advice, so they show up in full business attire. Everyone else is in polos and sneakers.
Park Anywhere
To a Boomer, “Park anywhere” simply means that you shouldn’t stress about parking because they’ll make room. Not to Gen Z. They often struggle to pick up the tone, and they hear it as an open invitation, so they take “anywhere” at face value. They’ll block driveways and squeeze next to the mailbox, perhaps even risk a street-sweeping ticket. They don’t get it.
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