9 Common Phrases We All Still Say That Make Absolutely No Sense Anymore
Kittyfly | Shutterstock Many common phrases that we use today no longer make sense when you think about them literally. You don't physically "hang up" an iPhone, for example, but you probably wouldn't think twice about using the expression.
Most of these terms refer to antiquated technology that modern advancements have rendered obsolete. Yet over the years, the meanings of these phrases have evolved, allowing them to remain in the common lexicon despite their outdated origins.
Here are common phrases we still say that don't actually make sense anymore:
1. 'Film a video'
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When we use our cell phones to record a video, we often say the word "film," but that's not technically correct. Our digital cameras and phones don't actually use celluloid film, unlike the original cameras. It's a common phrase we still say, but it no longer makes sense because of technological advancements.
2. 'Hang up the phone'
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Back in the day, when talking on the telephone, you could only move as far as the cord stretched, and when it was time to end the call, you physically hung the device back on the wall. Now, most people don't even own a landline — a 2023 report found that 76% of adults live in "wireless-only households." We have cellphones that fit in our pockets, and the only cords we use are for charging them. Yet we still say "hang up the phone" when, for accuracy's sake, we should say "end the call."
3. 'Pump the brakes'
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To "pump the brakes" means to slow down or stop, but the term originated from the now-obsolete practice of pumping a car's brakes. Auto critic Mark Phelan explained that, before anti-lock brakes were developed, "pushing the pedal to the floor could lead to the wheels locking up while the vehicle slid forward." Holding the brake pedal down could also cause the brakes to overheat, which is why drivers pumped their brakes. Advancements in brake technology have rendered the term outdated, but we still often use it in non-car-related contexts.
4. 'Sound like a broken record'
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When someone repeats the same thing over and over, it's common to say they "sound like a broken record." Yet, in the days of Spotify and Apple Music, this phrase no longer makes sense. It refers to vinyl records, of course. When one gets scratched, it gets stuck replaying the same part of a song over and over again, hence a broken record. While vinyl records are experiencing a resurgence thanks to Gen Z, they still account for only 8% of music sales, meaning many young people likely haven't actually heard a record break.
5. 'Wind back the clock'
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Have you ever wished you could wind back the clock and go back in time? Maybe you want to return to your childhood, overcome with nostalgia. Or perhaps you dream of traveling further back, to a period before you were even born. Either way, you're likely not thinking about what it actually means to "wind back" a clock. This phrase refers to the literal act of winding a mechanical clock. However, when the majority of people — nearly 60% — use their phones as their primary timepieces, this phrase no longer makes sense—it's purely symbolic.
6. 'Roll down the window'
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If you grew up in the 80s or 90s, then you know that cars used to have a window crank to roll the glass up and down. You probably also remember how embarrassing it was when you struggled to roll your window down fast enough to speak to someone outside of your car. Or even worse, when the crank got stuck. Now, cars have a button that opens and closes the windows, no physical rolling or cranking necessary. Some cars even have voice commands to do so. This common phrase we still say no longer makes sense, especially to young people who have never even seen a window crank.
7. 'Ride shotgun'
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The rules of shotgun are simple — whoever says "shotgun" first while in sight of the vehicle gets to sit in the front passenger seat. Yet this is another term that no longer makes sense due to technological advancements. The common phrase we all say comes from the bygone stagecoach era when people traveled by horse-drawn carriages. The Wild West was often dangerous, so to protect the driver, passengers, and valuables on board, an armed guard, whose preferred weapon was usually a shotgun, sat next to the driver. Of course, those who call shotgun today no longer carry weapons; they simply sit in the front seat and, if they're lucky, control the music.
8. 'Carbon copy'
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If you have ever worked in corporate America, you've likely CC'd your boss on plenty of emails. But did you know that CC stands for carbon copy? According to Merriam-Webster, the term "comes from the use of carbon paper, which was used to make copies of documents by pressing pigment onto an additional sheet of paper underneath" with a pen or typewriter. Obviously, when you're CCing someone on an email, no carbon paper is necessary — it's just another common phrase we still say that no longer makes sense because of technological advancements.
9. 'Glove box'
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Today, most people keep their important documents, like insurance and registration, in their car's glove box. But back in the day, the compartment's use was truer to its name. During the 20th century, cars were not enclosed, so people used driving gloves to protect their hands from the elements. The glove box was the idea of Dorothy Levitt, one of Britain’s first female race drivers, who, in her book "The Woman and the Car," advised that people use the small drawer in some vehicles to store their gloves. By the 1930s, the glove compartment was a standard feature in all automobiles. Nowadays, you're probably not wearing driving gloves on your daily commute, or storing any in the glove compartment. It's yet another common phrase we still say that has become outdated thanks to technological advancements.
Sylvia Ojeda is an author with a decade of experience writing novels and screenplays. She covers self-help, relationships, culture, and human interest topics.
