Today I was reading a tiny anecdote about Spike Milligan. In brief, he would occasionally lie down in front of a funeral parlour and shout "Shop!".
This very mildly amusing story was recounted to my colleagues. It fell entirely flat because none of them had any idea what shouting "shop" meant, nor had ever heard it used anywhere.
I can't say I've ever used it myself in the real world but surely everyone knows what it would mean in that context? Didn't the Two Ronnies use it every five minutes? I must be getting old.
Have any phrases tripped you up by blank incomprehension on the part of your listener when you used them?
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Defunct phrases new
Defunct phrases new