Tip 663: Phrases That Don't Make Sense Anymore

From the Change Workshops: Phrases That Don’t Make Sense Anymore 

Change happens. 

And it leaves in its path the remnants of earlier cultures and technologies. 

Much of our communication is based on examples and patterns that don’t exist anymore, yet we use those examples and patterns in our communication.  

For example—

“Hang up the phone.” When was the last time we hung up a telephone to end a conversation? Most of us have never hung up a telephone to end a conversation, but “press the red button” doesn’t have the same style, the same effect, the same history.   

“Roll down the window.” We don’t roll down windows. We press a button and zoooooop the window goes down. But as our friend is leaving the driveway, and we run out to share a last thought, we roll our index finger in a circle so we can talk. This doesn’t make any sense, but back in ancient times, windows did roll down. With a crank. 

“Close, but no cigar.” We almost made it. We came close, but we get no cigar. Came close to what? And what cigar? Carnival games. We came close to knocking over the bowling pins with the softball, but coming close doesn’t get us the prize of a cigar. Where would we smoke it? Not in public. Not anymore. 

What examples, what remnants, can you share? 

We love this stuff. 

This is fun.