Boomers have contributed all sorts of amazing things to the world, but one of our personal favorites has to be their iconic phrases. They often seem to have an idiom ready for any situation, always willing to teach us something useful. Here are 16 of the most famous phrases of the baby boomer generation.
“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
This phrase is a classic piece of advice often shared by Boomers. As the Cambridge Dictionary explains, it means not to risk everything on the success of one venture. It’s a metaphorical reminder to diversify your investments, interests, or efforts, emphasizing the value of prudence and forethought, traits highly respected by Boomers.
“The early bird gets the worm.”
Boomers love this phrase, which encourages getting an early start to reap the benefits. It harks back to an agricultural society where being up with the dawn often meant the difference between success and failure. It’s a saying that reflects the Boomer generation’s work ethic and drive. Today we realize there is no difference between being up at 5 a.m. and in bed by 9 p.m. or going to bed at 1 a.m. and up at 9 a.m.
“Close, but no cigar.”
“Close, but no cigar” is a lighthearted way of acknowledging effort and near success, even if the desired outcome wasn’t fully achieved, says Reader’s Digest. The phrase originated from carnival games, where cigars were often given as prizes. Missing by any margin, even small, and no cigar for you.
“Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”
Used by Baby Boomers to remind us not to get ahead of ourselves, this is an old farming adage urging patience and caution. Boomers are quick to remind us that just because something could happen doesn’t mean it will. It’s very similar to saying someone is “putting the cart before the horse.”
“Actions speak louder than words.”
This is timeless advice that reminds us that what we do matters more than what we say. It’s easy to say we care about something or someone, but do we show up like we care? Baby Boomers, who grew up in a time of social change and activism, often use this phrase to underscore the importance of authenticity and accountability.
“A penny for your thoughts”
“A penny for your thoughts” is a quaint way of expressing interest in someone’s thoughts. If someone seems lost in thought, this can be a sweet way to bring them back into the discussion. It’s a polite and friendly expression reflecting the Baby Boomers’ values of communication and connection.
“Bite the bullet”
To “bite the bullet” originates from the old practice of having patients bite on a bullet during surgery to help them cope with the pain. History Extra says, “Lead bullets were both readily available in a battle and malleable, so the patient’s teeth wouldn’t break.” This phrase is often used to mean facing up to something difficult or unpleasant. When a Boomer tells you to “bite the bullet,” they’re encouraging you to muster your courage and tackle the challenge head-on.
“Love is blind”
“Love is blind” was something Boomers were saying long before the Netflix reality TV show. “Love is blind” is the Boomer way of saying that new love doesn’t see faults. It speaks to both physical looks and small things about a person that would bug someone who didn’t love the person.
“Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
When people get impatient about not seeing results, Boomers remind us that “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” This brings us back to the reality that big dreams and tasks take a long time and some patience to achieve. The Roman Empire took perseverance and endurance to build, much like the other monumental tasks in our lives.
“Two heads are better than one.”
Boomers want to recognize collaboration and teamwork as a top-tier work ethic. The phrase “two heads are better than one” captures that sentiment perfectly. It’s a way to say you can do better work and have more ideas with more than one person involved, and it recognizes the importance of diverse perspectives and the power of collective thinking.
“It is what it is.”
Boomers love to say the English version of “c’est la vie,” or “that’s life,” when something isn’t going well, but they can’t change it. “Oh, you didn’t get the promotion, bummer.” Boomer, “it is what it is.”
“The ball is in your court.”
Boomers have quite a few phrases related to sports. One of the most classic examples is when they want to let someone know it is their turn to act or make a decision; they’ll say, “The ball is in your court,” making reference to a game of tennis.
“Money doesn’t grow on trees.”
For those of us with Boomer parents, we heard this every time we asked for money to get pizza or for them to buy us something. Boomers love to preach financial responsibility to their children, though most of them grew up more in the consumer culture than we did.
“Getting your ducks in a row”
Getting your ducks in a row is all about making sure that you’re properly prepared and organized for a task or project. It’s also a popular jargon phrase used at work. Most of us picture our ducks running around crazy and a few squirrels being involved because our ducks are not in a row.
“Low-hanging fruit”
“Low-hanging fruit” refers to tasks that are the easiest to accomplish. The fruit that hangs lowest on the tree is easiest to pick, after all. People also use this to refer to easy sales in the sales world. Low-hanging fruit isn’t generally considered the highest quality; that would be the fruit at the top of the tree.
“Singing from the same hymn sheet”
To “sing from the same hymn sheet” refers to people having the same understanding of something or saying the same thing. “Preaching to the choir” is a similar phrase, meaning to explain or talk about something to people who already agree with you.