But many of those brilliantly colourful and inventive expressions are ones you rarely hear uttered today, with some at risk of dying out completely.
In some cases that’s because parenting methods have changed, in others it’s because language has evolved.
You may not have enjoyed hearing these sayings as a child, but you probably appreciate why your parents were occasionally driven to say such things.
And even if you don’t use these euphemisms yourself, it’s fair to say the English language would be poorer without them.
How many of these sayings do you remember your parents or grandparents using when you were growing up, and are there any you use today? Let us know in the comments section.
5. Not in a month of Sundays
A more poetic way of saying it's never going to happen, this is a phrase your parents probably loved trotting out, and perhaps still do. But it's not a saying you hear often from younger generations. | Photo by Leeloo The First: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-framed-eyeglasses-on-a-calendar-5386754/ Photo: Photo by Leeloo The First: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-framed-eyeglasses-on-a-calendar-5386754/
6. Fine words butter no parsnips
A fancy way of telling someone actions speak louder than words, this is a phrase which has been around for hundreds of years. You probably remember your parents or grandparents using this saying when you were a child, but you may not have heard it for while. | Photo by Magda Ehlers: https://www.pexels.com/photo/fresh-parsnips-with-green-stems-at-market-28797269/ Photo: Photo by Magda Ehlers: https://www.pexels.com/photo/fresh-parsnips-with-green-stems-at-market-28797269/
7. You'll be stuck like that if the wind changes
Parents loved rolling this one out if they caught you pouting or pulling a silly face. It usually had the effect of making children hold that expression for even longer just to test their mum and dad, which is perhaps why it's not heard so much these days. | Getty Images Photo: Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive
8. It's like Blackpool illuminations in here
One thing any parent hates is to see energy being wasted, given they're the ones paying the bill. So if you left too many lights on you'd quickly be reminded of the fact with this phrase. | Getty Images Photo: Central Press