‘Can you tape that?’ Phrases tech has killed off forever

February 15, 2024

By Kim Komando

Remember this? “You hang up first.” “No, you hang up first.” Not quite as romantic when you fumble for the “End call” button on your iPhone, eh? As times change and our tech changes, so do the phrases we use.

Let’s take a little trip down Memory Lane. See how many of these you’ve said at least a few times in your life.

• “Roll down the window.” Cars have had automatic windows for ages, making the manual rolling down of windows a thing of the past. I still say this, though, in my 1964 Mustang.
• “Check the answering machine.” Voicemail on cellphones has obliterated the need for a physical answering machine. I think it’s super interesting Apple’s iOS 17 lets you listen while someone leaves a voicemail so you can decide to pick up. New? Hardly.
• “Dial 411.” My mother designed the 411 directory system for Bell Labs. Now, just look someone up online and you have their digits.
• “Page me.” Pagers were all the rage once upon a time. Today, it’s just your doctor (and some other specific professionals) wearing them.
• “I’ll tape it.” You no longer “tape” shows with DVR and streaming services. You just hit “Record” on your device or catch it later on demand.
• “Rewind” or “Fast-forward.” These phrases made perfect sense for cassettes and VHS tapes, and yes, we still use them metaphorically, but you’re not actually winding anything.
• “I need to find a pay phone.” My dad used to make me carry a quarter just in case I needed to make a call. With a cellphone in nearly everyone’s pocket, pay phones have become an urban relic.
• “Get the film developed” or “Don’t waste the film.” Oh, the good old days of waiting to see a picture you looked horrible in. Hello, smartphones.
• “Look it up in the White (or Yellow) Pages.” Online directories have replaced those hefty books.
• “I’ll fax it to you.” Fax machines are just about dead. Warren Buffett once told me that’s the only way he’ll do contracts. Why? No one can hack a fax machine, unlike email. Good point, Warren.

I bet there are kids and even 20-somethings in your life who would be totally stumped by these phrases. That makes me think about what phrases we use now that will someday be a thing of the past. “Google it” and “swipe your card” come to mind. 

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