10 everyday phrases boomers use that younger people tend to find inappropriate

Language changes. Fast.

And sometimes, what once passed as polite, witty, or harmless now reads as… cringey.

It’s not that younger people are overly sensitive or trying to cancel everyone.

But context matters. So does tone. And some phrases just don’t age well—especially when they carry baggage from a different era.

Boomers often use these expressions with no ill intent. But to Millennials, Gen Z, and younger, they can feel dated, dismissive, or even unintentionally offensive.

Let’s dig into a few of the most common ones.

1. “That’s just the way it is.”

This one tends to shut down conversation rather than open it up.

Boomers often use it to suggest resignation, acceptance, or the idea that change is pointless. But younger people usually hear it as: Don’t question the system. Don’t bother trying.

In today’s culture—where adaptability and questioning norms are seen as strengths—this phrase can feel like a subtle way of saying, “Stop being difficult.”

It’s not always meant that way, but that’s how it lands.

2. “You’re too young to understand.”

Few phrases frustrate younger people more than this one.

It assumes ignorance based solely on age—and totally dismisses someone’s lived experience, insight, or emotional intelligence.

I remember a conversation with a relative where I shared thoughts about burnout at work. His response? “You’re too young to be tired.”

It wasn’t meant as an insult, but it immediately made me feel like what I was saying didn’t matter.

The irony? Younger generations are very aware—sometimes painfully so—of what’s happening in the world. Age doesn’t cancel out perspective.

3. “When I was your age…”

There’s a version of this that’s harmless—used to connect, compare, or reflect.

But often, it’s used to minimize struggle. As in, “When I was your age, we didn’t complain. We just got on with it.”

Younger people tend to hear this as: Your problems aren’t valid. Things were harder for me, so stop whining.

That may not be the intention. But again, perception matters. Especially when generational experiences are so vastly different—economically, socially, even emotionally.

When I was 24, I got laid off from a creative agency job I really loved. It wasn’t personal—it was just budget cuts—but I was crushed.

I went to lunch with an older uncle that week, hoping for some perspective or at least a sympathetic ear.

Instead, he smiled and said, “When I was your age, I had two kids and worked double shifts. You’ll survive.”

He wasn’t being cruel—he was trying to show that life goes on. But it didn’t help. I walked away feeling even more alone in the experience, like I wasn’t allowed to feel what I was feeling.

And that’s the thing. Younger people aren’t asking for life to be easy—they just want their experiences respected.

4. “Boys will be boys.”

This one has definitely fallen out of favor.

What might have once passed as a cheeky excuse for rowdy or inappropriate behavior now feels outdated—and sometimes harmful.

Younger generations have pushed back hard against phrases that minimize accountability. “Boys will be boys” often sounds like a free pass for bad behavior instead of a genuine observation.

It’s the kind of phrase that quietly reinforces the idea that some people don’t have to grow up or be held responsible.

5. “That’s not ladylike.”

This one shows up in subtle ways—but the message is clear: conform to outdated gender roles.

I’ve heard this dropped in conversations about clothing, posture, even how loudly someone laughs.

Boomers often think they’re offering helpful feedback. But to younger women and gender-nonconforming people, it can feel like a judgment disguised as advice.

It frames femininity as something narrow and prescriptive. And in 2025? That doesn’t fly.

6. “Are you sure you want to wear that?”

This phrase isn’t always about clothes. It’s about control—and it often comes wrapped in passive-aggression.

Boomers sometimes use it under the guise of concern or care. But younger people tend to feel policed, not protected.

One Gen Z friend told me their grandmother asked this before every single event growing up—no matter what they wore.

Eventually, it started to feel like no choice was ever truly “right.”

7. “You need to toughen up.”

This phrase tends to hit hard for a generation raised to normalize mental health conversations.

While boomers were often taught to suppress feelings, younger people are doing the opposite—talking about anxiety, therapy, burnout, trauma.

Saying “toughen up” in response to those things doesn’t feel strong. It feels cold.

Boomers who dismiss emotional struggles as weakness usually don’t realize how disconnected that sounds today.

8. “Back in my day, we didn’t have safe spaces.”

This one’s usually meant to highlight how much the world has changed.

But it often comes off as mockery—implying that younger people are coddled, sensitive, or unable to handle discomfort.

The irony? Safe spaces aren’t about avoiding life. They’re about creating room for conversation without fear of ridicule.

The phrase tends to reflect a misunderstanding of why younger people seek these environments—not just a generational divide.

9. “That’s not how we did things.”

This one can be totally valid—if the goal is to share context.

But when used to criticize or reject change, it feels defensive.

Younger people are growing up in a completely different landscape—technology, culture, politics. “That’s not how we did things” doesn’t help anyone adapt. It just draws a line in the sand.

I once heard this phrase used during a meeting about remote work flexibility. It shut down the conversation, even though everyone in the room was trying to offer practical suggestions.

Sometimes clinging to the old way of doing things just signals fear of the new.

10. “You think too much.”

This one gets thrown out casually, but it often carries a sting.

It’s usually aimed at younger people who analyze emotions, question systems, or over-communicate.

But telling someone they “think too much” doesn’t feel like help—it feels like dismissal.

It suggests that curiosity, caution, or even empathy are burdens—not strengths.

Younger generations are built to question and process. It’s how they navigate the overwhelming amount of information they’re constantly swimming in.

The bottom line

These phrases aren’t always meant to offend—but they often do.

Language isn’t static. It evolves alongside culture. And if we want to connect across generations, we have to be willing to update the way we speak.

That doesn’t mean censoring everything. It means listening more. And assuming less.

Because sometimes, the gap between generations isn’t what we believe—it’s what we say without realizing who’s listening.