8 phrases women over 60 use that instantly reveal they stopped updating their vocabulary in 1985

Have you ever been at a family gathering when your aunt starts talking about her "aerobics class" and how she needs to "tape" her favorite show later?

Last month at my cousin's wedding, I found myself in a conversation with several women from my mom's book club. They were lovely, accomplished women in their sixties, but as they chatted about needing to "xerox" some documents and how one of them was looking for a new "answering machine," I couldn't help but notice something fascinating.

Their vocabulary seemed frozen in time, specifically somewhere around 1985.

This isn't about age-shaming or suggesting older women need to adopt every piece of modern slang. But language evolves, and when certain phrases stick around decades past their expiration date, they create an unintentional time capsule effect.

After years of observing communication patterns (both in finance and now as a writer), I've noticed these linguistic holdovers can sometimes create barriers in professional settings or make someone seem less adaptable than they actually are.

So let's explore eight phrases that instantly transport us back to the era of shoulder pads and Dynasty.

1. "I need to xerox this"

When was the last time you actually used a Xerox machine? Yet this brand name became so synonymous with photocopying that some people still use it as a verb, even when they're standing in front of a Canon or HP copier.

I remember visiting my former office last year, and one of the senior partners asked her assistant to "xerox the quarterly reports." The twenty-something assistant looked genuinely confused before realizing she meant make copies. It's like calling every tissue a Kleenex or every bandage a Band-Aid, except those brands are still dominant. Xerox? Not so much.

The modern equivalent is simply "copy" or "scan." And honestly, in our digital world, you're more likely to hear "Can you PDF this to me?" than anything involving physical copies.

2. "Let me check my rolodex"

This one makes me smile every time. A rolodex was that rotating card holder that sat on every desk, filled with business cards and contact information. It was the height of organization technology in its day.

Now when someone says they need to check their rolodex, even metaphorically, it dates them immediately. We have contacts in our phones, LinkedIn connections, and digital address books. The concept of physically flipping through cards to find someone's number feels as antiquated as using a rotary phone.

The contemporary version? "Let me check my contacts" or "I'll look them up."

3. "I'll tape it"

Unless you're talking about using actual adhesive tape, this phrase reveals a lot about when someone's media consumption habits solidified. VCRs were revolutionary, allowing us to record shows and watch them later. But that technology has been obsolete for nearly two decades.

A friend's mother recently told me she needed to "tape" a documentary on Netflix. The layers of confusion in that statement perfectly illustrate how language can lag behind technology. You don't tape anything anymore. You stream, download, save, or add to your watchlist. Even DVR, which replaced VCR, is becoming outdated as we shift to on-demand viewing.

4. "Ring me up"

This phrase has British origins but was widely used in American English through the 1980s. It refers to the actual ringing of a telephone, back when phones had actual bells inside them.

Today's equivalent varies by generation. Millennials might say "call me," Gen Z prefers "text me" or "DM me," and everyone understands "contact me." But "ring me up" immediately conjures images of rotary phones and party lines.

What's interesting is how this reveals changing communication preferences. The assumption that a phone call is the default method of contact feels increasingly outdated in our text-first world.

5. "I need to develop these pictures"

Digital photography has been mainstream for over twenty years, yet some people still talk about "developing" photos or getting "double prints." This language comes from the era of film photography, when you'd drop off a roll at the drugstore and wait days to see if your pictures turned out.

During a recent trail running event, an older participant asked when the photos would be "developed and mailed out." The race photographer just posted everything to Instagram in real-time. The generational disconnect was palpable.

Modern terminology involves uploading, posting, sharing, or printing photos. Nobody develops anything anymore unless they're a professional photographer working with actual film as an artistic choice.

6. "Let's do aerobics"

Jane Fonda in leg warmers. Jazzercise. Step aerobics with complex choreography. The word "aerobics" is so tied to a specific era of fitness that using it today immediately ages you.

Working in finance for two decades, I watched the corporate gym evolve from an aerobics studio to a weights room to a functional fitness space. The women who still called their workout "aerobics" were invariably the same ones who struggled with new software rollouts.

Today we have cardio, HIIT, spin class, barre, pilates, or simply "working out." Aerobics as a term has been relegated to history, along with thong leotards over tights.

7. "I'll send you a fax"

Few phrases scream 1985 louder than offering to fax something. Yes, some medical offices and government agencies still use fax machines, but for most of us, faxing is about as relevant as using a telegraph.

The persistence of fax-related language often indicates someone who hasn't fully embraced digital communication. They might have email but treat it suspiciously, preferring "hard copies" of everything.

Today's alternatives include emailing, texting, uploading to a shared drive, or using DocuSign. The entire concept of feeding paper into a machine to send it over phone lines feels absurd in our cloud-based world.

8. "That's rad" (or "totally tubular")

Slang ages faster than milk in the sun, and nothing dates someone quite like using slang from their youth. "Rad," "tubular," "gnarly," and "bodacious" all peaked in the mid-1980s. When someone unironically calls something "rad," you can almost see the Members Only jacket.

Language naturally evolves, and trying to force outdated slang feels like wearing your high school letterman jacket to your 40th reunion. It's not charming; it's concerning.

Current alternatives depend on context, but "cool," "great," or "awesome" have proven surprisingly durable. Though even "awesome" is starting to show its age.

Final thoughts

Noticing these linguistic time capsules in others made me reflect on my own language patterns. What phrases am I clinging to that mark me as someone who came of age in the 1990s? (Probably more than I'd like to admit.)

Language evolution isn't about being trendy or abandoning everything familiar. But staying current with basic terminology helps us communicate effectively across generations and avoid seeming stuck in the past.

After spending years in finance, where staying current with technology and terminology could make or break deals, I learned that language adaptation is really about remaining relevant and connected.

The women I mentioned aren't less intelligent or capable because they say "xerox" instead of "copy." But in professional settings, these linguistic fossils can underintentionally signal an resistance to change or an inability to adapt. And in our rapidly evolving world, adaptability might be the most important skill of all.

So maybe it's time to update that vocabulary. Your rolodex will thank you.