This catchphase should definitely be in Stage 4. One day I realized I was so tired of hearing that phase, I got to wondering just what words did we use to use in order to convey a time in our past. "Way back when", "in my younger days" or "in my prime" are a few that came to mind.

"Back in the day" has been driving me insane. I think for a catch phrase to work, there has to be some sense of where it comes from, or at least, what milieu it comes from, e.g. TV, movie, dim politician, teen culture. This one just appeared out of nowhere as far as I can tell -- maybe three years ago? Does anyone know where it came from? I think it carries a connotation of "back in the good old days."

I remember my grandpa using "back in the day" in the 60's so to my mind, "back in the day" makes me think of the person speaking about 40 years earlier ... so it is kind of funny to me to hear a teen or even a young adult say "back in the day" as if they had REALLY lived.

I don't know where it came from, but it does tickle my funny bone. I mean, I always think something profound is going to follow it ... and then I'm either disappointed or doubled over laughing at the imagery of the speaker in their diapers actually doing what they say they did.

Love it!

ladyblueyes:

I remember my grandpa using "back in the day" in the 60's so to my mind, "back in the day" makes me think of the person speaking about 40 years earlier ... so it is kind of funny to me to hear a teen or even a young adult say "back in the day" as if they had REALLY lived.

I don't know where it came from, but it does tickle my funny bone. I mean, I always think something profound is going to follow it ... and then I'm either disappointed or doubled over laughing at the imagery of the speaker in their diapers actually doing what they say they did.

Love it!

goes along with "old school" meaning anything before 2004.