Etymology of old-fashioned phrases: 'old hat'

[chicken]

The other day at work, I referred to some programming practice as being "old hat" and my co-worker didn't know what this meant.

I have frequently been caught using old-fashioned phrases that make me sound like someone's grandma. This is because my parents were born during/before the Depression, and had me when they were in their late 30's/early 40's. So they use(d) phrases and vocabulary that were popular during the Depression and during WWII (and well before, because they speak they way THEIR parents spoke, turn of the century).

However, I just don't feel that "old hat" is really so "old"-fashioned. It seems very ordinary to me. However, I have no frame of reference, because I grew up hearing things that sound normal to me, and weird to other people my age.

Do other people have a familiarity with this phrase?

Is it truly old-fashioned?

Comments

West Virginia

[murraytodd.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I remember in college my friend Dana from Virginia using expressions like "Cool Beans!" that I'd never heard before. That one I co-opted on occasion, and it's interesting seeing peoples' reactions. Sometimes it one of those "Mygawd I haven't heard that one in ages!" looks.

Re: West Virginia

[chicken-cem.livejournal.com]

Yes, someone in my first year dorm at college said "cool beans" all the time, and was from West Virginia. I can't remember her name anymore, something like Kristen or Kirsten. Isn't it weird how these little details stick with you for years?