Who doesn’t love a good idiom? An idiom, for the uninitiated, is a common saying that means something different than the literal words might suggest. For example, “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth,” has nothing to do with horses and refers to the fact that you should be grateful and not critical of something someone has given you for free.

Idioms are weird, funny, catchy, and have an incredible ability to convey a lot of meaning in a small number of words. They often have strange or unique origins and evolve over time as they become a key part of the cultural lexicon.

Sadly, not all idioms are made to last. Some of the oldest ones get phased over time as their meanings are lost, and new ones get adopted by the masses. A lot of our most famous idioms come from old English times, but newer ones like “Drink the Kool-Aid,” “Jumping the shark,” or even “Thanks, Obama” originated in the last few decades. (Admittedly, the line between idiom and meme is getting extremely thin).

For new idioms to arise, some old ones have to go. A research study carried out by Perspectus Global recently identified idioms that may be in danger of falling out of the English language very soon. The group asked 2,000 people aged 18 to 50 whether they used any of a list of fifty expressions.

Here are some of the best idioms that most people no longer use. Humbly, I’m begging you all to reconsider.

Calling someone out, politely

1. A few sandwiches short of a picnic

This one is used to refer to someone who’s not very intelligent. A little like “The lights are on, but no one’s home,” or “Not the sharpest tool in the shed.”

It’s origin is relatively recent, but it just hasn’t caught on; probably because it’s a little mean. Fifty-three percent of respondents said they don’t use the phrase and, honestly, that’s a shame because I think this is a slightly nicer alternative to some of the other “stupid” idioms, and it’s always fun to think about sandwiches.

World Wide Words writes, “It was one of a set of such phrases, all with the sense of knowing one’s stuff, or being highly knowledgeable in a particular field, that circulated in the 1920s. Others were to know one’s oats, to know one’s oil, to know one’s apples, to know one’s eggs, and even to know one’s sweet potatoes.”

Sixty-eight percent of people don’t use this idiom, which means it’s highly endangered. I, however, think it’s catchy enough that it deserves to hang around a little longer.

When everything goes wrong

3. A stitch in time saves nine

Another one from the 1700s, this idiom is used as advice to deal with problems straight on and right away.

Metro UK writes, “It’s believed to have had its origins in sewing, the idea being that if you mend a small tear with one stitch,........

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