10 cringey phrases boomers tend to use that make younger people roll their eyes

by Lachlan Brown | August 13, 2025, 5:00 pm

Every generation has its quirks, slang, and conversational habits. But sometimes, certain phrases feel like they belong in a dusty time capsule—yet somehow, they’re still alive and kicking.

For many younger people, there’s a specific category of “boomer phrases” that instantly trigger an internal eye-roll. They’re not necessarily offensive, but they can feel outdated, patronizing, or just painfully out of touch.

Here are 10 of the most cringeworthy culprits—and why they make younger listeners squirm.

1. “Back in my day…”

It’s the prelude to a speech no one asked for.

Boomers often use this as a launchpad to compare the past with the present—usually to highlight how things were tougher, simpler, or better “back then.”

The problem? It often comes across as dismissive of younger people’s experiences. It’s like saying, “Your struggles aren’t real because mine were different.” Even if the intent is just to share a story, the phrase sets a tone of superiority.

What younger people wish they’d say instead:
“I remember when I was your age…” or “When I was younger, we handled it like this…”
It’s a subtle shift that feels more like a conversation and less like a lecture.

2. “Kids these days…”

If “Back in my day” is the opening act, “Kids these days” is the encore.

It’s usually followed by a sweeping generalization about how younger generations are lazy, entitled, glued to their phones, or otherwise deficient compared to the past.

Younger people hear this and think: Here we go again—another blanket statement from someone who hasn’t lived our reality.

Plus, every generation has been accused of the same things at some point. (Yes, even boomers were once “kids these days” to their parents.)

3. “Why don’t you just call them?”

For many boomers, the phone call is the gold standard of communication. But for younger people, it’s not always the preferred option—especially for non-urgent matters.

A call can feel intrusive or inefficient when a quick text or email would do the job. When a boomer says this, it can sound like they’re dismissing newer communication norms as frivolous.

Of course, sometimes a call is the best option—but insisting on it for everything makes younger people feel like they’re being dragged back to the ’80s.

4. “We didn’t have that luxury when I was your age.”

This phrase is usually meant to highlight how much easier things are now—better technology, more choices, or improved working conditions.

The problem? It can come across as guilt-tripping younger people for using the resources available to them.

It’s like telling someone they should walk everywhere because you didn’t have a car when you were young. Just because you didn’t have it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t use it.

5. “You’re too young to understand.”

Few phrases can shut down a conversation faster than this one.

It’s patronizing because it assumes age automatically equals wisdom, and that younger people can’t possibly have valid insights.

Sure, life experience matters—but so do fresh perspectives. This phrase makes younger people feel dismissed before they’ve even had a chance to contribute.

6. “Why can’t you just buy a house?”

To many younger people, this question is laughable—if not infuriating.

Boomers often recall buying homes in their 20s for prices that now look like typos. When they suggest younger generations could “just” do the same if they stopped buying lattes, it shows a disconnect from today’s economic reality.

It’s not just about inflation—it’s stagnant wages, high living costs, and astronomical housing prices. This phrase often makes younger people think: We’re not living in the same financial universe.

7. “You’re wasting your life staring at a screen.”

This is a classic boomer jab—often made while they themselves are watching TV for hours.

The irony is, younger people’s “screen time” often includes working, learning, socializing, or managing side hustles. Sure, endless scrolling can be a time sink, but screens are also where modern life happens.

When a boomer says this, it can sound like they’re ignoring the practical reality of digital life in favor of nostalgia for pre-internet days.

8. “It’s just common sense.”

This phrase is usually said when someone doesn’t agree with a boomer’s perspective or decision.

The implication? That the other person is stupid for not seeing things the same way. But “common sense” isn’t as universal as people think—it’s shaped by personal experience, culture, and even the era you grew up in.

Younger people often hear this as code for: “My way is the only right way.”

9. “We worked hard for what we had.”

The subtext here is often: And you don’t.

Of course, boomers did work hard. But so do plenty of younger people—often for less reward in terms of housing, stability, and long-term security.

When this phrase is thrown out, it can feel like a way of delegitimizing younger generations’ work ethic. It also ignores how the economic playing field has changed dramatically over the decades.

10. “You’ll understand when you’re older.”

It’s the conversational equivalent of closing the door in someone’s face.

Sure, there are things you can only fully grasp with time and perspective. But using this phrase shuts down curiosity instead of encouraging dialogue.

Younger people would rather hear, “Here’s how I see it, based on my experience.” That way, they can still form their own conclusions instead of being told their current understanding is automatically inadequate.

Why these phrases matter

At their core, most of these phrases aren’t meant to be harmful—they’re often rooted in habit, nostalgia, or a genuine desire to share life lessons. But intent and impact aren’t the same thing.

When younger people roll their eyes, it’s usually because these phrases feel like they’re dismissing modern realities or minimizing current struggles. They can make conversations feel like battles between “then” and “now” instead of opportunities for connection.

Bridging the gap

If boomers want to connect better with younger generations, it’s less about banning certain phrases and more about being mindful of tone and context.

Here are a few tips:

  • Ask before advising. Instead of jumping into a “Back in my day” speech, ask, “Want to hear how I handled something similar?”

  • Be curious about the present. Learn how younger people are navigating life now instead of assuming it’s easier or harder.

  • Find shared values. Every generation values resilience, creativity, and connection—even if the tools look different.

Final thoughts

Generational differences will always exist—but they don’t have to be walls. By retiring (or at least rephrasing) these 10 cringey expressions, boomers can keep conversations more open, respectful, and relatable.

Because at the end of the day, the goal isn’t to win the “who had it harder” debate—it’s to actually understand each other. And that’s something everyone, no matter their age, can roll with.

Lachlan Brown

Lachlan Brown is an entrepreneur and co-founder of Brown Brothers Media, a digital publishing network reaching tens of millions of readers monthly. He holds a Graduate Diploma of Psychological Studies from Deakin University, though his real education came afterward: a warehouse job shifting TVs, a stretch of anxiety in his mid-twenties, and the slow discovery that studying the mind is not the same as learning how to live well. He started experimenting with Buddhist principles during breaks at the warehouse and eventually began writing about what he was learning. That writing became Hack Spirit, a widely read personal development site, and his book Hidden Secrets of Buddhism became a bestseller. His work breaks down complex ideas into frameworks people can apply immediately, whether they are navigating a career change, a difficult relationship, or the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Lachlan splits his time between Singapore and Saigon. He writes about high-performance routines, decision-making under pressure, digital innovation, and the intersection of Eastern philosophy with modern life. His perspective comes from having built things from scratch, failed at some of them, and learned that clarity comes from practice, not theory.