After listening to today's show which mentioned such "skunked" expressions such as "to call a spade a spade", I'm reminded of a previous episode which mentioned "nobody here but us chickens" which found that expression acceptable. I would put it also in that same category. The most common word/expression in this list would be the word "niggardly". I am afraid that all these expressions but expecially "niggardly" are lost to us purely for the chance that they would be misunderstood. What do you all think? Are there other "skunked" words/expressions out there we need to watch out for?
Spic and span? Do-wop music? Catholic tastes? Waspish retort? A nip inthe air? A chink in his armor?
Certainly, "madam" has been skunked.
"... Don we now our gay apparel ... ."