Flabbergasted and gobsmacked are among the words people would love to see comeback

Bamboozled, codswallop and kerfuffle were others carrying a sense of nostalgia, but which are now rarely or never used, according to a poll of 2,000 adults.

Only six per cent said they regularly use the word ‘balderdash’.

But 81 per cent think there are wonderful words that deserve to be returned to regular use.

Tesco Mobile, which commissioned the research, has partnered with Tom Daley and Gyles Brandreth to release the ‘Essential Words of the Year’ - a list celebrating the time-honoured words Brits most want to bring back into everyday conversations.

The launch supports the brand’s Essentials pay-as-you-go tariff, designed to cut-through the fuss and give customers flexibility and control over their mobile bill.

Olympic diver and broadcaster Tom Daley, who notably reacted to Kate Garraway’s use of flamboyant language on the Celebrity Traitors, said: "While I am personally shook flabbergasted is set to make a comeback, there is real power when using new, or sometimes time-old phrases.

“They’re a great way make conversations more interesting, especially with so many of us communicating through texts or calls.

“I love to chat and feel really inspired to broaden my word repertoire.”

It emerged 42 per cent reckoned the lost lingo could make a comeback if they were given a modern twist, such as codswallop being abbreviated to talking ‘cods’.

And 31 per cent felt adapting or modernising some words in this way would be very helpful to bridge the gap in their use across the generations.

With 62 per cent even agreeing they are clearer than their modern counterparts, despite being more flamboyant.