Hi all, Y’all, You all….and all y’all
Do you talk funny? I talk funny or so I have been told! Do you have identifying words for common objects that other people find “different” or they don’t know what they mean? I would be the first to admit that I use words that others have asked …”what is that?” , but I always thought it was just me…making up words and phrases as I go….that is how I roll! I”m strange like that.;0
We are so fortunate in Florida as we have “snowbirds” from all over the world who come in Season to get away from the cold weather in their home State or Country. As a result, we hear wonderful accents which fascinate me…especially the visitors from the U.K. We have made friends with a couple from the London area who own a house down the street from us. They rent out their house in between their vacations to our fair city! I love their accent and their word pronunciation. After all, it is the “original” English language and seems so proper. I am sure we all remember the movie “My Fair Lady” with Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison. In the movie, Rex Harrison took on the task of teaching Audrey Hepburn to speak properly with good enunciation. I love that movie! Wasn’t she beautiful?
We, in the U.S. also have different accents, depending on which part of the country you live. I have moved around quite a bit in my search for work or for other mundane reasons….but that is another post! ;0 I have found some of the strangest or sometimes just different expressions, more strange than mine sometimes! For example: when I lived in Dallas, Texas, a friend and I were going shopping and she said to me. “I’ll come load you up. I’ll blow for you and we don’t have to worry about our totes as we will use the turtle.” I said “excuse me?”....with complete confusion written all over my face. The Translation:….I will drive my car to pick you up, I won’t get out of the car when I reach your house, so I will honk the car horn and you can come out of your house and get in the car with me. Plus, when we purchase things we can put all our packages in the trunk of the car!!! Hello????? I guess I was just a bit dense not to have known that. 🙂
Another time while living in the Southern states…a friend asked to borrow my hose pipe! Translation: garden hose. This same friend made what she called creamed potatoes which I learned to make at my Mother’s knee…so to speak…and my recipe consisted of sliced potatoes in a cream sauce. I found out much later that my friends creamed potatoes were what I refer to as mashed potatoes. ..another oddity (in my opinion) was this same friend loved to eat “white apples”….now, I have seen and eaten just about every color of apple but I had not eaten white apples. I later found out her white apples were whole white onions! And yes, she ate them like one would eat an apple. I think she had the best constitution of any of my friends at the time. haha!
Other examples of different phrases in different parts of our country is when you go to an elevator door…do you push or do you mash the button to call the elevator? In Fort Worth, Texas…most people Mash the button!
In the Southwest, particularly New Mexico…the term for a toilet is the commode, in the Midwest it is called a stool..(yes, I know that term is also used by doctors and nurses…hahaha… at least my physicians use that term 🙁 ….) …while in the U.K , the toilet is called the Loo…water closet is another term that is used.
A carbonated beverage such as a Coke or Pepsi is called either soda or pop, depending on the part of the country you live in. If someone mentions soda to me..the cook of my inner self would think of baking soda. Just sayin’
I am sure there are many more terms that cause an eyebrow or two to lift. Do you have one you would like to share?
Me….about to have a cuppa while sitting on my tuffet!
Hello Kari,
It is their way of saying someone was being nosey, they had their nose stuck somewhere that it shouldn’t be placed. They would say ‘she’s being a bit of a sticky beak’:)
Kari I am loving your blog and I have passed on the Cherry Mash to my Mom as that is her favorite candy bar also.
Much love,
Candis
Thanks Candis,
That is funny…sticky beak….I want to remember that one.
It is so good to have enduring and endearing friends like you and Noel. You guys are the best and in our prayers always….
Me N The Captain!
Can you guess what the Aussies call a sticky beak?
Hi Candis!
Thanks for your question! I don’t know the phrase sticky beak! My first thought has to do with food….enlighten me please!
Kari
Years and years ago I knew a couple from Plano, Texas; loved ’em both dearly (shout out to Stan and Cindy). But, she used a term that left me wondering:
I was well familiar with “cut off the lights”; meaning, of course to turn the light off, or out. I didn’t often “cut off” anything electrical (except maybe wire); but at least I understood it. Communication happened.
Then, one day, she had occasion to say “cut on the lights”. Say wha? How in the world do you “cut on”??? Linguistically it makes perfect sense: “cut off” is the opposite of “cut on.” Logically, however….
No, I did not adapt her expression. Neither do I pronounce “oil” like a member of the royal family (“earl”). I do, however, sometimes say “stepping in tall cotton,” if for no other reason than to see eyes roll 😉
Hi Pete!
I remember “stepping in tall cotton”…oh wait, there is always those sticky thorns!… Or at least in my “cotton pickin'” days! ;0
Me
We love to listen to you talk Kathy!!! ;0
I was born and raised in New York City so I do not need to mention that I do sound much
different that a lot of other folks. When I was first introduced to my new brother-in-law from
the Midwest he did not speak. When he was asked why he was so quiet he said, “I just like
to listen to Kathy when she speaks”. Enough said. Kathy
Hi! Nice article. I am a friend of Sandy Marshall. You may like my blog on Idioms:
Idioms – Sensible Nonsense
WHAT THE SAM HILL? We all know what it means, but where did the saying originate?
Idioms, to make a long story short, are actually nonsense, yet hit the nail on the head in a New York minute. We know what these phrases mean; we all use them. But where do these funny and nonsensical statements come from? Since when can you know the ropes, knock on wood, wag the dog, or go the whole nine yards?
In my novel, An Abduction Revelation, I used many idioms. I added an appendix at the end of the book to explain their meanings and how they originated. I get down to the nitty gritty and make them as clear as a bell. Now you may think I am two sheets to the wind, got up on the wrong side of the bed, pulling your leg, or joshing you, when I am actually on cloud nine and in seventh heaven. Put a bug in your ear and grasp a straw, before I kick the bucket, or bite the dust, cause I would then be deader than a door nail. It might behove you to give it a shot and smell the roses, before the fat lady sings, cause I can’t spill the beans in a blog. Yes siree Bob!
An Abduction Revelation, available at: http://amzn.to/1bWV44N or for the latest edition on all eboook formats: http://bit.ly/17yuf3G
Thanks Thomas! I appreciate your comments…please take a look at my last post regarding idioms and phrases. I wrote that several years ago and was glad that you gave me a reminder. I will be checking out An Abduction Revelation!
Me
LOL A fun blog, Kari.