Coke means any type of soda. "My favorite coke is Sprite" Ya'll (contraction for you all) is commonly used and completely acceptable. Mash used for press (this one drives me nuts). "Mash the button." Buggy is a grocery cart. I hate this one, too.
Sucker vs. Lollipop Sneakers vs. Tennis shoes Swim suit vs. Bathing suit On line vs. In line (as in, I am standing in/on line to buy bus tickets) Baby carriage vs. Stroller Soda vs. Pop 'Curb your dog' = clean up it's poop Hair binder vs. Rubber band
The main thing I notice in KC is that it's very common to use "whenever" instead of "when." Like, "Whenever I went to the store, I bought some apples." It is weird.
I didn't realize "freeway" is a regional term. I've always lived in Seattle, and "freeway" and "highway" are totally different things. Pacific Highway/99 is a highway, meaning a large arterial that spans a long distance, but still has cross streets, controlled intersections, businesses on the side, etc. A freeway generally has a higher capacity, higher speed limit, and drivers must enter or exit via on/off-ramps.
Is this distinction not made elsewhere? Or is it something like "highway" vs. "interstate"?
As an aside, I totally thought the word "freeway" was "three-way" until I was about six. I'm sure my parents thought it was hilarious.
Post by stingsharkruns on Sept 14, 2012 21:00:15 GMT -5
I was born & raised in FL & i've never heard the majority of these terms.
I say cart or buggy for shopping cart I don't say hwy or freeway.. It's just I4, 19, 27, or 50
I don't really know of anything that's regional - i've never lived anywhere else & MH was also born and raised in FL along w/ all of our parents. Legit Floridians.
ETA: I also say ya'll & fixin' to "I'm fixin' to go to town."
Post by wise_rita on Sept 14, 2012 21:09:20 GMT -5
I'm from North Dakota and we call a sloppy joe a barbecue. It makes NO sense!
ETA: For winter hat (like the one with the ball on top) we have adopted the Canadian term toque (rhymes with Luke). Most Americans have no idea what that is.
Post by LoveTrains on Sept 14, 2012 21:15:53 GMT -5
I live in RI now, but grew up in South Jersey. I will still say stuff like water ice (wooder ice) or hoagies, or going down the shore. But when I say down the shore, I now mean Narragansett and people look at me like I have two heads.
But RI has crazy slang like a cabinet= milk shake. WTF is that about?
I do love the old school New England stuff, though, like tonic = soda. There is a grocery store near me that has "tonic" on the sign in the aisle for the soda.
In Milwaukee an ATM is a TYME machine. When I moved to Chicago, people looked at me like I was an idiot when I had to get $
Ha! I grew up in Chicago and went to undergrad in Milwaukee. I would look for the "Cash Station" in MKE and people were like, huh?. Then I'd go back home looking for the "TYME" machines.
Also, sorry, but "bubbler" drove me crazy. It's a drinking fountain!
In Milwaukee an ATM is a TYME machine. When I moved to Chicago, people looked at me like I was an idiot when I had to get $
Ha! I grew up in Chicago and went to undergrad in Milwaukee. I would look for the "Cash Station" in MKE and people were like, huh?. Then I'd go back home looking for the "TYME" machines.
Also, sorry, but "bubbler" drove me crazy. It's a drinking fountain!
Where I grew up, an ATM is a MAC machine. I forgot about that!
My favorite memories are late nights at the diner eating disco fries to soak up the booze.
I'm from Westchester, NY and a sandwich is a wedge (often a hot sandwich).
And the buttered rolls have a LOT of butter.
And deli's used to make your coffee for you (order it 'light,' etc.) so coffee stations took me by surprise when I left NY -- and stood there with my empty cup.
Coke means any type of soda. "My favorite coke is Sprite" Ya'll (contraction for you all) is commonly used and completely acceptable. Mash used for press (this one drives me nuts). "Mash the button." Buggy is a grocery cart. I hate this one, too.
GA here too - Along the lines of 'mash the button' I still LOL when someone says "plug it up" (cause to me that sounds like something to do with a toilet as opposed to plugging something in.) "Cut it off" for shutting something off used to make me go and "I'm fixin' to..." drives me insane. The buggy/carriage argument happens whenever H and I go grocery shopping - I even started calling it a shopping cart and he still insists on calling it a buggy.
As for the North, I've always used jimmies (didn't know they were aka "sprinkles" until I was old enough to read the label), grinders for subs, and countless other things I don't think anything of until my husband gives me a 'WTF?!' look.
I just recently moved to the south. My friend said "We just got into the car, and the bottom fell out." I was really concerned about her car.... And then I found out that "the bottom fell out" means it started to rain!
They just say "highway." They aren't all free here! Paying for tolls is also something I had to get used to.
Instead of saying, "take the 93," they would say "take 93" or "take I-93."
I don't think that is just in Maine. If it's a road, then you say "take Smith road, if it's an avenue you say "take Smith ave." How is the above "regional"? lots of Mainers say The _ Road. Take a left on to the Hogan road, then a right on to Stillwater Ave. and a left on to the Kelley road, cross Main Street.
Where I grew up, an ATM is a MAC machine. I forgot about that!
I was going to add this one! I vividly remember visiting California in college and asking the hotel concierge for the closest MAC. He looked at us like we had three heads.
I also grew up not knowing that "pocketbook" or "crick" (aka "creek") were weird things to say. It only took one intense round of ridicule to cure me of "crick".
In Milwaukee an ATM is a TYME machine. When I moved to Chicago, people looked at me like I was an idiot when I had to get $
I once asked a hotel employee in LA where I could find a a TYME machine. He looked at me like I had 7 heads. I had no idea it wasn't called that everywhere.
I grew up on Long Island and now live in Maryland. To me it's cold cuts and sneakers instead of lunch meat and tennis shoes. And G was so confused when we were discussing how much pizza to order and I said lets just get a pie.
Tennis shoes and sneakers are even used differently within the state. Baltimore = tennis shoes. Most other places, especially areas closer to DC = sneakers
But RI has crazy slang like a cabinet= milk shake. WTF is that about?
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I just listened to a podcast where they talked about this. When said with a ne accent, the word carbonate sounds like cabinet. You can (probably) read more at their site www.goodjobbrain.com
Where I'm from Wi, people tend to say "come here once.". Just once. My CWs had a field day with this one when I lived in Philly.