Why UNDER

[gramps]

My grandma would say: “light the light, and douse the light”!
gramps

 

[contender]

As noted,, this thread is easily amusing the brilliant!


Language is always a fun topic,, if you try & be technical. But,, we all know that language is a fluid & ever changing thing. Many things are said or called due to old history, (such as the Edison rotary switch, to turn the light off,) that are still used, even after a product changes,, such as the flip switch.
Next,, we have cultures,, where language is almost totally mis-understood. Think; "ebonics" & try & understand much of what is said by the folks who speak it.

Some words are used more often in regions,, (often it's either North or South) such as "soda" or "pop" when describing a bottled drink.

But,, keep it up,, as this thread is amusing & fun to follow!

 

[Fox Mike]

Sub, hoagie, or grinder. Then there is the RC and a Moonpie; up north they haven't a clue. Peanuts in your Coke.

 

[Snake45]

“Brand New!” compared to “New!” And “New” has to be added when a baby is born.

The word "Just" or "Only" must be added before any price in any advertisement.

 

[Colonialgirl]

As noted,, this thread is easily amusing the brilliant!


Language is always a fun topic,, if you try & be technical. But,, we all know that language is a fluid & ever changing thing. Many things are said or called due to old history, (such as the Edison rotary switch, to turn the light off,) that are still used, even after a product changes,, such as the flip switch.
Next,, we have cultures,, where language is almost totally mis-understood. Think; "ebonics" & try & understand much of what is said by the folks who speak it.

Some words are used more often in regions,, (often it's either North or South) such as "soda" or "pop" when describing a bottled drink.

But,, keep it up,, as this thread is amusing & fun to follow!

And in Boston a bottled soda drink was called a "TONIC".

Around some areas of Pennsylvania, you would hear "Throw me down the stairs, my pants".
"I dasn't do that" , "Mom Dare I go swimming today?"; Or how about in school "Miss Hortop, Somebody BROKE THE WIND near me" . ( Yeah it was a one room school house, with 1st through 8th grades where my Dad, Uncle and Aunt had attended at sometime in their lives; I was in the 5th grade and my brother was a 7th grader, My uncle Floyd's name was carved in the top of a desk in the back of the room.)

 

[Rick Courtright]

Sub, hoagie, or grinder. Then there is the RC and a Moonpie; up north they haven't a clue. Peanuts in your Coke.

Hi,

Just sat down at the booth in a cafe somewhere between AR and KY, and the nice lady came to greet me.

"Hon, what would you like to drink?"

"I'd like a Coke, please."

"What kind of a Coke?"

"Just a regular one, in the red can."

"Oh, you want a Co-cola!"

Rick C

 

[vito]

How can one swim under the water? If you were under the water you would be in the ground.

The correct way to express it is to say you swim under water, rather than "under the water".

English is full of phrases that don't seem to make sense if you analyze them closely. Or carefully. Or with great detail. Or whatever.

 

[RoninPA]

...English is full of phrases that don't seem to make sense if you analyze them closely. Or carefully. Or with great detail. Or whatever.

That is why American English is one of, if not the hardest languages to learn. I deal with a lot of Chinese Nationals going to Penn State and some aren't as good with English as some of the others. So, when discussing firearms either in person or by email (which is actually harder) I have to be careful because of the dual and even triple meanings of some words and phrases.

Another PA Dutch saying "red up your room" or after supper "red up the table" Meaning clean your room or clear the table.

 

[Snake45]

Another PA Dutch saying "red up your room" or after supper "red up the table" Meaning clean your room or clear the table.

I had an old girlfriend who would say that, except I think she was saying "ret up." But I could be wrong.

ETA: Apparently you're right, but I'm not completely wrong. According to Wiki:

redd up (also ret, rid, ridd, or redd out) - (v.) to tidy up, clean up, or clean out (a room, house, cupboard, etc.); to clean house, tidy up (hence v bl. redding up house-cleaning; tidying up)

Apparently the etymology of it would be from "ready up," so I'd consider "red" to be more correct.

 

[Bull Barrel]

Isn't swimming done IN the water? What's under th water? The bottom!
And in Bahston you pahk the cah in the gararge.

 

[Bob Wright]

Sub, hoagie, or grinder. Then there is the RC and a Moonpie; up north they haven't a clue. Peanuts in your Coke.

Hi,

Just sat down at the booth in a cafe somewhere between AR and KY, and the nice lady came to greet me.

"Hon, what would you like to drink?"

"I'd like a Coke, please."

"What kind of a Coke?"

"Just a regular one, in the red can."

"Oh, you want a Co-cola!"

Rick C

You either asked for a Coke, or a coke. Now if you wanted Coca Cola, you ask for a Coke. But if you're buying, you offer your companion a coke, and they decide what kind.

Bob Wright

 

[ruggedruger]

Good question.

I always wondered why you shut a light off.

You can’t open a light on.

Who says "shut the light off?" It's "Turn the light off."

Around here, it's "Hit the lights".




Bob Wright[/quote]

 

[ruggedruger]

I grew up in Canada but have lived in North Carolina for 24 years. Last night, for the first time I think, I said:

"I'm going to fix supper". It wasn't even broken!

 

[Colonel Daddy]

All her life, my wife has "raised the window down". It's an open door for me to play devils advocate. I say "no, I'd rather lower the window up". Then she gets peeved! :mrgreen:

 

[Bob Wright]

How about "sure 'nuff?" (Sure enough)

As my cousin once said "I'd like to see a sure 'nuff fire engine."

And, talking about an exceptionally grand house, "That is a sure 'nuff fine house!"

And, "Well, I've gotta go milk, sure 'nuff."

Bob Wright

 

[bobski]

shutting off the light.... from being seen from outside.
it goes back to the days of homes with shutters.

 

[bobski]

being under the rule of a king.
subjects are below the king, making you under his authority.
being under arrest means you are ordered to submit to a seniors demand.




and I didn't use google either.

 

[eveled]

I always wondered why extraordinary was better than great, it literally says you are extra ordinary! As in very ordinary.

I worked with a guy who said his t shirts were extra medium.

 

[Snake45]

I always wondered why extraordinary was better than great, it literally says you are extra ordinary! As in very ordinary.

I worked with a guy who said his t shirts were extra medium.

Because extra also means "out from" or "away from."

 

[Bob Wright]

Well, I declare! Looks like we've done loaded this wagon plumb full. My wife is in the kitchen yonder fixin' dinner. I need to go and wash up.

Anonymous.

 

[ruggedruger]

In NC, it's often 'Hit the lights for me!'

and...

"Mash that button"
"Fix supper"

 

[Ale-8(1)]

In SC it was "cut the lights on" (or off). :wink: