Odd Regional Phases and Expressions

[thorgrim29]

Daps - plimsolls

I think we might need to go a level deeper for that one

[The Fury]

Yeah, in typical US crassness, I've never heard the word "plimsolls" before. Evidently they're some kind of shoe?

[T-Mick]

A few of those are word for word translations of french expressions (or actual french words like couillon and enmerdeur), no idea what's with the car and plates ones though. We have sort of the reverse over here with a few badly translated english expressions or terms.

Enmerdeur is the right spelling! I'd never been able to find a noun form of it. The way it's pronounced in my city's dialect is /ɑ̃.mæ.'dəd/, which is non-standard. I have French native speakers who can't identify the word when I say it.

I've never found an explanation for "save the x," but "get down" is supposed to be a relic from when nowhere in the area was accessible except by horse.

[thorgrim29]

Enmerdeur is the right spelling!

Apparently it's emmerdeur weirdly enough... But yeah it's much clearer when it's written down then when it's spoken I would imagine

[Brother Oni]

Yeah, in typical US crassness, I've never heard the word "plimsolls" before. Evidently they're some kind of shoe?

Cheap canvas upper and rubber soled athletic shoe, typically worn for indoor sports in primary school (elementary school in the US).

Spoiler: plimsolls

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[Vinyadan]

So "solls" from "soles"? What would "plimm" mean?

"Save the plates" sounds like it's referring to saving disposable plates for reuse? Maybe it was and got co-opted into the main usage.

"Get down" out of a car might be a carry-over from horses and carriages, where you'd actually need to get down off of it?

Interesting, to say the least.

The equivalent of "Get down" is still used in Italian and French (scendere dalla macchina, descendre d'une voiture). Probably because cars and trains are above ground level.

No idea about "save the plates", though.

[DavidSh]

No, plimsolls are named after some fancied resemblance to the plimsoll lines on ships.
The plimsoll lines on ships are named after British MP Samuel Plimsoll.
If Wikipedia is to be believed.

[Vinyadan]

Cool, I had no idea.

[Peelee]

But how do you know you got the most out of it? There might be more in there if only you had more familiarity with the work of John Nettles!

Imean, you're not at all wrong. I'm just not going to do homework in order to enjoy a movie.

[Honest Tiefling]

"Hella", being a version of "Hell of", meaning "very" or "many", and until then I never noticed my common use of the term.

Can confirm this is something us in Norcal is known for.

So for instance "the mountain is out" to mean a clear day was common when I was a kid but is becoming less so over time.

San Francisco has kinda the opposite, with Karl the Fog. So if you see Karl, he's just popping in to block out the sun. I wonder, how many people in Oregon now say 'Hella', however?

Spoiler: plimsolls

Show

The hell is that? It kinda looks like a Keds, but not quite. Do kids just not wear sneakers in other parts of the world?

[WarKitty]

The hell is that? It kinda looks like a Keds, but not quite. Do kids just not wear sneakers in other parts of the world?

I've actually been told that's a pretty American thing, and a lot of other parts of the world regard sneakers as pretty much exclusively gym clothes.

[Lemmy]

Heh... Does it count it is in another language?

Because in Brazil we have things like "Peel the pineapple" for "doing a difficult/complicated task" and "Travel through the mayonnaise" which means something like "have such an incorrect/nonsensical/idiotic view or idea that it borders on insanity or extreme stupidity".

I particularly like "house of mother Joana", which refers to a very disorganized place or situation... This has comes from a noblewoman who lived in Brazil in the 17th or 18th century and often had feasts in her house for the poor... Add a dash of bigotry and elitism and we have "places with lots of poor people = chaos".

[The Fury]

Cheap canvas upper and rubber soled athletic shoe, typically worn for indoor sports in primary school (elementary school in the US).

Spoiler: plimsolls

Show

I'd probably call those "slip-ons." So what are they worn for? They look like they'd have about as much cushioning and support as Chuck Taylors, (not much at all,) though I'm told that classic Chucks were the first specific basketball shoe ever designed.

I've actually been told that's a pretty American thing, and a lot of other parts of the world regard sneakers as pretty much exclusively gym clothes.

Actually that explains a lot about how sneakers are designed. With their white finishes and padding, most sneakers weather pretty poorly when worn outside. Step in one puddle, and they're ruined. Even in America, if you play basketball on an indoor court, playing in the same shoes you wore outside is generally frowned on.

Heh... Does it count it is in another language?

Hey, I'd count it if you would. "Peeling the pineapple," that's a fun one.

[WarKitty]

Actually that explains a lot about how sneakers are designed. With their white finishes and padding, most sneakers weather pretty poorly when worn outside. Step in one puddle, and they're ruined. Even in America, if you play basketball on an indoor court, playing in the same shoes you wore outside is generally frowned on.

They're about the only sort of supportive shoe you can find for women though, unless you want to spend $$$ for the fancy ones.

[The Fury]

They're about the only sort of supportive shoe you can find for women though, unless you want to spend $$$ for the fancy ones.

Though that really is par for the course for women's footware. I've always preferred to wear boots, they're supportive enough for me, though maybe not for everyone. Plus, not everyone's into the style.

[Blackhawk748]

Around here we have "Er no" which is us just saying "or no" really fast, "Hey dere" (similar) and "ya". We are a very German section of America.

Also, its called a bubbler not a water fountain. Water Fountains are in parks, though drinking fountain is acceptable.

[WarKitty]

Though that really is par for the course for women's footware. I've always preferred to wear boots, they're supportive enough for me, though maybe not for everyone. Plus, not everyone's into the style.

My problem is that, with a wide foot, boots that fit me and are made of anything that would last are running $200+. I can't afford to spend that.

[The Fury]

Around here we have "Er no" which is us just saying "or no" really fast, "Hey dere" (similar) and "ya". We are a very German section of America.

Also, its called a bubbler not a water fountain. Water Fountains are in parks, though drinking fountain is acceptable.

Even though I live in an area where we normally call them "drinking fountains," we use "bubbler" in a specific instance-- The Benson Bubblers! In case you're not familar, let me tell you about an anecdote from Portland's history.

Simon Benson was a fairly successful business man back in 1912, though as a teetotaler he was bothered by the fact that his employees would hit up local saloons during their lunch breaks. So he donated money to the city in order to purchase 20 bronze drinking fountains, which were named "Benson Bubblers" in his name.

My problem is that, with a wide foot, boots that fit me and are made of anything that would last are running $200+. I can't afford to spend that.

Ah, yeah. Wide feet does sort of limit your options. I'll admit that I got really lucky with a pair of boots I bought for $60.00 in 2001. I've had them patched up, re-soled and re-heeled. They're ugly and beat-up but I still have them.

[Fri]

I'd probably call those "slip-ons." So what are they worn for? They look like they'd have about as much cushioning and support as Chuck Taylors, (not much at all,) though I'm told that classic Chucks were the first specific basketball shoe ever designed.

It's worn here as part of school uniform, basically. Even schools without uniform would still expect their students to use thoes kind of shoes indoors, I think.

I used to have one, and I used it out of school for walking around and such because it's really comfy for me. I mean, the one I had was made from breathable comfortable stretchy fabric, it's like wearing a pair of clouds

[Brother Oni]

I'd probably call those "slip-ons." So what are they worn for? They look like they'd have about as much cushioning and support as Chuck Taylors, (not much at all,) though I'm told that classic Chucks were the first specific basketball shoe ever designed.

As Fri and I mentioned earlier, they're normally worn indoors at primary schools, either as part of a uniform or for indoor sports.

My problem is that, with a wide foot, boots that fit me and are made of anything that would last are running $200+. I can't afford to spend that.

Have you considered safety work boots? I find them perfectly fine, although there's normally plenty of space for a cushioned liner and if you cover them with a silicone protective spray before their first use, they last a few years and not too expensive to replace (they typically run to about £40 over here when not on sale).

The only real issue I find is that I have to remember to take them off whenever I'm passing through metal detectors in security zones.

[WarKitty]

Have you considered safety work boots? I find them perfectly fine, although there's normally plenty of space for a cushioned liner and if you cover them with a silicone protective spray before their first use, they last a few years and not too expensive to replace (they typically run to about £40 over here when not on sale).

The only real issue I find is that I have to remember to take them off whenever I'm passing through metal detectors in security zones.

Eh, sneakers are pretty normal casual wear over here. The problem is something I could actually wear to work for those of us who have some form of business casual expectation. There basically isn't any sort of dress shoe I've found that isn't hugely uncomfortable, is actually affordable, and doesn't take a few months of looking to find.

[Peelee]

Also, its called a bubbler not a water fountain. Water Fountains are in parks, though drinking fountain is acceptable.

They don't bubble.

Also, one state doesn't get to call the shots on water fountain nomenclature.

[Blackhawk748]

They don't bubble.

Also, one state doesn't get to call the shots on water fountain nomenclature.

Maybe yours don't

[Peelee]

Maybe yours don't

Imean, maybe if there's no water pressure and you have to put your mouth on it to get any water. In which case, I sure won't be using it.

I want a visual of your bubbler bubbling.

[Keltest]

Maybe yours don't

Sorry, but calling it a bubbler is wrong. If your fountains have lots of bubbles, then your fountains are bad and should feel bad. If they don't, you have no excuse for being wrong.

[Peelee]

Sorry, but calling it a bubbler is wrong. If your fountains have lots of bubbles, then your fountains are bad and should feel bad. If they don't, you have no excuse for being wrong.

Imean, lets be fair here, some things have odd names. I'd have no problem with "bubbler" if everyone called it that. But it's only a very specific regional area that does it, and that's weird.

[Keltest]

Imean, lets be fair here, some things have odd names. I'd have no problem with "bubbler" if everyone called it that. But it's only a very specific regional area that does it, and that's weird.

Its not just weird, its wrong! WRONG I SAY!

But not like, wrong enough to start a war over or anything. Just regular wrong.

[Peelee]

Its not just weird, its wrong! WRONG I SAY!

Ya know what, you're right! I am fully invested in joining you on this crusade! WE SHALL BATHE IN THE BLOOD OF OUR ENEM-

But not like, wrong enough to start a war over or anything. Just regular wrong.

...oh. Guess I'll put away my torch and pitchfork. I guess.

[Algeh]

Imean, maybe if there's no water pressure and you have to put your mouth on it to get any water. In which case, I sure won't be using it.

I want a visual of your bubbler bubbling.

I don't know about actual bubbles, but the Benson Bubblers do tend to have their water in somewhat of a bubble shape due to it coming out of the center rather than in an arc: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benson...sonBubbler.jpg

Of course us Portlanders don't call the rest of our water fountains bubblers, just those specific ones. As a kid, I always assumed the name was due to the water shape, but really, as a kid I also assumed that women changed their birthdays to match their husband's when they got married, so I was kind of bad at making sense of the world.

Eh, sneakers are pretty normal casual wear over here. The problem is something I could actually wear to work for those of us who have some form of business casual expectation. There basically isn't any sort of dress shoe I've found that isn't hugely uncomfortable, is actually affordable, and doesn't take a few months of looking to find.

Back when I used to need to wear dressier shoes, I found some good comfortable ones from SAS that came in wide widths and would fit my orthotics. Sure, I was about the only one under the age of 70 wearing them, but they were dressy-looking enough that they carried me through jobs where I needed to look like I knew I was supposed to be wearing dress shoes. I remember them being kind of pricey but the kind of thing that the local shoe store would run coupons/sales for if you kept an eye out. (I don't remember how pricey, but my previous standard was to buy really cheap shoes from Payless, so anything over $20 would have seemed expensive at the time. Maybe $60-$100?)

I now wear a really nice pair of hiking boots all the time, and have a boss who doesn't care about a dress code at work (she didn't find out it was for medical reasons rather general choice until I'd been working there about 6 months). I bought two pairs of them about 5-6 years ago and just get them re-soled as needed every year or two. I haven't bought a new pair of shoes in years. That doesn't help at all if you don't have $300-ish to spend upfront, a boss with an expansive idea of work-appropriate clothes, and the time to break in a new pair of hiking boots, though. (Living in the PNW helps with the "boss" one. We don't really do formal office wear in this part of the country for the most part.)

[Scarlet Knight]

I realized that while "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" was a fun movie, as a New Yorker I really got a kick out of hearing all the accents and phrases I grew up with.