What Do You Call It? - Tuesday 4

Welcome to Tuesday 4 which was started by our friend Toni Taddeo and kept up in memory of her. Different sections of the USA have different words and customs they use. Let's talk about them. 

1. In New Jersey you put your groceries in a paper bag or plastic bag.  In Athens, Ohio where I went to university, you put them in a paper sack. Is it bag, sack or something else where you live? 

I live on the west coast of Canada.  When we go shopping, especially at the supermarket for groceries, we're always asked if we want to purchase a bag.  I generally take my own and also a bag on wheels because I tend to overshop.

Bags are generally made of fabric, plastic or paper and we no longer get them free in the market place.  In fact we haven't for many years already and most of us have learned to carry our own to the grocery store otherwise we have to buy one at the store. The cost runs anywhere from 25 cents for a paper bag up to $2.50 for a reusable bag.  I often see people carrying their food purchases in their hands.  No bag.  This works if you only buy a few items.

2. Though no one seems to wear them anymore, NJ says "stockings". Athens, Ohio used to call them "hose" and in Britain they are "tights". What about where you live? 

We use all 3 terms depending on what the item is. If they're made of sheer fabric we call them nylons (old term, from the 60s and 70s), pantyhose or hose.  I think before that they were called "sheers".  Pantyhose cover the entire foot, legs and derriere, making it much easier to keep the stockings where they're supposed to be.  On the legs rather than down at the ankles.  I still remember the days when we had to wear some kind of strap around our waists with clips on elastics that were used to secure your nylons and keep them from falling down.  I wasn't quite old enough to have to use these but I definitely remember them. Pantyhose were a huge improvement and more comfortable.  These days most people don't wear any hose except at all except perhaps knee high hose, sometimes called "trouser socks".

"Tights" are like pantyhose except they are made of much thicker material and usually worn on colder days.

We use the words "stockings" or "socks" if they cover the foot and ankle, or the foot up to the calf.  Knee high stockings cover the foot up to the knees. 

Sorry if this explanation sounds too basic but there may be people reading, especially men, who have no idea! LOL

3.  Soda, Pop, Coke? 

Hero, sub, grinder, hoagie? 

We use both terms "soda" and "pop" interchangeably, but pop is probably used more often where I live. People will often say "coke" as a general term when they want a cold drink but when they get to where they will buy it of course they have to be more specific with the tupe of soda or pop they want such as Pepsi, Fanta (Orange), Root Beer, Coke, Sprite, etc. 

We say "sub", short for submarine sandwich but sometimes stores and restaurants will call them Heroes or Hoagies. 

4. Shopping cart or trolley. buggy? What do you call it? 

I call it a shopping cart if you're referring to the metal cart on wheels that you push around in the grocery store and in which you place your intended purchases. I also have a shopping bag on wheels which I like to call a 'buggy' even though that isn't the proper name for it.  I got that terminology from my late mom.  I looked it up and I guess such an invention goes by several names including: a shopping trolley, shopping caddie, granny cart, bundle buggy, or a rolling grocery cart.  Based on this brief research, I guess "buggy " is the short form of "bundle buggy" and an appropriate term to use after all. Who knew? Not me! LOL.

My old buggy

A rare, full shopping cart

My newer, black buggy. I need a new one again.

Thank you for reading this far. I look forward to reading about the terms used where you live. Enjoy your week and please visit again soon. xx