Regional English Quiz

[Goober McTuber]

Regional English is words that mean something in specific regions of the country. In Wisconsin a water fountain is called a “bubbler”. According to a report I read, the children's game most Wisconsinites call "duck, duck, goose" is called "duck, duck, gray duck" in Minnesota and "duck, duck, drake" in Pennsylvania. And while people in Wisconsin use "kitty-corner" to refer to something positioned diagonally across, people in other parts of the country say "catercorner" or "catty-corner."

Here’s a quiz to check your understanding of some regional English. Feel free to observe Mike’s Humpday Quiz rules. Or not. Or throw up some examples from your neck of the woods.

1. In New England, "dropped eggs" refer to:
a. scrambled eggs
b. sunny side up eggs
c. hard-boiled eggs
d. poached eggs

2. In the Southeastern U.S., a "pipjenny" refers to:
a. a pimple
b. a pipe cleaner
c. a young girl
d. a cheerleader

3. What state are you likely from if the noun "maniportia" means "madness from drinking"?
a. Wyoming
b. Maryland
c. Nevada
d. Maine

4. In Texas and the surrounding Gulf states, "flies and skinners" refer to what sport?
a. football
b. fishing
c. bull-riding
d. baseball

5. In what part of the U.S. are you likely to hear a turtle called a "cooter"?
a. Southwest
b. Northwest
c. Southeast
d. Northeast

6. In upstate New York and Pennsylvania, a "horning" refers to what?
a. the crowning of a beauty queen
b. a post-wedding celebration
c. a small music festival
d. the mounting of a deer or elk

7. Where in the U.S. is a "rowen" another name for "a second growth or crop of hay in one season"?
a. Midwest
b. West
c. Northeast
d. South

8. In states such as Kentucky and West Virginia, a "jarfly" is used to describe what Wisconsinites call:
a. a cicada
b. a dragonfly
c. an ant
d. a bumble bee

9. What might a person from Louisiana call "cream cheese"?
a. butter
b. frosting
c. cottage cheese
d. fresh milk

10. In places of German ancestry, especially Wisconsin, someone who says "siehst du" is asking what?
a. Are you tired?
b. What time is it?
c. Did you say something?
d. Do you understand?

[BSmack]

6. In upstate New York and Pennsylvania, a "horning" refers to what?

b. a post-wedding celebration

Hornings also can refer to any celebratory occasion where a large number of cars gather together to blow their horns. Like birthdays, or simply as a practical joke. It's a rural thing and you don't see too many of them these days.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

back in CNY --
when someone asked
how you were doing --
you might reply with
"swell" !!
those were crazy times !!!

[Cornhusker]

10. C

[Smackie Chan]

My guesses:

1. d
2. d
3. d
4. b
5. c
6. b
7. a
8. a
9. c
10. d

[Goober McTuber]

6 right for Smackie. Not bad.

[BSmack]

Is it better to have a copper choreboy or a plastic one in Jersey City?

Where's Irie when you need him?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chore_Boy

[Dinsdale]

In Wisconsin a water fountain is called a “bubbler”.

In the early days of Portland, a dude named Benson installed, at his own expense, a bunch of really fancy 4-headed drinking fountains. They're still there, in perfect working order. They're called the Benson Bubblers. This is the only time I've heard a drinking fountain referred to as a "bubbler." You've now piqued my curiosity, and I'm now wondering if Benson was a Wisconsin transplant.


A commonly used word around here that I've never heard people from elsewhere use in the same context is "bar." Not sure if it's just a regional thing or is universal. A "bar" in this sense is a sandy beach that's inland on the freshwater or estuary. Lots of other uses for "bar," like where the river meets the sea ("bar crossing"), and I think "sandbar" is pretty universal. But the beaches in Portland and the Lower Columbia are also "bars," and you go sunbathing/volleyball playing/excessive drinking on the "bar." Of course "bar fishing" for salmon and steelhead is popular. There's a very popular spot on the Willamette just south of Portland called Meldrum Bar(sup Luther), that I believe at one time was a sandy beach, but is now pretty much paved, but with Bar in the name, it's kinda stuck.


I've been curious about the use of "bar" in this context for a long time, and since you brought regional dialects up, seems like a good place to ask if anyone else uses "bar" in this way.


I hear "kitty-corner" and "catty-corner" used about equally...but remember, almost everyone here is from somewhere else.

[BSmack]

In Wisconsin a water fountain is called a “bubbler”.

In the early days of Portland, a dude named Benson installed, at his own expense, a bunch of really fancy 4-headed drinking fountains. They're still there, in perfect working order. They're called the Benson Bubblers. This is the only time I've heard a drinking fountain referred to as a "bubbler." You've now piqued my curiosity, and I'm now wondering if Benson was a Wisconsin transplant.

Wonder no more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Benson

[Dinsdale]

A "bar" in this sense is a sandy beach that's inland on the freshwater or estuary.

Dictionary lists this as a definition. But transplants look at you like you're from outer space when you use it. Maybe has more to do with the imports not having freshwater beaches where they come from...I dunno.

[indyfrisco]

In Texas, "fixin'" means just about anything you are doing or going to do.

Ex:

I'm fixin' breakfast.
I'm fixin' my truck.
I'm fixin' to go take a piss.

When I was in Boston, I told somone I was fixin' to go to the bathroom and they asked what was wrong with the bathroom.

[Dinsdale]

"Cooned" is very slowly gaining popularity in the U&L-btw.

[PSUFAN]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Pe ... nia_accent

[indyfrisco]

Mexican Buttfucker, or MBF for short, is also a term used in Texas quite frequently on the golf course.

An MBF occurs when you "coon" a tee shot. With an MBF, the ball generally never gets above 2 or 3 feet off the ground yet travels a pretty good distance. The MBF connotation refers tot he fact that in Texas, most of the workers on the golf courses are Mexicans typically mowing, taking care of sandtraps or bending over to fill divots with sand.

[Dinsdale]

in Texas, most of the workers on the golf courses are Mexicans typically mowing, taking care of sandtraps or bending over to fill divots with sand.

That's not limited to Texas, by any means.

Years ago, I hit a sweet MBF. That sucker would have skimmed along for 400 yards or more...except there was a dude in the group ahead replacing the pin, and it hit right on his knee, which absorbed the entire impact, and landed safely a couple of feet from the hole.

[OCmike]

Mexican Buttfucker, or MBF for short, is also a term used in Texas quite frequently on the golf course.

This term is also used in Indiana when referring to Mike Backer.

----------------------------------

In NoCal people say, "That's tight", meaning "Not cool" or something that sucks. Pretty much everywhere else I've been, "Tight" when used in slang, generally refers to something that's VERY cool, such as, "Damn, yo, them rims be tight!"

[Dinsdale]

It must suck to be Armstrong'sTitLover's neighbors....an awful lot of smoke would have to be coming off their roof before he'd call the fire department.


Barry Bonds hasn't been busted for anything...yet. Your thoughts?

[Dinsdale]

In NoCal people say, "That's tight", meaning "Not cool" or something that sucks. Pretty much everywhere else I've been, "Tight" when used in slang, generally refers to something that's VERY cool, such as, "Damn, yo, them rims be tight!"

Probably 20 years ago, "tight" was used to denote an act of being less-than friendly or generous.


It was considered "tight" to not acknowledge someone who said "hello" walking down the street, or things of that nature, or when you wouldn't give your buddy a ride somewhere...that sort of thing.


Funny thing is, every time I make a NoCal visit, I hear a bunch of slang that was worn out to the point of being taken out of service in my neck of the woods at least two years prior.

[BSmack]

Mexican Buttfucker, or MBF for short, is also a term used in Texas quite frequently on the golf course.

An MBF occurs when you "coon" a tee shot. With an MBF, the ball generally never gets above 2 or 3 feet off the ground yet travels a pretty good distance. The MBF connotation refers tot he fact that in Texas, most of the workers on the golf courses are Mexicans typically mowing, taking care of sandtraps or bending over to fill divots with sand.

Ah, what we in Upstate NY refer to as a "wormburner".

[Dinsdale]

Ah, what we in Upstate NY refer to as a "wormburner".

An "Agent Skulled'er." (X-Files reference)

[Dinsdale]

Sounds a little bit like what we around here call "B-SMACKing" the ball. It's when you miss-hit a ball and then claim it as your original intention.

RACK!

[BSmack]

Mexican Buttfucker, or MBF for short, is also a term used in Texas quite frequently on the golf course.

An MBF occurs when you "coon" a tee shot. With an MBF, the ball generally never gets above 2 or 3 feet off the ground yet travels a pretty good distance. The MBF connotation refers tot he fact that in Texas, most of the workers on the golf courses are Mexicans typically mowing, taking care of sandtraps or bending over to fill divots with sand.

Ah, what we in Upstate NY refer to as a "wormburner".

Sounds a little bit like what we around here call "B-SMACKing" the ball. It's when you miss-hit a ball and then claim it as your original intention.

Better than a Tardowen. You know, when you go to kill yourself but wind up molesting a child instead.

[Dinsdale]

Better than a Tardowen. You know, when you go to kill yourself but wind up molesting a child instead.

Wow, that's a cutting-edge retort there.


Take the concept the guy before you used, remove any and all humor and creativity, then post it as your own.


No, there's no pattern developing here...

[BSmack]

Better than a Tardowen. You know, when you go to kill yourself but wind up molesting a child instead.

Wow, that's a cutting-edge retort there.

Take the concept the guy before you used, remove any and all humor and creativity, then post it as your own.

It's called turning a guy's words against him.

Sorry if you don't appreciate it. Now kindly go skullfuck a lawnmower.

[Mr T]

Never in my entire life have I heard this term:

2. In the Southeastern U.S., a "pipjenny" refers to:
a. a pimple
b. a pipe cleaner
c. a young girl
d. a cheerleader

Neither have I.

I had to look it up. Its a pimple.

[Terry in Crapchester]

Never in my entire life have I heard this term:

2. In the Southeastern U.S., a "pipjenny" refers to:
a. a pimple
b. a pipe cleaner
c. a young girl
d. a cheerleader

Neither have I.

I had to look it up. Its a pimple.

Fwiw, I had never heard of a "horning" or a "wormburner" either. As to the latter, in fairness I don't golf much. On the rare occasions I do get out, that sounds like a lot of what I hit.

[indyfrisco]

Fwiw, I had never heard of a "horning" or a "wormburner" either. As to the latter, in fairness I don't golf much. On the rare occasions I do get out, that sounds like a lot of what I hit.

Q: What do you call a 140 yard 6 iron in the CNY?

A: The same thing you call it in the PGH.

[BSmack]

So I see you have perfected using a the "B-Smack" shot. Where did you learn it?

Why all the hate? Dateline NBC finally catch up to you? Lemme guess, you were the guy with the sweatshirt over his head.



And you were just there to warn her. Right?

[Smackie Chan]

Better than a Tardowen. You know, when you go to kill yourself but wind up molesting a child instead.

Wow, that's a cutting-edge retort there.


Take the concept the guy before you used, remove any and all humor and creativity, then post it as your own.


No, there's no pattern developing here...

This type of treatment after dude hooked you up with a wikipedia link? Not denying its validity by any means, mind you, but you could cut a bruthah a sprout, yo.

[Neely8]

I can remember using "Bubbler" here in Rhode Island when I was 5 years old. Always thought it was just an RI thing.

RI Slang:

Grinder---Sub/Hoagie/Sandwich
Cabinet---Milkshake



I have also picked up the Calafornian habit of using "Right On" way too much......

[indyfrisco]

Hoagies and Grinders
Hoagies and Grinders
Meatloaf Sandwich.

Sloppy Joe. Slop Sloppy Joe.

[indyfrisco]

I have also picked up the Calafornian habit of using "Right On" way too much......

Hella sweet.

[War Wagon]

Cabinet---Milkshake

huh?

cabinet = cupboard - if it's in the kitchen. Prononced cubbard.

At least that's what my mom called it.

[Neely8]

Cabinet---Milkshake

huh?

cabinet = cupboard - if it's in the kitchen. Prononced cubbard.

At least that's what my mom called it.

Cabinets are Cabinets here too, but also milkshakes......


If you order Chowder in Rhode Island it will be clear broth. So make sure to order NE Chowder or White Chowder if thats what you really want.....

[Smackie Chan]

Cabinet---Milkshake

That's a strange one. I thought milkshakes were frappes up there.

[Cuda]

"Cooned" is very slowly gaining popularity in the U&L-btw.

Well, I'll be jiggered!

[Mikey]

Mexican Buttfucker, or MBF for short, is also a term used in Texas quite frequently on the golf course.

An MBF occurs when you "coon" a tee shot. With an MBF, the ball generally never gets above 2 or 3 feet off the ground yet travels a pretty good distance. The MBF connotation refers tot he fact that in Texas, most of the workers on the golf courses are Mexicans typically mowing, taking care of sandtraps or bending over to fill divots with sand.

Ah, what we in Upstate NY refer to as a "wormburner".

Around here it's a snake killer.