I grew up, until age 12 in NE Ohio. I moved, with my mom and brother to Iowa before 7th grade. My mom's family lived there and I grew up hearing an expression that I never thought twice about until my kids, as adults, made fun of me once for saying it. Out of embarrassment, I don't believe that I ever used it again. My mom's family were always referred to as "Pennsylvania Dutch" being from Germany originally.
A few days ago I had occasion to recall that expression, when I heard it on an old TV show. Being curious I looked it up on the Internet and found the origins of the term "rid or redd up the table" referring to clearing or cleaning up the table after eating. Here is the website that I found. Now I feel somewhat vindicated.
http://www.word-detective.com/2009/06/rid-up/comment-page-1/#comment-42579
I would be interested in knowing if any of you grew up with words (like "pop" for soda, or "buggy" for shopping cart) that you later found out that some people had no clue what you were talking about when you used that phrase or word.
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4 comments:
The biggest one my kids have made fun of me for is "Jockey Box" for glove compartment.
If I think of others I'll recomment. Thanks, we have often talked about this subject in our home. There are alot concerning money, like "sawbuck". I can't remember if that is a ten or twenty.
Oh and my mom had alot of dutch words like "rumisulcha" for a house that was a gigantic mess and dirty. but I have asked other Dutch people if they have heard of it and none have so it must have been regional
I thought of some other things that my grandma said. "Davenport" for couch and "pocketbook" for purse.
Isn't it funny how our kids can take away some of the lingo we grew up with just by poking fun of us. I have sayings I have stopped using over the years just to get Tayz and Ty to quit making fun of me! :) Wish I could remember some of them now.
Fun and relatable post!
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