odd names for stuff in different sections of the country.

[jwyblejr]

One of the more interesting things I've learned is "iced tea". In the South when you ask for tea in a restaurant it comes sweet. If you ask for it up North it comes unsweet. And if you ask for it out west they have no idea what the hell you are talking about or you'll get a cup of "hot tea".

There are 4 pitchers of tea at my parents house at all times. One for Mom (sweet), my Dad (unsweet), my wife (not as sweet) and my brother (twice as sweet). I just laugh. I personally can't stand the stuff.

I've asked for "sweet tea" up North,they look at you as if you've got a third eye or something.

[Adam West]

I've asked for "sweet tea" up North,they look at you as if you've got a third eye or something.

I guess it depends on what you consider North. Maryland is below the Mason-Dixon line although my friend in Georgia calls me a Yankee.

Around here, if you ask for Iced Tea, you'll get unsweetened iced tea. You have to ask if they have sweet tea if you want it that way (sometimes they have it, sometimes they don't).

The whole "wit" thing reminds me of that Pat's Philly Cheesesteaks in Philadelphia and the way you are "supposed" to order. They don't kid around at that place either; they are like the soup nazi from Seinfeld if there is a line. If you don't order it right or are still deciding what you want by the time you get to the front, they'll tell you to get to the back of the line....I thought it was all done with a wink until I saw them tell someone to get to the back of the line.

[Adam West]

In UK fish and chip shops you can get a fish cake - a slice of fish between two slices of potato deep fried in batter. It's always been a cake to me, yet in the town 4 miles down the valley it's called a scone.

Breadbuns (teacakes to me) are called stotties in Newcastle.

A narrow alleyway is called a snicket in Yorkshire. There is certainly a lot of peculiar dialect that is very regional in the UK.

A lot of kids, when I was younger used to say "I'm off to get some spice" when visiting the sweet shop. I never really liked `spice`. Sweets came from a sweet shop.

A couple of my favorite British sayings (possibly Americanized to some extent since I'm only going by what I see on TV)

Instead of standing in line, standing in que or queing up
The word "Quid" referring to a Pound Sterling
The use of the word "brilliant" referring to how well they think a person performed.
Pointing out an error and finishing with "Yeah?" (you understand what I'm saying?)
and of course "Bloody Hell"

[kisscash]

If you want two " hot dogs " with everything you would ask for " two all the way " or ask for " two gag-gahs ". ( and it is a saugy for a hot dog and a weiner that gets the meat sauce and onions )

If you get a coffee milk with the gag-gahs ask for a " arizona ".

If someone wants to go out for lemon-aid they are usually talking about a " Dells "

Pizza of any kind is " pie " and Soda of any kind is " Coke ".

A winter hat is a " toque " a pair of undies is " boodahns "

Now that I think of it, the slaughter of the English for an Italian kid in RI is brutal nevermind the slang that mixes with it.

Ca$h

[4NDR01D]

Also, I don't know what peole say in other parts, but around here a coffee with 2 creams and 2 sugars is a double-double.

[megoat]

When you were a kid and gave someone a lift on your bicycle, what did you call it?

In California we called this a "pump". Like in "Hey man, will give me a pump over to the Circle K?"

I found out that in other parts of the country, not only do they not say this, but it sounds completely strange....

[Mikey]

I never heard of "Circle K" till I was well in my 20's and watched Bill And Ted.

[thunderbolt]

I didn't know what a biscuit was till I moved to FLA. In Illinois we had rolls, no crumbly biscuits.

[JPkempo]

I was watching the british show bargain hunt the contestents picked up a metal item with a couple of little dents. they said it was a bit "bashed in" where I would say a bit dented.
Bashed in I think some one took a bat to it and destroyed it.

[Mikey]

Brit speach totally messes American's up

They call French Fries "Chips"

.... and call chips "crisps"

They are so wacky

[Joe90]

Not all Canadians have it but many speak in "question talk" which I think comes from being raised bilingual. Here's how certain members of my family speak:

So I went down to the store? But they were out of paint? So I went to the Home Depot?

It's weird, I can catch myself doing it occasionally.

It's called an interrogative inflection, sometimes known, less charitably, as a moronic interrogative inflection. Apparently it represents a sense of uncertainty, or lack of confidence, in the speaker. It's not strictly a Canadianism; it's the clichéd way of depicting a "Valley Girl's" speech, or an adolescent. The word "like" seems to accompany it.

Underwear in Alberta: Gonch, Gonchie, Ginch, Ginchie... Other parts of Canada?

"I'm coming, I'm coming -- don't get your gonch in a knot."

[grayhank]

If you want two " hot dogs " with everything you would ask for " two all the way " or ask for " two gag-gahs ". ( and it is a saugy for a hot dog and a weiner that gets the meat sauce and onions )

If you get a coffee milk with the gag-gahs ask for a " arizona ".

If someone wants to go out for lemon-aid they are usually talking about a " Dells "

Pizza of any kind is " pie " and Soda of any kind is " Coke ".

A winter hat is a " toque " a pair of undies is " boodahns "

Now that I think of it, the slaughter of the English for an Italian kid in RI is brutal nevermind the slang that mixes with it.

Ca$h

I have to ask what part of RI you are from because I've never heard of some of these. But then I grew up in the woods of Scituate. I'm gonna guess your from North Providence or Cranston.

A Saugy is a brand name of hot dog that is made in RI, not really a term for one. Those things always gave me a terrible case of gas, as well as bad breath. Hot Weiners are also hot dogs but they have meat sauce, onions, mustard and celery salt on them (all the way).

The reference of calling Pizza a "pie" is more accurate to New York. Although if you ask for a Spinich Pie you get something entirely different. RI is quite famous for having Pizza Strips (a long rectangular piece of bread with just sauce on it) in most convenience stores and bakeries.

The hat term Toque comes from Canada, not RI. As in Bob & Doug McKenzie from SCTV. That one must have snuck in where you live.

Some other RI terms:

A Quahog (pronounced Kwaa-Hog - NOT Co-Hog like on Family Guy) is a type of clam.

Steamers (or Little Necks) are also a type of clam that you dip in butter.

Clam Cakes are not cakes, but deep fried batter with chopped clams in it.

Dough Boys are deep fried batter with sugar on them

If you hear the term "Do you know what the "number" is?" This refers to the Lottery.

If you hear the term "Did you go to the races" it is referring to Horse or Dog racing, not NASCAR.

Be careful of how many "Awful Awful's" you can drink. You might get sick. It's a type of ice cream milk shake that you are put to the challenge of how many you can drink before you vomit. The one who drinks the most without getting sick is the winner.

[kinostadt]

When you were a kid and gave someone a lift on your bicycle, what did you call it?

In California we called this a "pump". Like in "Hey man, will give me a pump over to the Circle K?"

I found out that in other parts of the country, not only do they not say this, but it sounds completely strange....

Growing up in Minnesota, we called that a "buck."

[kinostadt]

In Minnesota, a casserole is often called a "hotdish", and soda is "pop".

In Wisconsin, they call a drinking fountain a "bubbler." I have no idea why.

[4NDR01D]

This is one of the funniest threads I've ever read, really a lot of fun. Two people on one bike is called "doubling" , I think what some of you call "biscuits" we just call buns, I'm not sure what you guys mean by "coffee milk"? Rarely does anybody put milk in their coffee, usually cream.