Boston-ese

Dave

Dave

Well-Known Member
A TALKING "BOSTON" DICTIONARY

Going to college in Boston? "Mary-mutha-ah-gawd, you gotta be wicked
smaht!"

But we bet you don't know some things. Like, what's a three decka? A
packie? How about a rotary? Ever banged a U-ey? Worn dungarees or
ordered a frappe? Even a Rhodes scholar would have a tough time deciphering the
language Boston calls its own. "New Englanders have had a long and strong
tradition of eccentric ways of expressing themselves, especially in Boston,"
said Boston University Linguistics professor Michael Feldman. "It's very
distinctive." Indeed ~ and we'd have a pissah time tryin' to stump ya, then
make fun of ya behind ya back . . . but that's wicked mean. Instead,
here's a little primer to take with you on the T, while you're on the Common or in the Gahden, (Garden) maybe catchin' a Pats game or sipping a regulah coffee at Dunkies.

American Chop Suey ~ Found in school cafeterias, this delightful
dish doesn't resemble anything American or Chinese. It's macaroni
with meat and tomato sauce.

Bangin' a U-ey ~ This is what you do while driving after you miss a
turn and you have to turn around.

Book it ~ To high tail someplace, as in, "I better book it to
Stah Mahket (for those who are new to Boston it's - Star Market) before it closes."

Bubblah ~ Spelled bubbler, it's a water fountain.

Der ~ An interjection indicating disdain for someone else's stupidity,
as in, "The old Gahden was way betta than the Fleet! Der!"

Down Cellar ~ The basement. As in; "run down cella and get me a dishtowel outta the drya." Derived from upstairs.

Dungarees ~ Jeans. Hardly heard anymore, unless you're at some
sort of senior citizens event.

Frappe ~ What the rest of the nation calls a milkshake. But in
Boston, a milkshake is just flavored milk; no ice cream allowed.

Fried and Bizaah ~ Weird. "That dude is wicked fried." "Yah, he's
totally bizaah."

Fudge-icle ~ To the rest of the world, a frozen chocolate pop is
a Fudgesicle, but in Boston the 's' is silent.

Hermits and black and whites ~ Cookies. A hermit is a molasses
and raisin bar. Black and whites, known anywhere else as half moons
or half and halfs, are round, cakelike cookies with chocolate
frosting on one half, vanilla on the other.

Jimmies ~ Sprinkles you put on ice cream.

Packie ~ Liquor Store. You'll have to make a packie run if you
want a kegga (keg party.)

Pissah ~ Good.

Rotary ~ traffic circle. And in Massachusetts, those in the
rotary have the right of way.

Scrod ~ a generic name for white fish. We think it's cod, but
no one's sure. Usually breaded and laden with butter.

Spuckie - What the rest of the nation calls a Submarine Sandwich "Sub" or Grinder. Let's get an Italian Spuckie at Frank's. * I never heard this one *

So Don't I / So Aren't I ~ So do I,So am I. "I have tickets to
Aerosmith tonight." "Oh my Gawd, so don't I!" "No Suh!" "Yah huh."
"Wicked Pissa!"

Three Decker ~ Pronounced three decka, it's a three story house
in which each story is a separate apartment.

A time ~ A party. "We're going to a time for Sully at McGuire's." *never heard this one either *

Tonic ~ Soda.

Wicked ~ Extremely. "Nomaaah's a wicked good baseball playa."

Yah huh and no suh ~ Yes and no. Usually heard during an
intense conversation. "I saw Mickey at Castle Island and he was with
another girl." "No SUH!" "Yah huh."

Other tips: Don't say COPEly Square, it's COPley.
Worcester isn't WOOster, it's Wisstah.
Say Commonwealth Avenue, Massachusetts
Avenue or Dorchester Avenue and you'll get
pinched. It's Comm. Ave, Mass. Ave and Dot.Ave.
. . . . ya gotta love us : )
 
I knew some of 'em. I used to know a wicked good bass playah from Bahston. He straightened me out about the silent s in fudge-icle too. (It's wicked hot in Tucson)
 
dave...iffin' you plan on movin' south, here some tips for ya!

Northerners Moving South
If you are planning on visiting or moving to the South, there are a few things you should know that will help you adapt to the difference in lifestyles:
The North has sun-dried toe-mah-toes. The South has 'mater samiches.

The North has coffee houses. The South has Waffle Houses.

The North has dating services. The South has family reunions.

The North has double last names. The South has double first names.

The North has an ambulance. The South has an amalance.

The North has Indy car races. The South has stock car races.

The North has Cream of Wheat. The South has grits.

The North has green salads. The South has collard greens.

The North has lobsters. The South has crawfish.

AND

If you run your car into a ditch, don't panic. Four men in a four-wheel drive pickup truck with a tow chain will be along shortly. Don't try to help them, just stay out of their way. This is what they live for.

Don't be surprised to find movie rentals and bait in the same store.... Don't buy food at this store.

Remember, "y'all" is singular, "all y'all" is plural, and "all yawl's" is plural possessive.

Don't be worried at not understanding what people are saying. They can't understand you either.

The proper pronunciation you learned in school is no longer proper.

Be advised that "He needed killing" is a valid defense here.

If you hear a Southerner exclaim, "Hey, y'all, watch this," you should stay out of the way. These are likely to be the last words he'll ever say.

If there is the prediction of the slightest chance of even the smallest accumulation of snow, your presence is required at the local grocery store. It doesn't matter whether you need anything or not. You just have to go there.

When you come up on a person driving 15 mph down the middle of the road, remember that most folks learn to drive on a John Deere, and that is the proper speed and position for that vehicle.

Do not be surprised to find that 10-year-olds own their own shotguns, they are proficient marksmen, and their mammas taught them how to aim.

In the South, we have found that the best way to grow a lush green lawn is to pour gravel on it and call it a driveway.

AND REMEMBER:
If you do settle in the South and bear children, don't think we will accept them as Southerners. After all, if the cat had kittens in the oven, we wouldn't call 'me biscuits.
 
tonks said:
dave...iffin' you plan on movin' south, here some tips for ya!

Northerners Moving South
If you are planning on visiting or moving to the South, there are a few things you should know that will help you adapt to the difference in lifestyles:
The North has sun-dried toe-mah-toes. The South has 'mater samiches.

The North has coffee houses. The South has Waffle Houses.

The North has dating services. The South has family reunions.

The North has double last names. The South has double first names.

The North has an ambulance. The South has an amalance.

The North has Indy car races. The South has stock car races.

The North has Cream of Wheat. The South has grits.

The North has green salads. The South has collard greens.

The North has lobsters. The South has crawfish.

AND

If you run your car into a ditch, don't panic. Four men in a four-wheel drive pickup truck with a tow chain will be along shortly. Don't try to help them, just stay out of their way. This is what they live for.

Don't be surprised to find movie rentals and bait in the same store.... Don't buy food at this store.

Remember, "y'all" is singular, "all y'all" is plural, and "all yawl's" is plural possessive.

Don't be worried at not understanding what people are saying. They can't understand you either.

The proper pronunciation you learned in school is no longer proper.

Be advised that "He needed killing" is a valid defense here.

If you hear a Southerner exclaim, "Hey, y'all, watch this," you should stay out of the way. These are likely to be the last words he'll ever say.

If there is the prediction of the slightest chance of even the smallest accumulation of snow, your presence is required at the local grocery store. It doesn't matter whether you need anything or not. You just have to go there.

When you come up on a person driving 15 mph down the middle of the road, remember that most folks learn to drive on a John Deere, and that is the proper speed and position for that vehicle.

Do not be surprised to find that 10-year-olds own their own shotguns, they are proficient marksmen, and their mammas taught them how to aim.

In the South, we have found that the best way to grow a lush green lawn is to pour gravel on it and call it a driveway.

AND REMEMBER:
If you do settle in the South and bear children, don't think we will accept them as Southerners. After all, if the cat had kittens in the oven, we wouldn't call 'me biscuits.
Click to expand...

You yankees are funny. My children are really southerners...They were born in Panama City, PANAMA...so everybody in the US is a Yankee. :grinyes:
 
If there is the prediction of the slightest chance of even the smallest accumulation of snow, your presence is required at the local grocery store. It doesn't matter whether you need anything or not. You just have to go there.
Click to expand...

As I've come to learn, this rule also applies in cities that get snow 7 out of the 12 months. (above the Mason Dixon & below Canada)
 
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