Canadian slang

It's kinda like an American expression I've heard. "I'm going to the grocery".

What happened to "store" after "grocery"?

Is that a regional expression?

 

Never heard that one, JR ... The "to hospital" thing struck me as odd because it seemed universal on nearly every channel's newscast that I heard while I was up there. Am I exaggerating, or is that the case?

 

Head,
I'd say "he was taken to hospital" but but if referring to myself, I'd say "I'm going to the hospital".

The former is pretty much unviveral, however.

Never thought of it, though

 

Sorry if I'm beating a dead horse here, but I really am curious ...

What's the difference in usage of the two examples you just cited? Why would you use the article "the" in one instance and not in the other?

 

Since I've already referred to the Kraft Dinners and the decals, thanks to the Barenaked Ladies, I'll say thank you to whoever above explained Chesterfield. I'd always assumed it was a chair or something, but sofa makes sense too.

 

Canadians use serviettes. You Yanks use napkins.

 

I don't know about the hospital, but I did hear he was going to university.

 

Yeah, we'd say that. What would you say? Going to college?

 

I have no idea. One sounds right, the other clanky. I'd never say "I'm going to hospital".

"Taken to hospital" doesn't specify which hospital. And to say he was "taken to a hospital" kinda indicates that the ambulance drivers aren't sure where they're going.

 

I think you're bang-on JR.

If you say "the hospital," you're indicating you know which of, say, three hospitals in the city.

If you say "a hospital," it sounds like no one, including yourself, the drivers or the patient know where things were headed.

If you say "hospital," it sounds cleaner.

 

I always say Dee-Kals. Not Deck-uhls.

 

Closet redneck.