Canadian slang

A cottage in Southern Ontario encompasses almost everything--from a two bedroom shack with no running water to a $3million house on Lake Muskoka.

However, I always thought of a cabin as primitive and more isolated.

 

The Maritime expressions are often heard in nearby Maine, like "you're not from here, you're from awaaaaay." The "Buddy whassisname" thing cracks me up. But you gotta have the accent that goes with.

Around where I come from, we don't call it "pop" or "soda". We call 'em "soft drinks," which is the direct translation from the French "liqueurs douces."

 

Before it was done away with, Americans had never heard of Grade 13.

Canadian Tire (and its currency) is also known as Crappy Tire.

The Brewer's Retail - the store authorized to sell beer in Ontario and owned by the major breweries - eventually changed its name to the Beer Store because that's all anyone ever called it.

Bowling can be with either five or 10 pins.

Butter tarts are one of Toronto's great exports to the world.

 

Do Americans eat Nanaimo bars?

 

Had a former boss from Saskatchewan, and there's quite the cadre of Canadian physicians where I live, so I hear the odd expression now and again.

My boss always ordered a burger with "the works," which meant everything on it.

He criticized lazy hockey players for playing "suckhole," or cherry-picking.

He also ordered chips, which in the U.S. were fries, I believe. He then covered them with gravy or vinegar. It's an aquired taste, but pretty darn good.

And lest we forget, there's the "Canadian Ballet," although that might be an U.S. expression for the art practiced by the fine ladies in Ft. Erie, Ontario.

 

Micro: Fries and gravy and cheese curds=poutine, the national dish of Quebec.

 

We call watch caps "beenies" here.

 

Not a chance. Good get, HC.

 

Not that I'm aware of. They are quite good. I've had my share.

No mention of meat pie Christmas Day?

 

Never heard of it.

There's tortiere, which is a Quebec dish, often served Christmas Eve.

 

Mmmm ... tourtiere. One of the altos in the church choir makes these for us Christmas Eve and we have a little 'dinner' between the two evening services.

 

Not bad with a little HP. Or is that punishable by death in Quebec?