GCU Forum - Americanisms - please explain for

Marion_133078

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Americanisms - please explain for
Mar 7^th, 2011, 2:10am

Being a poor Englishwoman

, I am often confused by some of the Americanisms and therefore categories,
would some kind soul take pity on me and please explain some of the following:

What is
a corn bake?

a pot luck invitation?

Pink slip invitation?

Do you have the phrase 'key to the door' when someone turns 21?

I know that there are many more, but now I am writing them down, I've forgotten - old age creeping up.

This reminds me of the time when I first arrived in Australia. We were invited to a BBQ and told 'to bring a plate'. So we did, thinking they didn't have enough for everyone invited - only to find out we should have put taken some food on the plate! Grin

As they say - Divided by a common language.

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Laurie_139933 Gold Member artist Posts: 738	Re: Americanisms - please explain for Reply #1 - Mar 7^th, 2011, 2:47am Hi Marion!! A pink slip is an employee's termination notice, pot luck is everyone invited brings a food dish, as far as corn bake I can't help you with that (I've never heard of it). Love your store it is beautiful. Take care, Laurie
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Marion_133078 Senior Member artist Posts: 322	Re: Americanisms - please explain for Reply #2 - Mar 7^th, 2011, 4:29am Thanks Laurie for taking the time to answer and for the compliement on my store. Quote from Laurie_139933 on Mar 7^th, 2011, 2:47am: pot luck is everyone invited brings a food dish, So that'll be the equivalent of the Australian 'bring a plate'.
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Ernestine_131365 Gold Member artist Posts: 853	Re: Americanisms - please explain for Reply #3 - Mar 7^th, 2011, 4:32am Quote from Laurie_139933 on Mar 7^th, 2011, 2:47am: . . . as far as corn bake I can't help you with that (I've never heard of it). Maybe a "clam bake" in Iowa?? I've never heard of this one either!
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Tammy_131374

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Re: Americanisms - please explain for
Reply #4 - Mar 7^th, 2011, 6:09am

The only "corn bake" I can think of that you might be referring to is a cook out where sweet corn or roasting ears are buttered and seasoned, wrapped in foil and placed on the grill to cook. Some people place them in a dutch oven and set them in a smoker. This is usually at the end of the growing season when corn has been harvested and is in bountiful supply. Many people call it a corn roast or simply say they are roastin' corn ears, but I have heard it referred to as a corn bake also. Basically it is just a typical cook out, with burgers, steaks, or hotdogs, or possibly a pig roast with all the "fixins" lol- tater salad, baked beans, sometimes potatoes, onions and butter are cooked in foil as well, then typically you have homemade pie and/or ice creamr or else ice-cold watermelon, or fresh fruit salad for dessert. It depends who is hosting the event and what part of the midwest you are in. Anyhow- hope that helps.

I've neve heard of key to the door when someone turns 21- all I have ever heard anyone say is "they are legal" (to drink).

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Marion_133078

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Re: Americanisms - please explain for
Reply #5 - Mar 7^th, 2011, 6:45am

Quote from Tammy_131374 on Mar 7^th, 2011, 6:09am:

The only "corn bake" I can think of that you might be referring to is a cook out where sweet corn or roasting ears are buttered and seasoned, wrapped in foil and placed on the grill to cook. Some people place them in a dutch oven and set them in a smoker. This is usually at the end of the growing season when corn has been harvested and is in bountiful supply. Many people call it a corn roast or simply say they are roastin' corn ears, but I have heard it referred to as a corn bake also. Basically it is just a typical cook out, with burgers, steaks, or hotdogs, or possibly a pig roast with all the "fixins" lol- tater salad, baked beans, sometimes potatoes, onions and butter are cooked in foil as well, then typically you have homemade pie and/or ice creamr or else ice-cold watermelon, or fresh fruit salad for dessert. It depends who is hosting the event and what part of the midwest you are in. Anyhow- hope that helps.

I've neve heard of key to the door when someone turns 21- all I have ever heard anyone say is "they are legal" (to drink).

Thanks for your detailed explanation Tammy - sounds delicious. Can I come?

Key to the door must be a UK thing - shame my cards all contain a key Grin

21 is not associated with legal drinking in the UK as that is 18 in the UK.

Another question - What is the most common term for a grand father or is granddad used a lot?

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Pamela_135500

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Re: Americanisms - please explain for
Reply #6 - Mar 7^th, 2011, 6:47am

Hi Marion,
Former Brit here

The pure blood americans have taken care of your other questions but I just wanted to say thanks for the memories!
I had completely forgotten about the 'key to the door' at reaching 21. I remember it featuring heavily on cards growing up, that's a few years ago now Wink

I guess it's still used since you are asking?

Pamela

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Tammy_131374 Gold Member artist Posts: 630	Re: Americanisms - please explain for Reply #7 - Mar 7^th, 2011, 6:47am Your welcome! Common terms for Grandfather: Grandpa, Pop-Pop, Pa-Pa, Grandad
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Emily_138045 Junior Member artist Posts: 59	Re: Americanisms - please explain for Reply #8 - Mar 7^th, 2011, 7:06am I like, "Key to the door" a lot! When you reach 21, you get the key to the door of the future, opportunity, responsibility, and adulthood. I think you should definitely use it!
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Bettie__142065

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Re: Americanisms - please explain for
Reply #9 - Mar 7^th, 2011, 7:40am

Tammy quoted:

The only "corn bake" I can think of that you might be referring to is a cook out where sweet corn or roasting ears are buttered and seasoned, wrapped in foil and placed on the grill to cook. Some people place them in a dutch oven and set them in a smoker. This is usually at the end of the growing season when corn has been harvested and is in bountiful supply. Many people call it a corn roast or simply say they are roastin' corn ears, but I have heard it referred to as a corn bake also. Basically it is just a typical cook out, with burgers, steaks, or hotdogs, or possibly a pig roast with all the "fixins" lol- tater salad, baked beans, sometimes potatoes, onions and butter are cooked in foil as well, then typically you have homemade pie and/or ice creamr or else ice-cold watermelon, or fresh fruit salad for dessert. It depends who is hosting the event and what part of the midwest you are in. Anyhow- hope that helps.

I've neve heard of key to the door when someone turns 21- all I have ever heard anyone say is "they are legal" (to drink)

Tammy has explained this very well.. Our original Native Americans would roast the ears of corn
in the coals of their fires. The coals had to be just right,but somehow they managed the feat.

Here in the South, roasted corn has always been a big favorite with people who attend the carnivals and fairs ... It used to be (when I was young) a great treat to go to the fair on a nice Fall night,walk down the midway and smell the roasted corn the vendors were cooking...and it was as delicious as it smelled.

Today I preheat my oven to 350-375 degrees, butter and salt fresh ears of corn,wrap them in foil,and bake about 30 - 45 minutes.Our family loves it.

Our kids always called their grandfathers " Papaw"

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Randall_140313

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Re: Americanisms - please explain for
Reply #10 - Mar 7^th, 2011, 9:26am

Ya'll makin me hoooangry talkin bout the "corn bake!"

I can't wait till June and the county fair out here. The vendors serve up that corn with the chile and fixins. Umumum good stuff!

I try my own version on the BBQ just like they do on the grill cooked in the husks when I'm cooking a steak or hamburgers, but it never comes out like the corn at the fair.

That's funny about being divided by a common language. Reminds me of an expression in spanish which translated to english basically says, "that speaking is important, but the most important thing is understanding."

One of my hobbies is cars and on some of the european cars all the repair manuals are written in "english!" The real english which i sometimes have to read over and over to try and figure out what they're trying to describe. I've got the basics down, like the bonnet, boot, pry and spanner but every once in a while some knackered engineering bloak tosses a spanner in the works. LOL

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Pamela_135500

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Re: Americanisms - please explain for
Reply #11 - Mar 7^th, 2011, 11:23am

Quote from Randall_140313 on Mar 7^th, 2011, 9:26am:

some knackered engineering 'bloak' tosses a spanner in the works. LOL

That would be 'bloke' Randy...lol, you've got the rest of it down well! Grin

It took me a while when I came over here to learn the new terms, and I often slip back into it when I talk to folks back in England, which entertains my kids a lot (who claim they speak another language because of this) Wink

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Randall_140313

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Re: Americanisms - please explain for
Reply #12 - Mar 7^th, 2011, 10:07pm

Quote from Pamela_135500 on Mar 7^th, 2011, 11:23am:

Quote from Randall_140313 on Mar 7^th, 2011, 9:26am:

some knackered engineering 'bloak' tosses a spanner in the works. LOL

That would be 'bloke' Randy...lol, you've got the rest of it down well! Grin

It took me a while when I came over here to learn the new terms, and I often slip back into it when I talk to folks back in England, which entertains my kids a lot (who claim they speak another language because of this) Wink

Pamela

Thank you Pamela!

I have trouble with english. LOL So now is it "cloke" or "cloak?" Just kidding, know this one!

Let's see now...

"You can choke a broke, clothed bloke with his cloak, but you can't clothe a choked bloke with a broke cloak." Something like that. I'm working on it. LOL

Revised: "You can choke a clothed, broke bloke with his cloak till he croaks, but a cloaked, clothed bloke can't croak with a broke choke."

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