Tuesday, August 12, 2008

New Yorkisms

This post was written for the 54th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy hosted by Donna at What's Past Is Prologue

If you were to have a conversation with me, you'd probably never suspect that I grew up in New York let alone just 90 miles northwest of New York City. And even with my mother's heavy Jersey City accent and the accents of most of my family, you probably would guess somewhere farther upstate or Pennsylvania or Ohio.

But if you are able to pick up on some of the colloquial sayings, they are the dead give away. And many of them are used by most New Yorkers and all of my family members.

Standing "On Line" Not "In Line"

Most New Yorkers will tell you to go stand "on line" in the grocery store and never use "in line." Origins of this phrase are a bit muddied but some think it may come from the German immigrants living in New York.

Lawn Gyland
This is how most of us pronouce Long Island. Sometimes it is overemphasized when making fun of how someone from "the Island" talks.

Make Mine The Same

Used when ordering food, usually in a diner.

Coffee Regular

This is coffee with cream and two sugars. Coffee Black is what it sounds like. Usually coffee is fully prepared by the person taking the order - not for you to go over to a counter and add cream and sugar.

Take It Easy

Used when departing, as a way of closing conversation with the other person.

Going To The City

This always meant going into Manhattan, not any of the other boroughs such as Brooklyn or The Bronx.

"Meet Me At The Hyphen" or "Meet Me Between The Lions"

Not used very often but the "hyphen" meant the Waldorf-Astoria and "the lions" were on each side of the entrace to the New York Public Library.

You Want?

Usually said while cutting into and serving a New York Cheesecake or other dessert.

1 comment:

Charley "Apple" Grabowski said...

Further upstate we stand in line, however we do order our coffee regular. I usually order first and John usually follows with make mine the same. And take it easy is heard more often than see you later.