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From: "Janis Gilmore" <>
Subject: [APG] regionalisms
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:59:48 -0500


I grew up in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon, where all carbonated beverages
were known as "Coke." My parents and extended family were from the Ozarks of
southern Missouri, however, where my cousins said "pop" or "soda pop" or
even "sodie." I have lived for the past 23 years in coastal South Carolina,
where my daughter, in her debutante season, participated in "coke parties."
A coke party is a hosted afternoon event, where the refreshments consist of
little glass Coca Cola's, served with a straw and a napkin wrapped around
the outside; these events include light snack foods.

Believe me, we had nothing like that as I grew up on the West Coast in the
1960's!

Other colloquialisms in South Carolina:

You don't get together with someone - you "get up with them." As in, "I want
to get up with you about coaching the baseball team."
You don't turn the lights off or on, you "cut the lights on."
You don't take someone to lunch, you "carry" them to lunch.
You don't ask to use or borrow someone's phone, you say, "Can I hold your
phone?"

And one other thing - you can't say the worst thing possible about someone
who is not present - as long as you add the words "bless her heart."

I love it down here!

Janis Walker Gilmore

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