I'm going t suggest the following puddings to my grandson when we meet this week for a shared meal. T, (age 14), in common with his generation, seems to escue desserts:
Jam roly-poly; peach cobbler, and of course, the fabled spotted dick. I doubt he will have a clue what I'm talking about!
We were eating in a restaurant a couple of months ago. One of the desserts had a fancy name which I didn't recognise; when I asked the waitress what it was, she replied, "Well, it's really Queen of Puds!". There's a blast from the past, reinvented.
We were eating in a restaurant a couple of months ago. One of the desserts had a fancy name which I didn't recognise; when I asked the waitress what it was, she replied, "Well, it's really Queen of Puds!". There's a blast from the past, reinvented.
Just googled Queen of Puddings, and I can safely say that I had never heard of it or encountered it before in my life. I'm in early 50s and in the UK.
I’m 56 and I made queen of puddings in high school in the 1980s. My sons would be familiar with jam roly-poly and spotted dick, from home and in restaurants. They probably wouldn’t recognise cobbler, although I have often made a savoury one (with scones as taught in school cookery lessons).
I’m 56 and I made queen of puddings in high school in the 1980s. My sons would be familiar with jam roly-poly and spotted dick, from home and in restaurants. They probably wouldn’t recognise cobbler, although I have often made a savoury one (with scones as taught in school cookery lessons).
Whereas “cobbler” (never savory) would be very familiar on this side of the Atlantic, though as is often the case, it might refer to something somewhat different from what is meant in Britain, as does “pudding.”
We were eating in a restaurant a couple of months ago. One of the desserts had a fancy name which I didn't recognise; when I asked the waitress what it was, she replied, "Well, it's really Queen of Puds!". There's a blast from the past, reinvented.
Just googled Queen of Puddings, and I can safely say that I had never heard of it or encountered it before in my life. I'm in early 50s and in the UK.
I only know it because the chocolate variety was a staple of the canteen I worked at in the summer of 2003, which served a police training centre in Norfolk.
I made Queen of Puddings a few times, once I realised that is easier to make than it first seems, but it is a bit much to make for two, so its been a while.
A shame really, as I like that sort of "trifle" style dessert.
I made mine with a tangy marmalade as I found it was just too sweet using jam.
My mum used to make Queen of Puddings. I think today it is normally called "Floating Islands" or similar. I have no idea why it was a Queen, or what the King of puddings was.
Floating island (île flottante) is a traditional French confection. Poached meringue floats in light custard with a light caramel and possibly flaked almonds on top. It's a way of using up both parts of the egg.
Not a phrase, but now and again, I call the refrigerator an icebox. Although I never lived with one, my mother did as a child, and she always called the refrigerator an icebox, so growing up, that is what I was used to hearing.
My Grandad, having lived for a decade or so in Toronto, called our fridge a refridge. Incidentally, said fridge was in the news when it attained its 50th year and was still owned , (and was still working), by my sister. She still has it but it doesn’t work so it’s just a cupboard!
Not a phrase, but now and again, I call the refrigerator an icebox. Although I never lived with one, my mother did as a child, and she always called the refrigerator an icebox, so growing up, that is what I was used to hearing.
I have really clear childhood memories of trips to the US to visit my grandmother and standing in her kitchen and hearing her talk about the "icebox".
I've probably said this a few times myself, just from hearing my grandparents all the time. I think I did it last week. I doubt it'll make it into my son's generation, though.
Does anyone talk about "steam radio" any more? It was always rather ironic anyway.
Older train travellers might well talk about "railway stations" (not "train stations") and "second class" (not standard). They might also speak wistfully of "dining cars" (although a few still exist) and even "buffet cars" (hang your head in shame, Great Western).
I still think Railway Station (I don't get to say it, as I haven't travelled by train for years) in an aggravated tone, as I dislike Train Station.
This is based purely on ingrained usage from the days when I did travel by train.
I’m in my forties and occasionally catch myself uttering my grandmother’s sayings. Most recently when I dismissed a particularly poor buffet offering as ‘a bit one and six and help yourself’
To the general bafflement of my companions.
@Baptist Trainfan those of us in the railway preservation world automatically think if you’re not travelling first you must be travelling *third*!
Indeed. However my father, who was born in Germany in 1910, remembered Sunday afternoon excursions as a child when the family - who could well afford second class - travelled in fourth: basically a closed van with a bench seat round the edge. Of course these were very short journeys.
You may know this - but three classes survived on Continental Boat Trains until the mid-50s, because the European railways still had them. It was only when that finished that 3rd became 2nd.
When I was closely watching my (beloved) Grandad doing some DIY thing he would sometimes say "Let the dog see the rabbit!" meaning, I think, let me see closely what I'm trying to do.
Does anyone say that nowadays?
Yes me! I do - because my dad did. My sons have taken it up too which is lovely.
That's very nice to hear. I should add that I have occasionally used that phrase when teaching a student an examination or procedure of a patient at work. I can't recall any comments about the phrase. But it does have a nice ring about it!
I once heard my wife's reverend grandpa in Montana say, "So's yer old man!" when told something he didn't believe. Asking around about it, it seems to have been a common phrase at one time. I've never heard it before or since.
I once heard my wife's reverend grandpa in Montana say, "So's yer old man!" when told something he didn't believe. Asking around about it, it seems to have been a common phrase at one time. I've never heard it before or since.
I was on the phone with a legal assistant and told her, "Well, that's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick." She was laughing so hard it was difficult to understand her! She had never heard that expression before. My guess is that she's in her late twenties.
It's very sad but I think that a lot of these expressions which we learned from our parents and grandparents will be lost with our generation. Children don't spend so much time talking, and being talked to, by their parents and grandparents. TV and social media ....
It's very sad but I think that a lot of these expressions which we learned from our parents and grandparents will be lost with our generation. Children don't spend so much time talking, and being talked to, by their parents and grandparents. TV and social media ....
Judging from the turns of phrase of mine that Little Miss Feet comes out with I wouldn't be so sure.
We still say 'Gently, Bentley' in a situation where someone needs to calm down a bit. I say it because my parents did and as far as I know it was a catch phrase from some 1940s radio show. In the same way my sons will say 'I love it when a plan comes together' from The A Team, or 'Cowabunga! from that ninja turtles show.
It's very sad but I think that a lot of these expressions which we learned from our parents and grandparents will be lost with our generation. Children don't spend so much time talking, and being talked to, by their parents and grandparents. TV and social media ....
I’m not sure that’s what’s going on. I spent lots of time talking to and being talked to by my parents and grandparents (and fwiw, I watched a lot of tv, too), and I learned lots of interesting, colorful and old-fashioned words and phrases from them. Some I use, either regularly or occasionally (often framed with something like “my ____ would have said”).
But most I don’t use, or use only very rarely. I know what they mean and I smile if I hear them, but they didn’t become part of my vocabulary. I suspect that’s the normal ways of things.
My understandings is that studies have shown that the speech habits and patterns—including vocabulary and accent—of people generally and young people in particular are shaped primarily by their peers, not their families. One wants to sound like and fit in with one’s peers. And if your peers aren’t using those quaint and colorful words and phrases, you’re not likely to either, at least not in everyday speech.
Words and phrases being lost to succeeding generations has been part of the history of English—and, I suspect, pretty much every other language—from the start of language.
We still say 'Gently, Bentley' in a situation where someone needs to calm down a bit. I say it because my parents did and as far as I know it was a catch phrase from some 1940s radio show.
Except that your peers have to be getting them from somewhere…
Unless they coin the usages themselves. (Somebody has to.)
Often, the newer forms come from “foreign” influences. At one time, that might have been invading forces or traveling merchants. In the United States now, it’s very much influenced by a population that is much more mobile than it used to be.
Younger speakers choosing newer forms—new words, new pronunciations, new idioms and expressions, even new grammar—over the forms used by their elders is a long-standing phenomenon in English.
It's very easy, though, for one generation to pick up the phrases of an older generation because they are "cool"--or the person is "cool"--just as long as it isn't one's OWN parent!
It's very easy, though, for one generation to pick up the phrases of an older generation because they are "cool"--or the person is "cool"--just as long as it isn't one's OWN parent!
Comments
Jam roly-poly; peach cobbler, and of course, the fabled spotted dick. I doubt he will have a clue what I'm talking about!
Just googled Queen of Puddings, and I can safely say that I had never heard of it or encountered it before in my life. I'm in early 50s and in the UK.
I only know it because the chocolate variety was a staple of the canteen I worked at in the summer of 2003, which served a police training centre in Norfolk.
A shame really, as I like that sort of "trifle" style dessert.
I made mine with a tangy marmalade as I found it was just too sweet using jam.
OK, sorry. I have seen them make this on TV and it seemed similar. I have never made the original, so it is purely from memory.
I have really clear childhood memories of trips to the US to visit my grandmother and standing in her kitchen and hearing her talk about the "icebox".
Older train travellers might well talk about "railway stations" (not "train stations") and "second class" (not standard). They might also speak wistfully of "dining cars" (although a few still exist) and even "buffet cars" (hang your head in shame, Great Western).
This is based purely on ingrained usage from the days when I did travel by train.
To the general bafflement of my companions.
@Baptist Trainfan those of us in the railway preservation world automatically think if you’re not travelling first you must be travelling *third*!
You may know this - but three classes survived on Continental Boat Trains until the mid-50s, because the European railways still had them. It was only when that finished that 3rd became 2nd.
:bows down in admiration:
April Fool!
Best served after a main course which features tree-grown Ticino spaghetti.
That one definitely dates me!
Does anyone say that nowadays?
That's very nice to hear. I should add that I have occasionally used that phrase when teaching a student an examination or procedure of a patient at work. I can't recall any comments about the phrase. But it does have a nice ring about it!
Judging from the turns of phrase of mine that Little Miss Feet comes out with I wouldn't be so sure.
But most I don’t use, or use only very rarely. I know what they mean and I smile if I hear them, but they didn’t become part of my vocabulary. I suspect that’s the normal ways of things.
My understandings is that studies have shown that the speech habits and patterns—including vocabulary and accent—of people generally and young people in particular are shaped primarily by their peers, not their families. One wants to sound like and fit in with one’s peers. And if your peers aren’t using those quaint and colorful words and phrases, you’re not likely to either, at least not in everyday speech.
Words and phrases being lost to succeeding generations has been part of the history of English—and, I suspect, pretty much every other language—from the start of language.
Often, the newer forms come from “foreign” influences. At one time, that might have been invading forces or traveling merchants. In the United States now, it’s very much influenced by a population that is much more mobile than it used to be.
Younger speakers choosing newer forms—new words, new pronunciations, new idioms and expressions, even new grammar—over the forms used by their elders is a long-standing phenomenon in English.
I can't recall where and/or when I picked it up, although I always appreciate activating alliteration's artful aid.