eeneR 3 #1 April 26, 2005 (Don't ever try to explain these quaint expressions to anyone outside of Chicago. It's like trying to discuss Chicago politics to anyone who has never lived here. You just can't! Have you ever noticed how the rest of the country now incorrectly uses the word "clout?" They'll ask "Do you have any clout?" The correct usage is "Who's yer clout?" -- Bob) 1. Grachki (grach'-key): Chicagoese for "garage key" as in, "Yo, Theresa, waja do wit da grachki? How my supposta cut da grass if I don't git intada grach?" 2. Uptadaendada (up-ta-da-en'-dada): As in, "Joey, you kin ride yur bike uptadaendada alley but not acrost or I'll bust yer butt." 3. Sammich: Chicagoese for sandwich. When made with sausage, it's a sassage sammich; when made with shredded beef, it's an Italian Beef sammich (or just an Italian Beef), a local delicacy consisting of piles of spicy meat in a perilously soggy bun. You order it wet, dry, sweet and/ or hot. ("Wet" means with natural juice, dry without juice and "sweet" means with roasted red or green bell peppers and "hot" means with sport peppers.) 4. Da: This article is a key part of Chicago speech, as in "Da Bears" or "Da Mare" -- the latter denoting Richard M. Daley, or Richie, as he's often called. 5. Jewels: Not family heirlooms or a tender body region, but a popular name for one of the region's dominant grocery store chains. "I'm goin' to da Jewels to pick up some sassage." 6. Field's: Marshall Field, a prominent Chicago department store. Also Carson Pirie Scott, another major department store chain, is simply called "Carson's." 7. Tree: The number between two and four. "We were lucky dat we only got tree inches of snow da udder night." 8. Prairie: A vacant lot, especially one on which weeds are growing. 9. Over by dere: Translates to "over by there," a way of emphasizing a site presumed familiar to the listener. As in, "I got the sassage at da Jewels down on Kedzie, over by dere." 10. Kaminski Park: The mispronounced name of the ballpark where the Chicago White Sox (da Sox) played baseball. Comiskey Park was renamed White Sox Park and most recently U.S. Cellular Field (yuck!) 11. Frunchroom: As in, "Getottada frunchroom wit dose muddy shoes." It's not the "parlor." It's not the "living room." In the land of the bungalow, it's the "frunchroom," a named derived, linguists believe, from "front room." 12. Use: Not the verb, but the plural pronoun "you." "Where's use goin'?" 13 Downtown: Anywhere near The Lake, south of The Zoo (Lincoln Park Zoo) and north of Soldier Field. 14. The Lake: Lake Michigan. (What other lake is there?) It's often used by local weathermen, "cooler by The Lake." 15. BoysTown: A section on Halsted between Belmont and Addison which is lined with gay bars both sides of the street. "Didn't I see use in BoysTown in front of da Manhole?" 16. Braht: Short for Bratwur! st. "Gimme a braht wit kraut." 17. Cashbox: Traffic reporter slang for tollbooths. "Dere's a delay at da cashbox on da Skyway." 18. Goes: Past or present tense of the verb "say." For example, "Then he goes, 'I like this place'!" 19. Guys: Used when addressing two or more people, regardless of each individual's gender. 20. Pop: A soft drink. Don't say "soda" in this town. "Do ya wanna canna pop?" 21. Sliders: Nickname for hamburgers from White Castle, a popular Midwestern burger chain. "Dose sliders I had last night gave me da runs." 22. The Taste: The Taste of Chicago Festival, a huge extravaganza in Grant Park featuring samples of Chicagoland cuisine which takes place each year around the Fourth of July holiday. 23. "Jieetyet?": Translates to, "Did you eat yet?" 24. Winter and Construction: Punch line to the joke, "What are the two seasons in Chicago?" 25. Cuppa Too-Tree: is Chicagoese for "a couple, two, three" which really means "a few." For example, "Hey Mike, dere any beerz left in da cooler over by dere?" "Yeh, a cuppa too-tree." 26. 588-2300: Everyone in Chicago knows this commercial jingle and the carpet company you'll get if you call that number -- Empire! 27. Junk Djor: You will usually find the 'junk drawer' in the kitchen filled to the brim with miscellaneous, but very important, junk. 28. Southern Illinois: Anything south of I-80. 29. Expressways: The Interstates in the immediate Chicagoland area are usually known just by their 'name' and not their Interstate number: the Dan Ryan ("the Ryan"), the Stevenson, the Kennedy, the Eisenhower (the "Ike"), and the Edens. 30. Gym Shoes: The rest of the country may refer to them as sneakers or running shoes but Chicagoans will always call them gym shoes!She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway." eeneR TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vallerina 2 #2 April 26, 2005 QuoteBoysTown: A section on Halsted between Belmont and Addison which is lined with gay bars both sides of the street. "Didn't I see use in BoysTown in front of da Manhole?" The Manhole hasn't been there in quite awhile! QuoteExpressways: I didn't know most cities didn't call them by name! There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eeneR 3 #3 April 26, 2005 Quote I didn't know most cities didn't call them by name! Actually you would be suprized at how many people come here and get confused when i tell them to take the Kennedy, when they are not from the area. They want to know why the hell we dont just use the numbers She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway." eeneR TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumper03 0 #4 April 26, 2005 So from the other thread- "M R ducks M R not ducks O S A R C D eady beady wangs L I B . . . M R ducks " This I read and understood PERFECTLY. I read the chicagoese, had to sit scratching my head and I STILL don't get some of them. Scars remind us that the past is real Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eeneR 3 #5 April 26, 2005 QuoteSo from the other thread- "M R ducks M R not ducks O S A R C D eady beady wangs L I B . . . M R ducks " This I read and understood PERFECTLY. I read the chicagoese, had to sit scratching my head and I STILL don't get some of them. Does that make me Multilingual since I can read that too She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway." eeneR TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrunkMonkey 0 #6 April 26, 2005 QuoteQuote I didn't know most cities didn't call them by name! Actually you would be suprized at how many people come here and get confused when i tell them to take the Kennedy, when they are not from the area. They want to know why the hell we dont just use the numbers I think we confuse the hell outta foreigners by having one interstate share two numbers/names, and defining distance as a measure of time, not milage. Also: What others call the "metro, we call the "El" What we call the "Metra", others call "the train." At least where I grew up in Chicago, when asked what neighborhood you grew up, you named a Catholic parish, not a neighborhood. Also, you could tell which school a girl went to by the color of her uniform tartan. You could pick out non-IL cars by their ubiquitous lack of a front license plate (And yes, they're license PLATES, not "Car tags." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaerock 1 #7 April 26, 2005 I grew up to chicago and two years ago moved to florida. I bought a car down here and they kept referring to "tags" that I needed to register. I kept thinking they were little stickers or clips you put in your window like the city sticker in chicago. Lo and behold, I pick my car up and they hand me license places..."here's your tags..." I was in disbelief, "These are LICENSE PLATES", I exclaimed, the dealer just stared at me blankly until I finished with a "thanks" and left. Still, when conversing with people here about license places I reluctantly spit out "tags" instead of the correct name -- It's quite distressing to have to compensate for their backwardsness :> -rory QuoteQuoteQuote I didn't know most cities didn't call them by name! Actually you would be suprized at how many people come here and get confused when i tell them to take the Kennedy, when they are not from the area. They want to know why the hell we dont just use the numbers I think we confuse the hell outta foreigners by having one interstate share two numbers/names, and defining distance as a measure of time, not milage. Also: What others call the "metro, we call the "El" What we call the "Metra", others call "the train." At least where I grew up in Chicago, when asked what neighborhood you grew up, you named a Catholic parish, not a neighborhood. Also, you could tell which school a girl went to by the color of her uniform tartan. You could pick out non-IL cars by their ubiquitous lack of a front license plate (And yes, they're license PLATES, not "Car tags." You be the king and I'll overthrow your government. --KRS-ONE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
larsrulz 0 #8 April 26, 2005 Quote 23. "Jieetyet?": Translates to, "Did you eat yet?" It takes half the syllables!!! Quote 26. 588-2300: Everyone in Chicago knows this commercial jingle and the carpet company you'll get if you call that number -- Empire! ::shudder:: Quote 28. Southern Illinois: Anything south of I-80. When I was going to high school up there I had friends who referred to Rockford as downstate or southern Illinois. I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buried 0 #9 April 26, 2005 dont forget - LSD is the drive along the water, not a drug. I was talking to my bro once and said "just take LSD".. my aunt from boston was like "what!?!?" Where is my fizzy-lifting drink? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eeneR 3 #10 April 26, 2005 Quotedont forget - LSD is the drive along the water, not a drug. I was talking to my bro once and said "just take LSD".. my aunt from boston was like "what!?!?" Ah yes, good ole LSD "Renee just called...she is on LSD...will be here shortly" She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway." eeneR TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrunkMonkey 0 #11 April 26, 2005 How could I forget the best commercial: Eagle Insurance! "I'VE got something for YOU!!!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelel01 1 #12 April 26, 2005 That Empire thing, is it: "800-588-2300, Empire! Today." ??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eeneR 3 #13 April 26, 2005 QuoteThat Empire thing, is it: "800-588-2300, Empire! Today." ??? Oh god she knows it! She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway." eeneR TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FreeflyChile 0 #14 April 26, 2005 and of course, the Victory Auto Wreckers commercial that's probably older than i am. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelel01 1 #15 April 26, 2005 Yep, I think those have gone national. We've had them here for a little while. And boy, does it ever get stuck in your head. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eeneR 3 #16 April 26, 2005 QuoteYep, I think those have gone national. We've had them here for a little while. And boy, does it ever get stuck in your head. Just imagine having to have listend to that for 30 years almost I dont know what year they started that crap, but as long as I can remember that commercial has been around....She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway." eeneR TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
craichead 0 #17 April 26, 2005 Quote26. 588-2300: Everyone in Chicago knows this commercial jingle and the carpet company you'll get if you call that number -- Empire! I grew up in Tennessee, and I knew that jingle as a kid from watching WGN on cable. My brother and I also used to sing the jingle from the Lincoln Park Zoo commercial when they reopened (after rehabbing)? It was a bunch of cartoon animals singing in a cappella, "It's brand new, Lincoln Park Zoo!" They looked like Sandra Boynton cartoons... Does anybody else remember this commercial?! Most Chicagoans look at me funny when I mention it... _Pm__ "Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buried 0 #18 April 26, 2005 QuoteQuoteYep, I think those have gone national. We've had them here for a little while. And boy, does it ever get stuck in your head. Just imagine having to have listend to that for 30 years almost I dont know what year they started that crap, but as long as I can remember that commercial has been around.... I think they've gone national or at least expaned into other reigons. I remember seeing them in PA a few yrs back Where is my fizzy-lifting drink? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eeneR 3 #19 April 26, 2005 QuoteI think they've gone national or at least expaned into other reigons. I remember seeing them in PA a few yrs back The virus is spreading Run the Empire man is gonna get you! She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway." eeneR TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tigra 0 #20 April 26, 2005 Do you ever listen to the Regular Guy's movie reviews on WXRT? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eeneR 3 #21 April 26, 2005 QuoteDo you ever listen to the Regular Guy's movie reviews on WXRT? Nope...hardly listen to the radio at all the antenna in my car is junk...and I have more CD's and MP3's then any one human needs...er wait...I need more! Anyway what about them?She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway." eeneR TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sen.Blutarsky 0 #22 April 26, 2005 QuoteAnyway what about them? 'Cause da Regular Guy speaks fluent Chicagoeese ... Blutarsky 2008. No Prisoners! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tigra 0 #23 April 26, 2005 And gives a damn fine movie review too! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hisgoofyness 0 #24 April 26, 2005 I thought I was getting away from the evil Empire when I left Chicago... No such luck... I do miss listening to sports talk radio in Chicago... I was an avid listener of The Score... Damn, come to think of it... I just missed the National Steak & BJ Day... Goudha is for Buddha, and that's good enough for me! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sen.Blutarsky 0 #25 April 26, 2005 QuoteAnd gives a damn fine movie review too! 'zactly, dough now and den dat guy carries on too much, like he's da Pope or Da Mayor or sum'n. Kinda like Reveren' Jackson, ya know guys? Blutarsky 2008. No Prisoners! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
