That picture has made me feel like eating a/some cucumber. This is the first time that I have ever felt like eating cucumber. I don't dislike cucumber, but this is the first time I have ever thought 'hey, I feel like eating cucumber'.
I nevers asked this myself, but I find this interesting enough:
Wikipedia:
Having an enclosed seed and developing from a flower, botanically speaking, cucumbers are classified as fruits. However, much like tomatoes and squash they are usually perceived, prepared and eaten as vegetables.
Yeah, seriously, the whole fruit/vegetable thing is often very fuzzy, we mostly say "fruit" if we primarily eat it for dessert and "vegetable" if we primarily eat it as a side dish.
Also, I think figs and artichokes are actually flowers.
Anyways, I love cucumber. My favourite way to have it is "a la Cowabunga"... Am I the only person who uses that expression? Actually, is it Kowabunga? Anyways... You hold the cucumber, full, in your weaker hand, and a big knife in the main hand. Both held up in the air, with a plate on bowl in front of you on a table or something.
Then you yell "Kowabunga!" and slash a piece from the cucumber, and it falls in the dish. And then you eat it (with the skin on).
When I was a kid, my dad did all the parts up to eating it.
Anyways, I love cucumber. My favourite way to have it is "a la Cowabunga"... Am I the only person who uses that expression? Actually, is it Kowabunga? Anyways... You hold the cucumber, full, in your weaker hand, and a big knife in the main hand. Both held up in the air, with a plate on bowl in front of you on a table or something.
Then you yell "Kowabunga!" and slash a piece from the cucumber, and it falls in the dish. And then you eat it (with the skin on).
With my luck, I would end up serving my thumb. (with the skin still on).
What about pickles? They are cucumbers, and commonly cut lengthwise.
Ooh, that reminds me of a debate between my husband and his roommate about whether "pickle" meant a pickled cucumber, or a pickled anything. My husband would insist that he could call "a pickle" anything that was pickled, while his roommate insisted that "a pickle" only meant the cucumber one.
They would go on and on about it every time the subject came back. The could never convince each other.
I say, just eat them!
Incidentally, I pretty much only eat cornichons. Wikipedia tells me you call them gherkins.
And really, you rarely cut these at all.
Ooh, that reminds me of a debate between my husband and his roommate about whether "pickle" meant a pickled cucumber, or a pickled anything. My husband would insist that he could call "a pickle" anything that was pickled, while his roommate insisted that "a pickle" only meant the cucumber one.
They would go on and on about it every time the subject came back. The could never convince each other.
I say, just eat them!
'A Pickle' means a pickled cucumber, specifically.
If it's anything else, it will have a different name, most likely beginning with the word 'pickled.' [i.e. Pickled eggs, pickled lettuce ect.] is saurkraut pickled? I'm not sure, but if it is you wouldn't call it a pickle would you?
'A Pickle' means a pickled cucumber, specifically.
If it's anything else, it will have a different name, most likely beginning with the word 'pickled.' [i.e. Pickled eggs, pickled lettuce ect.] is saurkraut pickled? I'm not sure, but if it is you wouldn't call it a pickle would you?
Your husband is confused.
My various jars of "mixed pickles" (including some that don't have ANY cucumbers in them) seem to disagree with you
EDIT: here, from wikipedia:
Pickles may refer to
* A pickled cucumber, the food most commonly referred to as a pickle in the U.S. and Canada
* A pickled onion, the food most commonly referred to as a pickle in the UK
* Other vegetables that have been pickled
My various jars of "mixed pickles" (including some that don't have ANY cucumbers in them) seem to disagree with you
EDIT: here, from wikipedia:
Hmmm when I see a pickled onion I think "Hey a pickled onion" NOT "Hey a pickle."
Whoever wrote the wiki is INSANE.
ok I'm kidding although, I can't speak for the uk or canada, but here in the states if someone called a pickled onion, a 'pickle,' they would get a very funny look. Or a pickled carrot a 'pickle' ect ect
I think technically they're all pickles, but when you just say "a pickle", people will assume the cucumber one. So you need to specify if you want to be sure the person understands what you mean (say, pickled carrots, or pickled baby corn or something). Still, really, it means both and either.
I know that we have pickled wild cucumber right now, and while it's a cucumber, it's not the same type that's usually pickled so even for that the jar specifies "pickled wild cucumber" and not just "pickles".
What about pickles? They are cucumbers, and commonly cut lengthwise.
Sammeth and Maximus thought so too. Kept blabbing their mouths in front of the mole men. You know what happened to them right? Sources report it as an "accident". Yeah. Uh huh...
Who are you talking to exactly, Gibbon?
I was just overreacting to the fact he wrote "a herb" and not "an herb", because I found it funny that it shocked me more than the fact he said bananas were herbs.
And he just pronounces it the Aussie way because that's where he's from.
I don't think either of us is complaining.
Actually, yes. After reading your comment, I did the same, and "an historic" does come off the tongue a lot easier.
The exception proves the rule, I guess.
Btw., "a historic" seems more common anyways. Google finds about 6,470,000 results vs. 2,600,000 results for "an historic".
Also, conveniently, the first result for both terms might be of interest here.
A well known grammar rule says that we should use an before vowel sounds; for example, an accident, an item, an hour. We use a otherwise: a book, a hotel, a university.
Harder to get than the silent Hs (after all we get those too) was the idea that "university" and the like don't start with a vowel. Took me years to get used to saying "a university" rather than "an university".
Comments
These things are evil
Also, I think figs and artichokes are actually flowers.
Anyways, I love cucumber. My favourite way to have it is "a la Cowabunga"... Am I the only person who uses that expression? Actually, is it Kowabunga? Anyways... You hold the cucumber, full, in your weaker hand, and a big knife in the main hand. Both held up in the air, with a plate on bowl in front of you on a table or something.
Then you yell "Kowabunga!" and slash a piece from the cucumber, and it falls in the dish. And then you eat it (with the skin on).
When I was a kid, my dad did all the parts up to eating it.
Well, only for peaches and kiwi fruit. (And stuff that's been left in my fridge for too long.)
With my luck, I would end up serving my thumb. (with the skin still on).
This is blasphemy.
Ooh, that reminds me of a debate between my husband and his roommate about whether "pickle" meant a pickled cucumber, or a pickled anything. My husband would insist that he could call "a pickle" anything that was pickled, while his roommate insisted that "a pickle" only meant the cucumber one.
They would go on and on about it every time the subject came back. The could never convince each other.
I say, just eat them!
Incidentally, I pretty much only eat cornichons. Wikipedia tells me you call them gherkins.
And really, you rarely cut these at all.
I see what you did there
'A Pickle' means a pickled cucumber, specifically.
If it's anything else, it will have a different name, most likely beginning with the word 'pickled.' [i.e. Pickled eggs, pickled lettuce ect.] is saurkraut pickled? I'm not sure, but if it is you wouldn't call it a pickle would you?
Your husband is confused.
My various jars of "mixed pickles" (including some that don't have ANY cucumbers in them) seem to disagree with you
EDIT: here, from wikipedia:
Hmmm when I see a pickled onion I think "Hey a pickled onion" NOT "Hey a pickle."
Whoever wrote the wiki is INSANE.
ok I'm kidding although, I can't speak for the uk or canada, but here in the states if someone called a pickled onion, a 'pickle,' they would get a very funny look. Or a pickled carrot a 'pickle' ect ect
I know that we have pickled wild cucumber right now, and while it's a cucumber, it's not the same type that's usually pickled so even for that the jar specifies "pickled wild cucumber" and not just "pickles".
He says it's a chef thing.
bananas are different because they're a herb.
What?! You pronounce the H in herb? Man, I was sure you didn't!
... Wasn't it "hour, heir, honest and herb"?
I'm totally confused now.
You don't pronounce the "H" in "herb." The Highway doesn't type in perfect English, so he may cause confusion.
Sammeth and Maximus thought so too. Kept blabbing their mouths in front of the mole men. You know what happened to them right? Sources report it as an "accident". Yeah. Uh huh...
I am actually a grammar nazi, but I say the "H" because that's just how we do it down under.
I was just overreacting to the fact he wrote "a herb" and not "an herb", because I found it funny that it shocked me more than the fact he said bananas were herbs.
And he just pronounces it the Aussie way because that's where he's from.
I don't think either of us is complaining.
I can second this.
Also, how does everyone pronounce 'historic'? Because I've always wondered why it's written 'an historic day'.
saying "a historic" is a bit jerky, just then when i quietly whispered it, so pronouncing the h in "an historic" is actually better.
Actually, yes. After reading your comment, I did the same, and "an historic" does come off the tongue a lot easier.
Btw., "a historic" seems more common anyways. Google finds about 6,470,000 results vs. 2,600,000 results for "an historic".
Also, conveniently, the first result for both terms might be of interest here.
Harder to get than the silent Hs (after all we get those too) was the idea that "university" and the like don't start with a vowel. Took me years to get used to saying "a university" rather than "an university".
OK this got off-topic fast. Who's the culprit this time?
EDIT: And I pronounce it "aych."
Only if it is the name "Herb." The item by the name of "herb" does not have the "H" pronounced.
Yes! That is the way that I pronounce it. The way that I believe to be the correct way.
it is. but what about "z"?
apparently, the "australian" way is "zed", but i just say z.