Bostonians

TO ALL YOU 'OL BOSTONIANS ~ you're gonna love this ...... and to new
Bostonians ........ Going to college in Boston? "Mary-mutha-ah-gawd, you
gotta be wicked smaht!"

But we bet you don't know some things. Like, what's a three decka? A packie?
How about a rotary? Ever banged a U-ey? Worn dungarees or ordered a frappe?
Even a Rhodes scholar would have a tough time deciphering the language
Boston calls its own. "New Englanders have had a long and strong tradition
of eccentric ways of expressing themselves, especially in Boston," said
Boston University Linguistics professor Michael Feldman. "It's very
distinctive." Indeed ~ and we'd have a pissah time tryin' to stump ya, then
make fun of ya behind ya back . . . but that's wicked mean. Instead, here's
a little primer to take with you on the
T, while you're on the Common or in the Gahden, maybe catchin' a Pats game
or sipping a regulah coffee at Dunkies.

American Chop Suey ~ Found in school cafeterias, this delightful dish
doesn't resemble anything American or Chinese. It's macaroni with meat and
tomato sauce.

Bangin' a U-ey ~ This is what you do while driving after you miss a turn and
you have to turn around.

Book it ~ To high tail someplace, as in, "I better book it to Stah Mahket
before it closes."

Bubblah ~ Spelled bubbler, it's a water fountain.
Der ~ An interjection indicating disdain for someone else's stupidity, as
in, "The old Gahden was way betta than the Fleet! Der!"

Down Cella ~ The basement. As in; "run down cella and get me a dishtowel
outta the drya." Derived from upstairs.

Dungarees ~ Jeans. Hardly heard anymore, unless you're at some sort of
senior citizens event.

Frappe ~ What the rest of the nation calls a milkshake. But in Boston, a
milkshake is just flavored milk; no ice cream allowed.

Fried and Bizaah ~ Weird. "That dude is wicked fried." "Yah, he's totally
bizaah."

Fudge-icle ~ To the rest of the world, a frozen chocolate pop is a
Fudgesicle, but in Boston, the 's' is silent.

Hermits and black and whites ~ Cookies. A hermit is a molasses and raisin
bar. Black and whites, known anywhere else as half
moons or half and halfs, are round, cakelike cookies with chocolate frosting
on one half, vanilla on the other.

Jimmies ~ Sprinkles you put on ice cream.

Packie ~ Liquor Store. You'll have to make a packie run if you want a kegga
(keg party.)

Pissah ~ Good.
Rotary ~ traffic circle. And in Massachusetts, those in the rotary have the
right of way.

Scrod ~ a generic name for white fish. We think it's cod, but no one's sure.
Usually breaded and laden with butter.

So Don't I / So Aren't I ~ So do I, So am I. "I have tickets to Aerosmith
tonight." "Oh my Gawd, so don't I!" "No Suh!" "Yah huh." "Wicked Pissa!"

Three Decker ~ Pronounced three decka, it's a three story house in which
each story is a separate apartment.

A time ~ A party. "We're going to a time for Sully at McGuire's."

Tonic ~ Soda.

Wicked ~ Extremely. "Nomaaah's a wicked good baseball playa."

Yah huh and no suh ~ Yes and no. Usually heard during an intense
conversation. "I saw Mickey at Castle Island and he
was with another girl." "No SUH!" "Yah huh."

Other tips: Don't say COPEly Square, it's COPley. Worcester isn't WOOster,
it's Wisstah. Say Commonwealth Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue or Dorchester
Avenue and you'll get pinched. It's Comm. Ave, Mass. Ave and Dot. Ave.

BOSTONIANS... ya gotta love us!