Posted on 08/20/2003 5:48:28 PM PDT by Chi-townChief
1. Grachki (grach'-key) is Chicago for "Garage Key" as in, "Yo, Theresa, waja do wit da grachki? Howmy supposta cut da grass if 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 yur butt..."
3. Sammich. Chicagoese for sandwich. When made with sausage, it's a sassage sammich; with shredded beef, it's an Italian beef sammich, a local delicacy consisting of piles of spicy meat in a perilously soggy bun.
4. Da. The definite article is a key part of Chicago speech, as in "da tree bears" or "da Mare" -- the latter denoting, or as long as he wants it to, Richard M. Daley, or Richie, as he's often known.
5. Jewels. Not family heirlooms or a tender body region, but a popular appellation for one of the region's dominant grocery chains, to wit, "I'm goin' to da Jewels to pick up some sassage." As in most Chicago pluralizations, the "S" is pronounced with a hissing sound, rather than the usual "Z" sound of American pluralization.
6. Field's: Marshall Field, a prominent Chicago department store. Also Carson Pirie Scott, a major department store chain, is called "Carson's," etc.
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. i.e. "over by there," a prolix 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. KaminskiPark. Perhaps the high concentration of ethnic Poles makes people want the White Sox to be playing in this mythical ballpark, rather than in their true home, Cellular Field formerly known as Comiskey Park.
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 south of the zoo and north of Soldier Field near the lake.
14. BoysTown: A section on Halsted Ave., between Belmont and Addison, which is lined with gay bars on the west and east sides of the street. "Didn't I see uze in Boystown in front of da Manhole?"
15. Braht: Short for Bratwurst. "gimme a braht wit kraut"
16. Cashbox: Traffic reporter slang for tollbooths. "Dere's a delay at da cashbox on da Skyway"
17. Goes: Past or present tense of the verb "say." For example, "Then he goes, 'I like this place'!"
18. Guys: Used when addressing two or more people, regardless of each individual's gender.
19. Pop: A soft drink. Don't say "soda" in this town. "what kinda pop you got?"
20. Sliders: Nickname for hamburgers from White Castle, a popular Midwestern burger chain "Dose sliders I had last night gave me da runs"
21. The Taste: The annual Taste of Chicago Festival, a huge extravaganza in Grant Park featuring samples of Chicagoland's fine cuisine. Takes place around and before the Fourth of July holiday.
22. "Jieetyet": this is used to ask "did you eat yet"?
23. Winter and Construction: Punch-line to the joke, "what are the two seasons in Chicago?"
Ed Koch, when he was Mayor, had the tag line "How'm I doin". A few years later he stopped when people started imitating his voice saying "What'm I doin".
I used to dance with the young Portillo at the local VFW back in the olden days when all he had was a battered hot dog trailer perched in a Villa Park parking lot. Now he's a millionaire many times over.
Some of his newer jernts in the 'burbs now serve ribs, and they are GOOD!
Leni
I detect some joisey and new yawk in some o' dese!
Garfield Goose and Ray Raynor Rule!
*("Jagoff" being a term I first heard from the Illini recruits in Boot Camp back in the 60's)
Yuuummm. Been craven some lately (I can make it at home) and have some Sliders in my freezer right now.
18. Guys: Used when addressing two or more people, regardless of each individual's gender.
Doesn't everybody say this?????
I worked at the Ward's downtown on State and Adams many years ago - the building is even long gone.
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Sorry to hear it! Wards was WAY cool!
But here I am mourning going to Hudson's on the train for my daughter's "Back-to-School " duds, then a hot fudge cream puff at Sander's right across Woodward after THAT!
Well, not really mourning. Hudson's is gone and got too expensive.
But I remember!
Tia
Of the kind that flows continuously. If you've seen one, you can picture it, even if you haven't heard that term.
These days, the ones on Michigan Avenue are where bums (the homeless in modern parlance) take their "swirly bath".
Drink from it. I dare you!
CHEESEHEAD ALERT! (you had to mention smelt) All kidding aside, the only gyro's I've ever had were the fast food kind shaved off the gyro rotating machine, and I love it, especially with that Greek cheese and cucumber sauce, yummie.
You wanna play third?!
It was like an obsession....
Yum.
Tia
You mean, "the mighty Stadium organ," as in, "Please stand as Al Melgard at the mighty Stadium organ plays the National Anthem."
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