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How to talk right in Chicago
August 20, 2003 | from an e-mail

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?"


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; Political Humor/Cartoons; US: Illinois; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: chicago
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To: Charles Henrickson
Clark Weber

Oh, God, back when he had hair! (I met him in the late 80's after he had semi-retired to WJJD, sans hair)

And remember the old "SuperCFL"? Do you actually remember when they made the format switch from Top 40 to elevator music and sold ad time to all the other radio stations in town?

Larry Lujack actually spun elevator music for a month or two until WLS picked him up...

241 posted on 08/21/2003 7:36:17 AM PDT by mhking
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To: mhking
. . . back when he had hair!

You think that's real?! I'm almost sure it's a piece.

242 posted on 08/21/2003 7:38:43 AM PDT by Charles Henrickson ('CFL: Chicago Federation of Labor.)
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To: mhking
Oh the Memories...sigh.. :) thanks
243 posted on 08/21/2003 7:51:09 AM PDT by carlo3b (http://www.CookingWithCarlo.com)
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To: Non-Sequitur
How about 'Hardrock and Cocoa and Joe' on Garfield Goose and Friends?

YEAH, and how about Howdy Doody , with Clarabelle and Buffalo Bob.. Also, Super Circus, with the beautiful MARY HARTLINE.. LOL

244 posted on 08/21/2003 8:03:11 AM PDT by carlo3b (http://www.CookingWithCarlo.com)
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To: mhking
"Maurice Lanell Butter Cookies"

Actually Maurice Lenell Cookies and Salerno Butter Cookies. I remember a typical breakfast before going to school was a full box of butter cookies (properly eaten by sticking you index finger in the center and gnawing around the edges) while watching Ray Rayner.

Also, I like my beefs dipt.
245 posted on 08/21/2003 8:08:16 AM PDT by DonnDe
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To: DonnDe
Actually Maurice Lenell Cookies and Salerno Butter Cookies

You're right - Maurice Lanell had those pinwheel cookies...(God, those were good!)

246 posted on 08/21/2003 8:10:23 AM PDT by mhking
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To: carlo3b
bttt
247 posted on 08/21/2003 8:11:02 AM PDT by the bottle let me down (Still tilting at windmills)
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To: DonnDe
Also, I like my beefs dipt.

Super juicy. There's a place in the Harbor (Indiana Harbor - East Chicago for the uninitiated) called Zel's (they're still there at the corner of Columbus & Euclid) with the best beef...

248 posted on 08/21/2003 8:11:52 AM PDT by mhking
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To: tiamat; DrNo
This was the main page of the link, see if you can turn it on from the page. Most folks got it to work, sadly some can't. It is the page for Franklyn MacCormack , listening to the "Torch Hour" all those nights, while watching the Submarines races at the beach on Lake Shore Dr....sigh
249 posted on 08/21/2003 8:15:47 AM PDT by carlo3b (http://www.CookingWithCarlo.com)
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To: mhking; carlo3b
Speaking of bad hairpieces, there's the radio legend Howard Miller:


250 posted on 08/21/2003 8:17:00 AM PDT by Charles Henrickson
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To: Chi-townChief
Also Carson Pirie Scott, a major department store chain, is called "Carson's," etc.

Unless you want ribs!

251 posted on 08/21/2003 8:19:34 AM PDT by reg45
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To: mhking
We shouldn't forget your thread for, Minnie Minoso , and the fighting fifty nine White Sox!
252 posted on 08/21/2003 8:25:51 AM PDT by carlo3b (http://www.CookingWithCarlo.com)
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To: Chi-townChief
Sliders bump.
253 posted on 08/21/2003 8:29:16 AM PDT by Polonius (It's called logic, it'll help you.)
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To: Charles Henrickson
Who can forget, You know you’re from Chicago if… , that went to 3 threads...Bwhahahahahhahahah
254 posted on 08/21/2003 8:30:12 AM PDT by carlo3b (http://www.CookingWithCarlo.com)
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To: Marie Antoinette
Italian Beef: You can order it on line and have it shipped to your door ... Portillos.
255 posted on 08/21/2003 8:32:06 AM PDT by reg45
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To: DonnDe
Here they are if you still want them, Maurice Lenell Cooky , that is the correct spelling of Cookie in the company name.. word is that the cook couldn't spell it, and it appears the printer didn't either... the cookeee was and is wonderful.
256 posted on 08/21/2003 8:38:36 AM PDT by carlo3b (http://www.CookingWithCarlo.com)
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To: Marie Antoinette
everybody poked so much fun at me for calling a "soda", a "pop".

Check this out - fun and informative! Pop vs. Soda

257 posted on 08/21/2003 8:38:40 AM PDT by reg45
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To: Charles Henrickson
Geeeze, Howard Miller, one of my favorite radio voices, and his talented and beautiful wife, KAY STARR , and her song Wheel of Fortune..that stayed for 25 weeks in the American Charts.
258 posted on 08/21/2003 8:44:48 AM PDT by carlo3b (http://www.CookingWithCarlo.com)
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To: Non-Sequitur
Or how about the ward healer who didn't want to see "...no one no one sent." and sent the future mare Jane Byrne away.
259 posted on 08/21/2003 8:51:09 AM PDT by justshutupandtakeit (America's Enemies foreign and domestic agree. Bush must be destroyed.)
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To: mhking; All
One time Ray Raynor had, as a guest, a women with a parrot that had an extensive vocabulary. Also on the show was a person with a monkey. On LIVE television, the monkey grabbed the parrot and bit its head off! The woman freaked out. Ray would often recount this story when he would return to Chicago to appear at Drury Lane Theatre.
260 posted on 08/21/2003 9:19:36 AM PDT by orchid (Defeat is worse than death, you have to LIVE with defeat.)
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