Author Topic: On Special (Read 6245 times)

Tante Shvester · « **on:** April 13, 2011, 04:05:08 PM »

When the store is having an item with discounted price, I say it's "on special".

"Sweetheart, check to see which ice cream is on special, and get that one. Unless it's Friendly's ice cream, because that's nasty, so then just get the store brand."

"I bought six boxes of herb tea because they were on special, and it's not like they're going to spoil."

My son tells me that "on special" isn't right, you're supposed to say "on sale".

By you, do you hear "on special", or is another New York thing, like waiting "on line" at the bank, waiting for the next available teller?

Jonathon · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2011, 04:20:29 PM »

"On special" doesn't sound wrong to me, and I'm sure I've heard it before, but I think I'd tend to say "on sale".

Marianne Dashwood · « **Reply #2 on:** April 13, 2011, 04:44:10 PM »

I would also say "on sale."

Quote

By you, do you hear "on special", or is another New York thing, like waiting "on line" at the bank, waiting for the next available teller?

It sounds like another New York thing. This whole sentence, in fact, sounds like it must be full of New York things.

BlackBlade · « **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2011, 04:46:44 PM »

On special doesn't sound wrong to me, I've heard people here refer to it as "Is your store having a special on X?" or "Does your story have a special on anything?"

"On sale" definitely sound correct in that context. I wouldn't mind losing, "waiting on line" in reference to being in line at the bank. We only have once place where one must wait online!

Tante Shvester · « **Reply #4 on:** April 13, 2011, 04:50:27 PM »

New Yorkers have been on line long long before there was any such thing as The Internet.

Tante Shvester · « **Reply #5 on:** April 13, 2011, 04:51:21 PM »

Oh, and "by you" is more a Jewish thing than a New York thing. It's a Yiddish-influenced inflection.

rivka · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2011, 05:24:54 PM »

Quote from: Tante Shvester on April 13, 2011, 04:51:21 PM

Oh, and "by you" is more a Jewish thing than a New York thing. It's a Yiddish-influenced inflection.

One that I loathe. To my ears, it sounds as uneducated as redneck-ese.

Quote from: Jonathon on April 13, 2011, 04:20:29 PM

"On special" doesn't sound wrong to me, and I'm sure I've heard it before, but I think I'd tend to say "on sale".

I agree with this. I have definitely heard the phrase -- including on sitcoms, I think -- but it's not one that I tend to use.

Tante Shvester · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2011, 05:42:26 PM »

I'm not uneducated. I'm folksy.

Porter · « **Reply #8 on:** April 13, 2011, 06:17:02 PM »

"On special" sounds wrong to me.

The Genuine · « **Reply #9 on:** April 13, 2011, 09:55:33 PM »

I'm familiar with "on special," but would use "on sale" myself. However, I use "on line" and people on the West Coast call me on it.

I'm not sure I'm been exposed to "by you" before.

Marianne Dashwood · « **Reply #10 on:** April 13, 2011, 10:10:44 PM »

Quote from: BlackBlade on April 13, 2011, 04:46:44 PM

On special doesn't sound wrong to me, I've heard people here refer to it as "Is your store having a special on X?" or "Does your story have a special on anything?"

"On sale" definitely sound correct in that context. I wouldn't mind losing, "waiting on line" in reference to being in line at the bank. We only have once place where one must wait online!

But "having a special on"definitely sounds different than "on special." The former I would say; the latter would sound weird.

The Genuine · « **Reply #11 on:** April 13, 2011, 10:13:19 PM »

I also don't say "for free."

I'll say "for nothing," "free of charge," or just plain "free."

Jonathon · « **Reply #12 on:** April 13, 2011, 10:15:13 PM »

Quote from: Tante Shvester on April 13, 2011, 04:51:21 PM

Oh, and "by you" is more a Jewish thing than a New York thing. It's a Yiddish-influenced inflection.

Now I wonder if it's also common in areas that have had a lot of German speakers, too.

Tante Shvester · « **Reply #13 on:** April 14, 2011, 01:12:39 AM »

Quote from: The Genuine on April 13, 2011, 09:55:33 PM

I'm not sure I'm been exposed to "by you" before.

Sure you have -- by me.

Dobie · « **Reply #14 on:** April 14, 2011, 06:14:26 AM »

Sounds like a Lousiana thing to me.

Tante Shvester · « **Reply #15 on:** April 14, 2011, 06:18:49 AM »

Yup. Lots of Cajun Yids down in the bayou.

Jonathon · « **Reply #16 on:** April 14, 2011, 09:21:06 AM »

Seriously?

Dobie · « **Reply #17 on:** April 14, 2011, 09:27:15 AM »

http://amoslassen.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/bagels-and-grits-a-jew-on-the-bayou-seeking-the-divine/

Tante Shvester · « **Reply #18 on:** April 14, 2011, 09:34:32 AM »

Oh, thanks to the link to that site. I wasn't familiar with Amos Lassen, and I don't know how he slipped under my radar. I'll follow him a bit when I have more time.

rivka · « **Reply #19 on:** April 14, 2011, 10:34:07 AM »

Quote from: Jonathon on April 14, 2011, 09:21:06 AM

Seriously?

Actually, quite possibly.

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The late Theodore F. Thurmon, who was a geneticist at the LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, put forth a more controversial theory. Thurmon postulated that Tay-Sachs in the Cajun community was a result of European Jews who assimilated into the French Acadian community. According to Thurmon, this, coupled with the arrival of French Jewish merchants in Acadia around the time of the French Revolution, contributed to the high occurrence rate of both Usher syndrome and Tay-Sachs in the Acadian population, which later evolved into the Cajun community.

Marianne Dashwood · « **Reply #20 on:** April 14, 2011, 11:31:46 AM »

Makes sense. The Jews in France weren't treated so nicely in France. Makes sense they'd find a place elsewhere.

fugu13 · « **Reply #21 on:** April 14, 2011, 11:39:32 AM »

Doesn't surprise me; the Cajun side of my family periodically turns up Jewish ancestors in their genealogical excursions.

rivka · « **Reply #22 on:** April 14, 2011, 11:40:59 AM »

Quote from: Marianne Dashwood on April 14, 2011, 11:31:46 AM

Makes sense. The Jews in France weren't treated so nicely in France. Makes sense they'd find a place elsewhere.

Indeed. It also explains the incidence of Tay Sachs in the population in a way that makes far more sense (to me, anyway), than any other explanation I am aware of.

(Doesn't anyone else remember that Doogie Howser episode?

)

BlackBlade · « **Reply #23 on:** April 14, 2011, 12:05:20 PM »

Quote from: rivka on April 14, 2011, 11:40:59 AM

Quote from: Marianne Dashwood on April 14, 2011, 11:31:46 AM
Makes sense. The Jews in France weren't treated so nicely in France. Makes sense they'd find a place elsewhere.
(Doesn't anyone else remember that Doogie Howser episode? )

Speaking of annoying MIDI music...

rivka · « **Reply #24 on:** April 14, 2011, 12:20:25 PM »

Aw. I like that opening.