You know how people have different ways of expressing that they didn’t hear something you said? There’s the classic, “What?” the “Pardon?” and the “Come again?”
Apparently in Texas they have their own expression for this situation.
I was in the Dallas airport, ordering food, and the woman taking my order said something I didn’t understand. This resulted in an overly lengthy, somewhat comedic exchange.
I said, “What?”
She said her thing again.
I still didn’t catch it. Whatever she said made no sense in my brain. And her bit of accent wasn’t helping either of us. I was forced to say, yet again, “What?”
Finally she repeated her original question: “Do you want any sauces?”
I answered her again, and she finally seemed satisfied with my response.
Is ranch called something else in Texas? I should think that of all the 50 states, “ranch” would be most easily understood here.
It wasn’t until I stepped away from the counter that my brain deciphered what she’d said. It was: “What happened?”
Really? When you don’t know what someone said, you say, “What happened?”
Okay. That’s definitely a new one.
In other news, Middle Child received a key chain as a prize for the library summer reading program. After the library we went to the ever-busy Costco where she keep speaking loudly about “her hooker.” As in, “Where’s my hooker? Have you seen my hooker? Did I lose my hooker?!”
We kept trying to encourage her to 1) keep her voice down, and 2) call it something else for Heaven’s sake!
What do you say when you don’t understand someone? Do you like ranch dipping sauce, or are you more of honey mustard kind of person? If you have any experience with hookers, please, do NOT tell me. (Great, what kind of searches are going to bring up my blog now?)
When I don’t understand someone, I’ll often say, “Yes, it’s a fine day for that.”
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Haha! Of course you do! I would expect nothing less than a witty comeback like that from you.
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LOL
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1) I tend to go with “pardon” or “come again?” 2) It depends on what I am eating. Ranch for veggies. Honey mustard for chicken. 3) Well there was this one time… oh sorry, I guess I should have read through the entire request before answering.
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Haha! Nice, Allie. Thank you. 🙂
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I used to prop up hookers. It’s a rugby thing.
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Oh dear. Please don’t explain further.
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I’ve not heard “What happened?” used that way. That would throw me off too. I’m more of a ‘pardon me?’ kind of gal in a more formal setting, and a ‘what was that?’ in a more casual setting.
But I don’t usually go around talking about ‘my hooker.’ 😉
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Well, I’m glad you don’t usually talk about your hooker. Though we all suspect that’s how you put yourself through med school. Just kidding! My husband used the phrase “I’m sorry?” the other day. Ironically, it was after me saying to him, “Isn’t there something you want to say to me?” The proper response was, “I’m sorry”–no question mark! I had to chuckle, though. So close. He got it right the second time, though.
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“He got it right the second time, though.”–That’s a win in my book!
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🙂
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HA! Reminds me of when I told the neighbors we were going to call the prostitute on them. Trying to repeat what my grandparents were saying. Which was ‘prosecutor”.
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Oh dear. Good story. 🙂
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I often will say, “say again.”
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Ah, good one. I didn’t think of that one.
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Thanks.
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I usually say “excuse me?” – and don’t worry about the hooker thing, I actually know someone who proudly calls herself the “happy hooker” and yes she knits and crochets!! lol
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Haha! That woman sounds great. 🙂
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Haha, funny, both stories. My ex’s parents who were quite old were both hard of hearing, so they would be forever asking people to repeat things, but it was always hilarious just listening to the two of them together. It would be like this:
“I’m going out back”
“What?”
“I’m going out back”
“What?”
“I’m going out back”
“You’re going out back?”
“What?”
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Haha! Terrible. I love it. Thanks for sharing, Vanessa.
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I’m a ‘what’ person. I used to say ‘huh?’ when I was younger but my mother sternly talked me out of that one 😀 I love your daughter’s hooker, but I’d be telling her to keep it down in public as well 😉
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I’d forgotten about ‘Huh?’ Yes, I suppose that’s more a kid thing to say. Thanks so much for stopping by, Dianne!
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I’m an Aussie and I’m always having to translate to my overseas friends. Love your daughters hooker. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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G’day, Stacey! My best friend is from Sydney but currently lives in Tasmania. Great to see an Aussie over here! Thanks for coming!
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K drags around a stuffed cat that she calls Titty. I always liked the expression “Come again”. Yes please.
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She calls the cat Titty. That is too adorable.
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Has for years. You know, a long time for a four year old. Tittie has been with her since she was 18 months old. Used to be a cabinet member, not she’s president of all K’s stuffed animals.
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That’s some staying power.
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It is. K is nothing if not loyal.
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Yes, great staying power for that age. Clawed her way to the top & held on, huh? I suspect she’ll be around long enough to earn emeritus status even if her office eventually is vacated.
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Tittie forever.
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