Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2019 June 29

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June 29

Do they say wicked storm everywhere in Red Sox territory or only some parts?

Wicked stahm coming! Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 13:19, 29 June 2019 (UTC)

Wouldn't that be a-comin' ? SinisterLefty (talk) 14:09, 29 June 2019 (UTC)

In New England English, "wicked" is purely adverbial. Using it as an adjective is usually done by non natives who don't understand how to use it properly when goofing on the dialect. An actual New Englander would say something like "There's a wicked bad storm coming" so the answer is, outside of Internet memes and comedians goofing on the dialect, no one would say "A wicked storms coming". The word wicked in this context is used as a synonym for "very", and you'd never say "a very storm is coming". --Jayron32 16:52, 29 June 2019 (UTC)

Two questions on NE English is 'tall drink of water' for a tall (man) also just New England and is 'package store' (shortened to 'packy') for liquor store? A lifetime ago I learned those usages from a Portsmouth working class youngster (and wicked, too, although wicked I most associate in the use of a young woman of Braintree). Alanscottwalker (talk) 16:59, 29 June 2019 (UTC)

Note that the term "package store" itself is not used everywhere. It's often called a "liquor store". So, the question about how it is shortened doesn't apply. SinisterLefty (talk) 17:40, 29 June 2019 (UTC)

Hmm? I was not asking how it was shortened, I was parenthetically stating how it is shortened, (although I suppose 'packie' is the spelling). At any rate, are you saying both 'package store' and 'packie' are NEEisms, or that package store is not just a NEEism, but packie is, or are you saying something else? Alanscottwalker (talk) 18:05, 29 June 2019 (UTC)

I don't know if "package store" is used anywhere outside NE. To me, it sounds like a place like Kinko's where you go to buy boxes and tape to wrap and mail your packages. SinisterLefty (talk) 18:54, 29 June 2019 (UTC)

In the Midwest, I used to see the term "package liquors" in reference to a liquor store. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:21, 29 June 2019 (UTC)

"Packie" meaning "liquor store" a pure New Englandism, not sure on the other one. --Jayron32 17:06, 29 June 2019 (UTC)

At the very least, "long drink of water" was common in the Midwest. Probably old-fashioned now. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 17:26, 29 June 2019 (UTC)

Here in NC, "long (or tall) drink of water" would be old fashioned but understandable. A "package store" here sells mostly beer and tobacco (with snacks and soft drinks). Liquor sales are more regulated, meaning most places can't sell it.--Khajidha (talk) 00:09, 30 June 2019 (UTC)

In Britain we have "long streak of piss" for a long thin person. DuncanHill (talk) 19:22, 30 June 2019 (UTC)

You will be thrilled to know that Australia has "long streak of cocky's shit", apparently. Martinevans123 (talk) 19:47, 30 June 2019 (UTC)

Not only thrilled, but delighted. We have a lot to thank our Colonial Cousins for. DuncanHill (talk) 20:36, 30 June 2019 (UTC)

You're most welcome.  :) -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 21:30, 3 July 2019 (UTC)