What a Minnesotan really means

[haddayr]

Having lived in Minnesota for more than 18 years now, and influenced by the table of Britishisms explained, I have decided to go into public service. You're welcome, transplants to Minnesota!

What a Minnesotan SaysWhat s/he meansWhat the transplant thinks"I'll get right on that!"I will never do this.This will be done very quickly!"Um, I guess that

Comments

[dlandon]

You forgot - "You're not from around here, are you?" Translation - You just did/said something no Minnesotan would ever do, you weird ferringer. Other variations include asking where you went to high school.

Also heard a lot, "Oh, Jeez."

- D

Oh?

[sofvckinghot]

Other variations include asking where you went to high school.

Really? I thought only St. Louisans did that...

Re: Oh?

[trinker]

...and people in Hawai'i

Re: Oh?

[alecaustin]

Definitely people in Hawaii. The possible list of schools is short enough that you can get real information out of it, when you're not being sarcastic.

[ex_triciasu]

This is brilliant! :D

[mrissa]

The one that's gotten me in the most trouble is "could be better" vs. "could be worse."

If you ask me how I am doing, and I say, "Could be better":

Some coastal friends have thought I meant, "I think I might have improved since last time you asked." They will say, "Great!" or, "Yay!" in unironic voices. Then I will give them the eyes of betrayed puppy doom because they are so very mean.

What I actually mean is, "I can think of so very very many ways in which my current situation could be better; there is hardly anywhere to go but up from here."

"I just got a several million dollar deal on a book contract I'd been working for years to pursue": could be worse!
"Someone very close to me has just received a terminal diagnosis, possibly myself": could be better!

The pinnacle of human existence, of course, is "can't complain." "Can't complain" comes when you have that several million dollar book deal and also the terminal diagnosis someone close to you got last week turned out to be a mistake and what they really have is a hangnail

[haddayr]

I was hoping you'd speak up and give me ones to add! Thank you!!!!

[tigerbright]

You know, till I read this, I thought Garrison Keillor had to be exaggerating.

[mrissa]

Garrison Keillor lived on the coasts too long. He is now too overstated and exaggerated. Which in this case is the opposite of exaggerating.

[jiawen]

"Oh no, that's too nice of you! I couldn't! > "I want it. Gimme now."

"Isn't that special?" > see "Different"

[readingthedark]

Fantastic!