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

[anne_mommy]

Ishy = Icky
Go with = Go with me
Hotdish = Casserole
Oh, well that's interesting = What kind a freak are you anyway?

I have heard all of these since moving to Minnesota.

[mrissa]

Go with is not always go with me. It's go with [entity implied by the rest of the sentence].

"Grandma is going to the store; are you going to go with?" Clearly, this is, "are you going to go with Grandma?" If there was possibility for confusion somewhere, "go with" would not be used. "I'm going to the library. Grandma's going to the store. Are you going to go with her?", just as in the rest of the country.

[mamamoira]

This is not just a Minnesota regionalism. I think it may be non-coast in general. Certainly it's not at all uncommon down in Oklahoma/Texas.

[haddayr]

I grew up saying it in Illinois!

[jamiam]

Wow, I have exactly the same problems communicating with Minnesotans and Brits! That's amazing!

[hilarymoonmurph]

Excellent translation!

[tigerbright]

Actually, a whole lot of that also applies to polite Bostonians and New Yorkers. (And yes, we exist.)

[yasonablack]

I was just coming here to say that. These phrases and translations are heavily used here in upstate NY.

[cissa]

See, I grew up in MN, and want to retire to upstate NY- now I see part of why that is.

[half_double]

My wife, born in Virginia, MN, says "uff da" with startling regularity.

I'd never thought of the "uff da"/"oy vey" comparison. I'm not sure I agree 100%; my understanding of "uff da" is that it's more akin to "oh, jeez", where "oy vey" (at least in my family) carries an undeniable air of "woe is me; my life is such torment".

-Eli

[haddayr]

Oh, this is an excellent distinction!

[half_double]

Alternately, when commenting on a story someone else is telling you, "Oy vey" could also mean, "Woe is you; your life is such torment."