From: Madelon Mottet <madelon.mott..@..ail.com>
Date: 2010-02-09 12:51:51
Message ID: <6f714d5a1002091251k2025da39s254f6c382e27cbfa@mail.gmail.com>
Parent: <B2141DD1ABF04ABCA0726FB861B5BC4C@D1RB3V21>
Subject: Re: English word usage: delicatessen, potluck
Date: 2010-02-09 12:51:51
Message ID: <6f714d5a1002091251k2025da39s254f6c382e27cbfa@mail.gmail.com>
Parent: <B2141DD1ABF04ABCA0726FB861B5BC4C@D1RB3V21>
Subject: Re: English word usage: delicatessen, potluck
An answer from Alaska-Washington. The last hundred times I have heard
potluck used, it was to disignate a meal where the guests each brought a
dish. Moreover, as each guest tends to show off one of their specialty
dishes, these meals generally end up as gastronomic treats.
I have heard the concept that a potluck was whatever was on hand, but don't
know anyone who uses it that way.
>>"When I don't have time to cook a meal, I
>> sometimes serve delicatessen that I buy at the local supermarket"
The above sounds very odd.
I would say, "I served food from a delicatessen."
2010/2/8 Mark Spahn <markspa..@..rizon.net>
>
> From: <roy.berm..@..ail.com>
>
> Interesting! I never know that, and have only been familiar with the
>> American usage, which is completely different-referring to a meal
>> where everybody brings an item and shares.
>>
>
> "Potluck" is not in my active vocabulary, and even passively,
> I'm not sure what it means. But here are two dictionary data points...
>
> GG5 translates 有り合せの食事 as "potluck; a potluck meal",
> and a U.S. dictionary lists both meanings:
> (1) whatever the family meal happens to be
> [a neighbor invited in to take potluck]
> (2) whatever is available, with little or no choice
> (3) = potluck dinner
> potluck dinner (or supper) = a dinner to which everyone
> brings a dish or entree, salad, or dessert to share
>
> So meaning (3) is not the only American usage.
> -- Mark Spahn (Great Lakes region, USA)
>
>
>
>
--
Madelon Mottet, Ph.D.
Alaska-Southeast Bio-Research
Japanese to English Translating
potluck used, it was to disignate a meal where the guests each brought a
dish. Moreover, as each guest tends to show off one of their specialty
dishes, these meals generally end up as gastronomic treats.
I have heard the concept that a potluck was whatever was on hand, but don't
know anyone who uses it that way.
>>"When I don't have time to cook a meal, I
>> sometimes serve delicatessen that I buy at the local supermarket"
The above sounds very odd.
I would say, "I served food from a delicatessen."
2010/2/8 Mark Spahn <markspa..@..rizon.net>
>
> From: <roy.berm..@..ail.com>
>
> Interesting! I never know that, and have only been familiar with the
>> American usage, which is completely different-referring to a meal
>> where everybody brings an item and shares.
>>
>
> "Potluck" is not in my active vocabulary, and even passively,
> I'm not sure what it means. But here are two dictionary data points...
>
> GG5 translates 有り合せの食事 as "potluck; a potluck meal",
> and a U.S. dictionary lists both meanings:
> (1) whatever the family meal happens to be
> [a neighbor invited in to take potluck]
> (2) whatever is available, with little or no choice
> (3) = potluck dinner
> potluck dinner (or supper) = a dinner to which everyone
> brings a dish or entree, salad, or dessert to share
>
> So meaning (3) is not the only American usage.
> -- Mark Spahn (Great Lakes region, USA)
>
>
>
>
--
Madelon Mottet, Ph.D.
Alaska-Southeast Bio-Research
Japanese to English Translating