Are they bags or sacks? Sneaks, tennis shoes or tennies? What do you call them?
By Wendy
@jerzgirl (9384)
United States
May 31, 2008 9:31pm CST
Another discussion got me thinking about how different things are called by different names throughout the country and Canada. Grocery bags here in NJ are called sacks in Utah (and I'm guessing in the South, too - they share a lot of terminologies). Which do you call them and where?
How about sneaks? We call them sneaks or sneakers in NJ, but when I moved to Utah, they didn't know what I was talking about when I went to buy some. I suggested that maybe they were more familiar with "tennie runners" and BINGO - I got my sneaks!! So, how about these? What's YOUR terminology? (Of course, newer terms are in play, too - running shoes, walking shoes, etc - all variations of the traditional sneaker.)
3 people like this
3 responses
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
1 Jun 08
When I was in Europe, I asked for USB memory stick and I couldn't get the point with salesman.
They call it pen drive. I was corrected that proper name is pen drive...!!
As far as sneakers (Chicago term), I call it gym shoes...
2 people like this
@jerzgirl (9384)
• United States
1 Jun 08
AHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhh - that was one I totally forgot about!!! How could I forget the infamous gym shoes!!!??? LOL Thanks!!
I know what you mean about Europe, though. I try to find out what things are called before I get there just in case. But, there always seems to be one thing that gets missed (like gym shoes!) 
1 person likes this
@danishcanadian (28954)
• Canada
1 Jun 08
I've answered a similar discussion about submarine sandwiches, and pop, vs soda.
I call a bag a bag, and a running show a running shoe.
Some interesting discussions on here tonight.
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@jerzgirl (9384)
• United States
1 Jun 08
Well, DC, that's because they were all MINE!!! Each one gave me the idea for the next one. Mooch mentioned "tonic" in the hoagie discussion and that made me think about the other things soda was called (or pop). Which made me think of other words I knew about, so I took the discussion into Life to ask this question.
Thanks so very much for answering all of them!! 
that's because they were all MINE!!! Each one gave me the idea for the next one. Mooch mentioned "tonic" in the hoagie discussion and that made me think about the other things soda was called (or pop). Which made me think of other words I knew about, so I took the discussion into Life to ask this question.
Thanks so very much for answering all of them!! 1 person likes this
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
1 Jun 08
I'm probably not far enough from NJ to have too many different words. We use grocery bags, wear sneakers, and eat subs or hoagies...which are two entirely different types of sandwiches by the way. We call pizza, pizza, not pies. We drink soda. I can't think of any others at the moment but I'll think on it some more and come back if I think of anything!
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@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
1 Jun 08
Well, it might depend on the area but here subs are on thicker rolls and have more toppings. They're the ones that are more special orders...you get whatever you want basically, beyond the basics there's pickles, sweet peppers, hot peppers, black olives, and probably other things I can't think of right now. They also have hot varieties. Hoagies are usually just basic. The rolls are thinner. They get meat, mayo, lettuce and maybe tomatoes and onions.
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