Aussie-isms

At work earlier this week, a co-worker mentioned that she forgot to bring any fruit to work. (She usually brings an apple or some-such, as an afternoon snack.) I said, ''Well, I brought a few oranges, if you'd like one.''

Her reply: ''Ah, too bad you didn't bring any Mandarins. They're easier to peel.''


Pause.


Realized that for Aussies, Mandarin oranges are not ''oranges''; they're Mandarins. A completely separate category -- in the same way that lemons aren't oranges. Whereas for Yanks, Mandarins are a sub-category of oranges.

And so the question ''Would you like a Mandarin? Or would you rather have an orange?'' makes perfect sense to an Aussie.

But then, Aussies are over-specific for beets: they call 'em ''beetroots.'' However, they don't call other root vegetables ''carrotroots'' or ''turniproots.'' Go figure.


BTW: There is a rhyme to ''orange.'' It's ''flange.''


--GG