This brought to you by Andrew saying he left a glass of water for me on the side

[cosmolinguist]

In many ways I'm envious of the British variant of our fair language; I don't think we have such a good word for wellies, or anything quite like faffing about. I like trainers better than any of the words I grew up with for such shoes.

But it's just not worth it. The thing in the kitchen, for which I use the perfectly good word counter, is here called the top¹ ... or the side. <sup>2

1</sup> Which I can almost see because I could call it a countertop without getting weird looks.

² Which not only makes no sense (except maybe from sideboard?) but is also not allowed to be in any way equivalent to the top of anything.

Comments

[taimatsu]

Also, the worktops are usually at the side of the kitchen, no?

I am going to bed now! :D

[cosmolinguist]

Hm... I see what you're trying to do there, but I think that sounds like the logic of someone who needs to go to bed. :)

[taimatsu]

Yes, well... but really, I think that's why in my family we called it 'the side'. I don't know why else we would've :)

[cosmolinguist]

Well yes, considering the geographical origin of other kitchen names like 'the middle bit,' perhaps you have a point there.

Or maybe it's just that they're from Lancashire. :)