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

[mrissa]

The one that's gotten me in the most trouble is "could be better" vs. "could be worse."

If you ask me how I am doing, and I say, "Could be better":

Some coastal friends have thought I meant, "I think I might have improved since last time you asked." They will say, "Great!" or, "Yay!" in unironic voices. Then I will give them the eyes of betrayed puppy doom because they are so very mean.

What I actually mean is, "I can think of so very very many ways in which my current situation could be better; there is hardly anywhere to go but up from here."

"I just got a several million dollar deal on a book contract I'd been working for years to pursue": could be worse!
"Someone very close to me has just received a terminal diagnosis, possibly myself": could be better!

The pinnacle of human existence, of course, is "can't complain." "Can't complain" comes when you have that several million dollar book deal and also the terminal diagnosis someone close to you got last week turned out to be a mistake and what they really have is a hangnail

[haddayr]

I was hoping you'd speak up and give me ones to add! Thank you!!!!

[tigerbright]

You know, till I read this, I thought Garrison Keillor had to be exaggerating.

[mrissa]

Garrison Keillor lived on the coasts too long. He is now too overstated and exaggerated. Which in this case is the opposite of exaggerating.

[elisem]

*almost audible noise of amusement*

[browngirl]

*takes notes for the day I visit this ancient and mystical land*

[elysdir]

The two things in this thread that have made me laugh the most so far are Haddayr's translation of "Nice day, eh?" and Marissa's line "We seem to still be in an enclosed space together!"

[haddayr]

That was the part of Marissa's that made me laugh hardest, too!

[careswen]

Likewise.

[haddayr]

I just have to tell you that this comment was so beautiful and transcendent that I just had to read it out loud to Jan, who laughed and laughed and laughed. Again, thank you.

[mrissa]

Well. One does try.

(Anyone who wants to translate that gets extra credit.)

[snurri]

"I am extremely flattered but also embarrassed so let's just leave it at that or I'm going to have to flee."

[mrissa]

Native speakers don't get extra credit!

[naomikritzer]

HAHAHA yes exactly.

(I read the "Disney Princess TV" bit out loud to my husband because I found it so hilarious.)

[careswen]

I loved all of your additions, and I laughed out loud pretty hard when I got to "Funny thing about that!" because I can so imagine myself thinking the same thing in a mildly panicky way.

"Funny thing about that"

[aedifica]

In my re-read of Narbonic I just got to this example of that phrase, and laughed because I hadn't known Dave was Minnesotan til I saw that line. (Context: Mad scientist comic, though Helen, the actual mad scientist, isn't in that day's strip. Mell and Dave are on their way to the Moon. Mell, who came along as a stowaway, already pushed Dave out the airlock once and only brought him back in because she realized she doesn't know how to fly it.)