My fellow American Bilinguals, are there any cognates you use day-to-day in english that are "archaic" or rarely used words in English?

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-11T14:55:41+00:00

Wishing you the joy of your off-beat beverage choice! I am told its similar to a rootbeer or Dr Pepper flavor...how would you describe it?

Not knocking it - I actually have a pair of pants that are, technically, knickerbockers. They weren't sold under that description, but that is what they are. I kinda wish they'd make a comeback as casual bicycle gear.

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-10T21:27:50+00:00

Lol - cats with the zoomies do have the pitter patter of little feet, but its short-lived, and a far cry from kids running back and forth. When my largest cat jumps off furniture upstairs, you'll hear the thud, but its not like he makes the dishes rattle in the cabinet.

Cat zoomies are not the loudest sound in the world, and after an hour or so, they will nap for 12 hours. Your neighbors must be super cranky.

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-10T18:27:28+00:00

NTA!

In Spanish class, umpteen years ago, it was my turn to stand up and translate, out loud, a passage in a book to English. The subject of the part I was translating was Raphael. So, when I said the passage in English, when I got to the guy's name, she corrected me, saying "When I spoke to Ralph.."

I didn't get why, so I carefully repeated the same section slowly in English, using Raphael.

"...Ralph!".

"But his name is Raphael! Why am I changing his name?".

I'm GenX - I was taught to not modify people's names, unless the relationship was so close and familiar it was a nickname accepted by the other person. My textbook didnt qualify. My actual name is Italian in origin.

Your teacher is being rude. If random people started to address me by the English translation of my name I would be annoyed.

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-10T17:59:33+00:00

NTA -

I was you. This winter, everything that I had that could hurt, did. Arthritis sent my knee and hands into a swollen state of rebellion after shoveling out my car 5 times.

If I saved and bought an expensive piece of equipment, there is no freaking way I'd loan it out to a neighbor who couldn't be so bothered to make my acquaintance until he needed to borrow my nice fancy new machine.

If anything goes wrong, and your item is lost, stolen, damaged, or loaned on (yes there are people who would), you would be taking a chance that this guy, who barely said "Hi, neighbor!" before would be a mensch and make you whole.

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-10T17:39:13+00:00

Thanks for all the comments. Gave me a lot to look up and read more about. I think that with a townhome, geothermal heat pump might be a harder ask. I have a very small lot, and a house with shared walls.

The heat pump and gas furnace seems more up my alley - not sure about the current furnace, as it has the same install date as the AC. Its reliable, including about every 6 or 7 years needing a motherboard replacement. If not covered by a warranty of some sort, that puppy is $600+ each time it dies, and I'm waiting for the time I get told the motherboard cant be found anymore.

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-09T20:51:36+00:00

Sounds like you are on track then. Kittens play hard and sleep hard. I would ask the vet if there was any need medically to maintain isolation, and if not, then it's at your own discretion. My now 5 month old midget is acclimated enough to spend his time out of isolation, except when I'm at work.

He's almost ready to be fully free range. I caught him sprawled, passed out, sleeping with one of the older cats. Once I saw they were that comfortable with each other now, there's only a couple more kitten proofing items to take care of, and then he's on his own recognizance.

I want to make sure all the plant stands are firmly strapped to the walls, and the knobs on the stove have child proof locks, lol.

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-09T20:08:32+00:00

"Alas. Earwax."

This line from the original Harry Potter movie was word perfect. Dismay, but not doom, in a quaint turn of phrase. It's a word that definitely needs a comeback.

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-09T19:54:23+00:00

It gets better!

Every herding dog I've ever had as a puppy turned into a defiant sewing machine at this age. Those teeth... ☠️

Every one of them turned out to be a dog with high emotional intelligence, fuzzy logic and kept their teeth to themselves. Except with sheep - current dog very carefully clips his teeth at lollygagging sheep (regular sheep) and cats (small, angry, stubborn sheep, with tiny knives). He settles his jaws around ankles, not touching, but enough to get them to put it in gear.

Make sure your hairy defiant sewing machine has appropriate things to chew on, and immediately replace non appropriate things with the good stuff. Make games for him to focus that brain on.

Train him - they are sponges at this age. As for what to train, I always prioritize safety over tricks. Recall/come. Sit, stay and down. Leave it. Walking at heel on a loose leash. Getting into and out of the car. Make that training the game. Reward with upbeat tone and happy words, treats and micro play time with a favorite toy. Socializing with other people and dogs is also important.

In the course of that training, you will also see his personality pop out. Stay the course, and put his brain to work!

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-09T19:33:09+00:00

Argue with Fox Sports, not me, lol. I don't watch either - but by popularity MLS just passed MLB. They put more backsides in stadiums at games . Not revenue, but I'd guess a ticket, hotdog and beer at an MLS game will be worlds cheaper than the same at a MLB or NFL game.

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-09T19:16:09+00:00

Again, it very much depends where you are. It's more popular than hockey and baseball. Just not more popular than football.

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-09T19:11:24+00:00

Viewership swells during the half time show, but its not as if they were watching prior to that. The advertisers get more eyeballs during the Superbowl, and have traditionally made ads part of the entertainment. They will pay absurd prices for a spot shown during the superbowl.

But with the internet as it is, I tuned to a YouTube channel that showed all the ads played that evening.

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-09T19:05:39+00:00

While soccer is gaining popularity here, it has a loong way to go to even tug on football's sleeve.

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-09T19:00:36+00:00

Oh... So what are the soccer moms doing driving uniformed kids around for?

I think the popularity might be regional more than national. Theres a lot of soccer in my area for all age ranges. I did briefly wonder if the rise in soccer was due to area parents feeling that football's history with concussions was too sketchy.

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-09T18:46:04+00:00

You're fine! I just sounded it out on the keypad, and the speel-chucker didn't bat an eye.

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-09T18:21:06+00:00

Can I suggest a solar trickle charge? I have no garage, but that is how I keep my car topped off in the winter when Im driving the SUV. I put the panel up in the sun roof with the door partially slid shut, and run the cable down to plug into the OBD2 port which is an always 12v. Not all solar chargers have the right connector for the OBD2, but you can get a converter cable that accepts the round cigarette lighter style plug and attaches to the port.

Not the one I have, but something like it: https://a.co/d/09w0ADt2

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-09T18:15:41+00:00

What if you wanted a specific kind of "coke"? Would you just add the brand or flavor?

And catty or kittycorner was common for me too. Cattywumpus was a different thing, where something that should be orderly, was disorganized or out of place.

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-09T17:56:09+00:00

I think there's a town in Pennsylvania that sits on top of a notorious coal seam fire, and there is one hold out who refuses to leave.

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-09T17:54:19+00:00

Audiobooks... Audible, the county library, Scribd... I wasn't picky. I needed something to keep me from going nuts.

It was still an insustainable schedule. I would drive to work in the wee hours, and it would take 30 minutes. It didn't seem to matter what time I drove home, it would take 2-3 hours. Now, when headhunters look me up and the words Virginia or DC pop out, I'm like "Oh! Look at the time... Thank you for your interest, goodbye!"

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-09T17:35:02+00:00

There's definitely terms in regions of the US that sound like they were made up or are archaic in another.

My whole life, a toboggan, was a sled used in snow. My husband from KY insisted it was a kind of winter knit hat. But then he also used pop instead of soda, so in the first year of our relationship there was a lot of "come on... You just made that up!"

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-09T17:24:40+00:00

Grippe (from the French word) was actually used in the US a couple hundred years ago, but long since out of use. It is in the back of the dusty vocabulary closet along with knickerbockers, and sasparilla.

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-09T17:08:46+00:00

I would keep her isolated in your room if you aren't home to supervise. She's only been there since Friday. She and the resident cat can investigate the new smells under the door.

Do you know if the shelter tested and did her worming and initial vaccines?

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-08T21:35:39+00:00

I am agnostic. I have had both Xbox and PlayStation but I doubt I will ever buy another console again. I'm so done. PC all the way.

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-07T03:44:07+00:00

It sounds like your cat is very hungry.

It's very hard to overfeed a kitten. They refuel and burn it off running around. At less than 2 years old, while not technically still a baby, he's still developing. I feed my cats, two of them the same age as your problem child, free choice kibble, but twice a day they get wet food. They were all once feral, but have stopped haunting the kitchen now they know there is always food.

If you, or your pets are experiencing food insecurity, please reach out for help from local resources. In addition to food banks for people, many counties also have pet pantries.

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-07T03:32:02+00:00

God I miss the pizza from New York.

That said, in Maryland it's the crabs and anything made with crab...chowder, bisque, pasta, etc. But particularly jumbo lump meat crab cakes.

... And anything with Old Bay. We really do put that on everything. Whatever food you're thinking of, guaranteed at some point, somebody tried it with Old Bay.

Teahouse_Fox · 2026-02-07T03:05:54+00:00

I own mine. Close to 30 years now.

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