September 29, 2007

Jersey Expressions (More Jerseyspeak).

Filed under: Uncategorized — Jim @ 2:27 pm

The following is a collection of expressions that one hears with great regularity in Jersey. Indeed, some are unique to Jersey. I have previously written about Jerseyspeak here, here, and here. Obviously, it is one of my favorite subjects.

Without further ado, here ya go:

1. “How’s da Parkway?” (a traffic inquiry)

2. “How’s da Turnpike?” (another traffic inquiry)

3. “Gimme a Taylor Ham and cheese on a hard roll.” (ordering a staple)

4. “Gimme a slice and a coke.” (ordering pizza, another staple accompanied by a cola beverage)

5. “Gimme a meatball parm.” (ordering a meatball sandwich with melted mozzarella cheese on an Italian torpedo-shaped roll)

6. “Yo!” (Can mean: hello, hey, excuse me, I’m over here, Yeah, I’m talkin’ ta you!)

7. “Yo, Asshole!” (Used often and in countless circumstances)

8. “Aaaaaaaay! Oooooooh!”

9. “Yo, Asshole! Dis ain’t New York/Pennsylvania/Florida/Ohio! Move da f**k ovah ta da right!”

10. “Friggin’ Giants!”

11. “Friggin’ Jets!”

12. “Friggin’ Yankees!”

13. “Friggin’ Mets!”

14. “Gimme a buttered roll and a regular coffee.” (ordering the Breakfast of Champions, a hard roll – known in some non-Jersey places as a Kaiser roll, with butter and a cup of coffee with milk and sugar. I prefer coffee free of adulterants).

15. “I gotta pay tax on what??”

16. “Don’t worry. I kin getchya a job. My cousin is the _____________.” (fill in the political title).

17. “I hear he’s locked up. I voted for him. Good guy.”

18. “Sinatra” (Said with bowed head in reverence)

19. “Enchilada? What da f**k is dat?”

20. “California? You gotta be shittin’ me!”

21. “Gimme a ripper.” (Ordering a well done hot dog at the famous Rutt’s Hutt – a ripper is pictured at the site)

22. “Real cheap! It fell off da truck.” (Sale on stolen merchandise!)

23. “I’m goin’ ta A.C. for a couple a days. I got comps.” (Translation: “I will be spending two days in Atlantic City. The hotel has provided a free room and free food.”)

24. “When’s da bus ta A.C.?” (Translation: “When is the bus to Atlantic City due to arrive?”)

25. “Da guy’s a stroonz!” (Translation: “The gentleman is not very bright.”) [Stronzo — is Italian for “turd.”]

39 Comments »

  1. I knew most of these. This is what happens when you are married to someone from Jersey. As a matter of fact, he has lost most of his accent (although the sayings are still there) and whenever we go back, his accent kicks in BIG and I end up staring at him and saying, “Who IN THE HELL are YOU?” Good Grief.

    Comment by Bou — September 29, 2007 @ 2:42 pm

  2. Bring him to “da Post,” where he can get the full treatment.

    Jimbo

    Comment by Jim — September 29, 2007 @ 3:00 pm

  3. You thieving mongrel dooshbag sack of hot air — I oughtta Fisk everyone-a dose except for the ones exclusive to Jersey [believe me, you can keep ’em], because we say all the same stuff in New York, and everyone knows New Jersey is nothing more than New York’s parking lot.

    Thank The Maker, we don’t have this Taylor Ham Scheisse, over which you drool like one of Pavlov’s monkeys, and the GAH-den State Parkway is child’s play, bro [how is it that there’s never any traffic when I’m on it?]…you’d never make it, not in a New York Minute, on “The Belt”. What is that thing you always say? Oh, right. You don’t pack the gear!

    Admit it…you’d be NOTHING without us.

    Comment by Erica — September 29, 2007 @ 5:07 pm

  4. Dear Wiseass Jooette,

    New Jersey needs Brooklyn? Yeah, about as much as one needs a painful wart.

    I left the one off that goes like, “Brooklyn? Why would anyone in dere right mind wanna go to dat shithole?”

    Jimbo

    Comment by Jim — September 29, 2007 @ 5:19 pm

  5. “15. “I gotta pay tax on what??””

    This is questioned??? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

    Comment by Teresa — September 29, 2007 @ 5:43 pm

  6. Erica:
    “GAH-den State Parkway”???
    Gimmie a break…that’s New England trash…like “CAFFEE” and “PAAK THE CAA”.

    Comment by Jack London — September 29, 2007 @ 5:55 pm

  7. How about: “Jersey Tomatoes: Eat one, and then conceive children with green hair, and three eyes on each of their four heads.”

    Comment by Erica — September 29, 2007 @ 5:57 pm

  8. Since I’m from South Jersey, it is “Friggin Flyers, Friggin Iggles, Friggin Phillies, and Sixers? Who cares.

    Those drivers from PA and NY really do need to go a little faster and do not need to be backing up the left lane.

    When I’m really trying to stop someone from stupidity it is, “Yo, yo, yo!”

    Comment by RT — September 29, 2007 @ 9:02 pm

  9. When it comes to produce, there is nothing – NOTHING quite as good as a Jersey Tomato. The Brooklyn knuckleheads flock to this state to grow them on their 25′ x 50′ lots.

    Jimbo

    Comment by Jim — September 29, 2007 @ 9:56 pm

  10. Lies…ALL LIES, I tell you! I’d rather drown slowly in an ocean of slimy mushrooms and creepy crawly vermin than flock to Jersey to grow tomatoes [which I hate almost as much as mushrooms].

    If there is any veracity to your statement, which I highly doubt, I’m sure the only way hapless Brooklynites could be lured to Jersey [they would never flock] is if a band of dooshbags in the mob wearing parachute material exercise suits carrying guns kidnapped them.

    Comment by Erica — September 29, 2007 @ 10:52 pm

  11. OMG – I love it !!!

    Thank God the someone who can relly speeka da Inlish!

    I’m in upstate NY now, listening to people call soda pop, an saying iiiinsuance and uuuumbrella- thank you faw tawkin da way it shud be tawkd !

    Comment by Angie — September 29, 2007 @ 11:33 pm

  12. Waitaminnit . . . number 3 . . . you’ve really heard that? I never heard nuthin’ like that. It’s a pork roll & cheese. What’s that “Taylor Ham” crap? Damned yuppies from North Jersey.

    Comment by Shamrock — September 29, 2007 @ 11:51 pm

  13. “I hear he’s locked up. I voted for him. Good guy.”

    Touché!

    Comment by dogette — September 30, 2007 @ 8:57 am

  14. Jimbo. You REALLY need to put all these on tapes and sell the program! Speak like a native in 6 easy lessons. HELL! You’d make a FORTUNE!!

    Comment by Tammi — September 30, 2007 @ 9:32 am

  15. “California? You gotta be shittin’ me!”

    The West is the best. It’s a proven fact…

    Comment by Mark — September 30, 2007 @ 10:17 am

  16. The West is the best.It`s a proven fact?……I guess so if you are a Hollywood airhead, blowhole, coke head , pseudo-celebrity or Frisco fag!
    Back East we are waiting …counting the days until the big one drops the entire West Coast into the Pacific Ocean. Edgar Cayce was correct in his vision For a better future when the West Coast is in Nebraska….You will be able to go for a swim & pick corn on the same day.

    Comment by dudley1 — September 30, 2007 @ 10:46 am

  17. What about the word “yuse” or “yuze” as a plural pronown. Yo! Any of yuse seen Bobby today? or Yo! Yuze guys better listenup, I got something important to say. This is spoken in South Jersey. I also remember our gym teacher making us do poosh-ups, but he could of been from Philly.

    Comment by George — September 30, 2007 @ 12:21 pm

  18. I’m from South Jersey and I saw y’all to avoid youse guys. Hmmm…come to think of it, I don’t know which is worse.

    Comment by RT — September 30, 2007 @ 7:25 pm

  19. Jealous much, dudley1?

    Comment by Mark — September 30, 2007 @ 9:30 pm

  20. Made me feel right at home.

    Comment by Elisson — October 1, 2007 @ 6:26 am

  21. Jealous much, Dudley1?……Nah! The west coast is a beautiful place, but the liberal elite louse it up, it is time to start with a new west coast where liberals will not be welcome or want to go?

    Comment by dudley1 — October 1, 2007 @ 7:01 am

  22. Yeah, the scenic beauty of Nebraska you just mentioned, for example?

    It’s what you make of it.

    I wouldn’t live anywhere else, and I’ve been everywhere, man, as Johnny used to sing.

    Comment by Mark — October 1, 2007 @ 8:47 am

  23. Actually ….Even a horse fly finds beauty in a pile of horse turds , so if you are happy with all the liberal moonbats,self important hollywood beautiful people & pseudo-environmental BS regulations everywhere in California ….I guess its what you make of it. At least in Nebraska the air is clean & the people friendly………Just like here in Western Pennsylvania

    Comment by dudley1 — October 1, 2007 @ 10:51 am

  24. dudley1, I got yer Western Pa back!

    Jimbo you forgot “Which exit” and my personal fave “down da shore.”

    Comment by oddybobo — October 1, 2007 @ 1:03 pm

  25. One typically doesn’t hear Jersey Peeps ask, “What exit?” (absolutely no one asks “which” exit?), because we usually don’t have to ask. We know our exits. 🙂

    Jimbo

    Comment by Jim — October 1, 2007 @ 7:51 pm

  26. “If you are happy with all the liberal moonbats,”

    With whom I don’t associate so it makes no difference;

    “self important hollywood beautiful people”

    who are all ion Southern Cal, not my neck of the woods;

    “& pseudo-environmental BS regulations everywhere in California”

    If I had a choice in the matter I would do away with most of that but I do have to say that the air in Northern California is clear as compared to the pre-smog equipment days, so I consider that a good trade-off.

    Besides, with two octogenarian parents to care for here and a business levering money out of the hands of dot-commers with too much disposable income one learns to adjust to the scenic beauty rather well. Besides, we all know that you wish your women could all be California girls so yeah, I distinctly detect a note of jealousy that some of us non-moonbats actually get to live in the Golden State.

    Besides, I’m a native. Why SHOULD not feel entitled to live here just as much as the retarded moonbats?

    Comment by Mark — October 1, 2007 @ 8:36 pm

  27. Yo! Dudley, Mark & Jimbo…Brooklyn kicks all your asses, so there — ha! Heh….What Exit, Hairboy??? Catch me if you can.

    🙂

    Comment by Erica — October 1, 2007 @ 10:13 pm

  28. California was more attractive even to your baseball team, Erica.

    ;o)>

    Comment by Mark — October 2, 2007 @ 8:13 am

  29. I win…

    Comment by Mark — October 2, 2007 @ 8:23 am

  30. Ya know what, Golden Boy? Me and my tire iron are looking at your kneecaps and thinking “O’Malley” and “Moses.”

    Proud to live in Cali…BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA. I’m dyin’ here. Stop it, you’re killin’ me.

    Comment by Erica — October 2, 2007 @ 11:20 am

  31. Some 8 or 9 years ago during an airline Strike,the cruiseship company provided alternate chartered air transport back to JFK from Puerto Rico with connecting Bus servive to hotels in Jersey near the Newark Airport so we could fly out the next morning. When asked why we could not get hotel accomodations near JFK & fly from there the next morning?……..The answer was Brooklyn & we would see for ourselves when the busses took us to Jersey through Brooklyn. We were convinced of the wisdom of this to say the least when we witnessed the antics of the Brooklynites during our ride through hell. Brooklyn Sucks!!!

    Comment by dudley1 — October 2, 2007 @ 1:02 pm

  32. Dudley, in the event I was mistaken, I consulted a map. From Newark Airport, you have to pass through The Garden of Eden, a.k.a., Elizabeth, through which one is lucky to see six inches in front of them, and have their proboscus not fall off from the Chernobyl-like effect.

    Elizabeth leads you past the Turnpike over the Goethals, and onto 278, which then takes you through the heart of the North Shore of Staten Island. You then — I assume, unless you swam across — went over the Verrazano Bridge, which leads directly into the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, which is one of Brooklyn’s most exclusive neighborhoods, with houses priced in the gazillion millions. Seriously, there are parts of it that look only slightly less high end than Beverly Hills.

    From Newark to Brooklyn is one thing. Discounting Elizabeth, it’s not a bad drive, and is actually rather pleasant. Probably less than 40 minutes.

    OTOH, from JFK to Brooklyn…now that’s some sketchy scenery. If you took the roads, you probably went through East New York, which in many cases is like walking unarmed through Downtown Baghdad, or Camden. My dad used to work in a drugstore owned by my uncle there on the weekends [dating back to when it used to be an all-Jooish neighborhood — it has since “changed.”], and had been held up at gunpoint at least three times.

    Anyhow, Brooklyn ain’t that bad. You just gotta know where to hang. If you stick with me, you’d be alright. I wouldn’t let any of those punks hurt you.

    🙂

    Comment by Erica — October 2, 2007 @ 4:49 pm

  33. Oh no – I haven’t had Taylor ham in ages. . .

    Watch that Brooklyn bashing youse guys.

    Comment by moos — October 2, 2007 @ 6:48 pm

  34. Erica …. My wife & I were not paying a whole lot of attention as we along with the rest of the bus load of people were saying the rosary during our ride through hell but the scenery outside was not reminiscent of Beverly Hills unless public urination is the norm for upscale flatbush” I do remember seeing that signpost next to a stripped & looted car.

    Violance can occur anywhere , we do have some around Western Pa but it is not a community activity of considerable civic pride. If we are ever to meet or hang out together it will be at least on neutral ground…….perhaps somewhere in Jersey though not Newark!

    Comment by dudley1 — October 2, 2007 @ 7:30 pm

  35. See, it’s weird…and if I could get this out of the way without being called racist, or whatever, that would make what I have to say so much easier to write.

    There are certain ethnic groups juxtaposed alongside other ethnic groups in various neighborhoods in Brooklyn. As an example, I’m sure you are familiar with the Dinkins’ *feh* Administration-era “Crown Height Riots.” The neighborhood, which I drove through a couple of weeks ago [to be fair, I was riding shotgun], has equal parts Black, and Orthodox Jewish.

    For the most part, with the exception of the riots, which, as you could well imagine, had a polarizing impact on the neighborhood, Blacks and Jews in Crown Heights tend to get along…not famously, but not knifing one another in the back on a nightly basis.

    Same thing with Flatbush…Blacks and Jews, with some Hispanic thrown in. I would walk through Flatbush at night, even the predominantly Black parts, and I think we could all agree, hearkening back to my first sentence, that walking through neighborhoods mostly comprised of Blacks, who are the number one purveyors of urban violence [to put it euphemistically], is not the safest, nor is it the wisest, thing to do.

    However, there are certain neighborhoods, such as Brownsville, which borders Crown Heights, and is all Black [and was formerly all Jewish, more than 50 years ago], and East New York, whose bullet hole-riddled housing projects are interspersed with shooting galleries, that you could not pay me enough money to walk through, accompanied by any armored division of the U.S. Armed Forces, in the daytime.

    Public urination is not the norm for Flatbush, especially not the area known as Victorian Flatbush, some of whose houses are more than 100 years old, and just…grand. Definitely not the norm.

    As for meeting/hanging out, I’d sooner take my chances with East New York and Brownsville than have to schlep all the way to New Freaking Jersey. There’s a great bar on East 7th Street in the Village, so we could knock back a few, if you’re ever over this way. And Jimbo’s always cool about picking up the tab, ain’t you buddy?

    😉

    Comment by Erica — October 2, 2007 @ 9:27 pm

  36. Back East we are waiting …counting the days until the big one drops the entire West Coast into the Pacific Ocean

    Ignorance is so very beautiful.

    Comment by Jack — October 2, 2007 @ 10:00 pm

  37. So Jack……. When you leaving California for safer solid ground? You sound a whole lot like the “Naw Orlins” contingent waiting for their houses to be rebuilt at our expense with a lifetime suppy of chest waders provided for the next urban clensing courtesy of Mother Nature.

    Comment by dudley1 — October 3, 2007 @ 7:37 am

  38. I’d like some suppy chest waders for clensing.

    They’d be the suppiest clensers ever…

    Comment by Mark — October 6, 2007 @ 12:04 am

  39. Taylor ham and cheese. love it. I LIVE IN NOrtheastern PA now (scranton) and these crazies NEVER heard of It. Damn amateurs.

    Somerset county native

    Comment by somersetcountygoil — November 9, 2013 @ 2:01 pm

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