When Giving Directions...

[antidan444]

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I cannot actually imagine a situation where I would use the term lights, when referring to only one intersection, without feeling really silly.

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Yeah, me too, even though I see the literal reasoning. It's interesting.

[Mark_K]

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apparently truckers say mile instead of miles

i.e. 'its 20 mile down the road'

also- truckers refer to all streets that aren't the highway as 'surface streets'. Have people heard that term before?

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Wow, I thought the term "Surface Streets" was used everywhere. In Southern California, you can either take the freeways to get somewhere or use "surface streets" if the freeway is jammed. It's a common driving term here.

I.e. Any streets/roads that are not limited access and have lights, stop signs, etc...

[drzen]

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I cannot actually imagine a situation where I would use the term light, when referring to a set of three lights, without feeling really silly.

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I guess it's one big language divide.

[antidan444]

This reminds me of the "steamers/sloppy joes" deal. People in my immediate area most often use the term "steamers" but I think most places use "sloppy joes" ... could be wrong though.

[fmxda]

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Most people around my area just say "81" (for Interstate 81) or "70" (for I-70) for the two interstates. "Take 81 South to 70 East to ..."

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This is very standard.

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This would be comically illiterate here and in the UK.

"Take the M1 south" every time.

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Would you say turn onto the Main St. or take the 3rd Ave north?

[VoraciousReader]

rofl

Where I live a steamer definitely isn't something you'd want to find on your plate.

[drzen]

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This reminds me of the "steamers/sloppy joes" deal. People in my immediate area most often use the term "steamers" but I think most places use "sloppy joes" ... could be wrong though.

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A steamer for me is a turd.
I vaguely know what a sloppy joe is. Some sort of minced-beef patty or hash thing?

[chim17]

wtf is a steamer (i obv know now but ive never heard that ever)

[antidan444]

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rofl

Where I live a steamer definitely isn't something you'd want to find on your plate.

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Yeah I've heard that one, too.

A "steamer" (or "sloppy joe") is basically hamburger that's been chopped up, put in a slow cooker, mixed with lots of ketchup, mustard and whatever else you want to add (onions, peppers, etc.), then spooned onto rolls for sandwiches.

[antidan444]

FWIW I've never heard the term "steamer" used for a sandwich outside 50 miles of Hagerstown.