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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder why.. (brace yourself)

696 replies

BackAgainSlimLady · 24/02/2025 12:29

Single cucumbers from the supermarket come wrapped in plastic.. but single courgettes don’t?

if you ask me.. courgettes have a slightly more fragile skin that cucumber.. so why the lack of protection?

OP posts:
Zippidydoodah · 24/02/2025 21:48

ErrolTheDragon · 24/02/2025 18:11

@Zippidydoodah we’re not all American.

Indeed we're not, that poster is an Australian.😂

Well, we’re not all Australian, either!

😂

PickAChew · 24/02/2025 21:09

phoenixrosehere · 24/02/2025 20:27

Mind you, why do the Americans use 'zucchini' when they're a type of squash which is a truly American word?

Think it is a way of distinguishing between them.

Zucchini = green squash.

Squash = yellow/orange squash, such as a butternut squash

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So what about yellow courgettes (yellow) or acorn squash (mostly green skin)?

Shodan · 24/02/2025 21:03

Lovelysausagedogscrumpy · 24/02/2025 20:10

Nope. It’s desserts, as in puddings. A desert is an arid, hot landscape.

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Just out of interest (because it has nothing to do with the expression 'just deserts' or even righteous puddings)- how would you pronounce the word 'deserter' (as in , for example, a person who has left the army in a disloyal or treacherous fashion)?

RIPVPROG · 24/02/2025 20:31

I grow cucumbers (and courgettes FWIW) and they don't seem to deteriorate quicker in the fridge without being wrapped. However they do have a thicker skin than supermarket ones and are around in the summer when in true MN style I am only eating massive salads, so they're not lingering in the fridge for long anyway

phoenixrosehere · 24/02/2025 20:27

ErrolTheDragon · 24/02/2025 20:08

Oh dear. That’s really sad that Australians and Kiwis have adopted even more Americanisms.

Some of the kiwis deny it.

But really, why is it 'sad'? Why on earth shouldn't they use an Italian rather than a French word for a vegetable?

Mind you, why do the Americans use 'zucchini' when they're a type of squash which is a truly American word?

Mind you, why do the Americans use 'zucchini' when they're a type of squash which is a truly American word?

Think it is a way of distinguishing between them.

Zucchini = green squash.

Squash = yellow/orange squash, such as a butternut squash

chocorabbit · 24/02/2025 20:25

Redheadedstepchild · 24/02/2025 19:30

What happened?

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Some neighbourhood cats almost live in our conservatory where we keep our fridge. One day DD read (probably in the National Geographic?) that cats are scared of cucumbers which we found very funny, so when I opened the fridge I took a cucumber out and stretched it towards one of them. The cat kept retreating backwards with evident apprehension. Cats like to smell things to get a better idea about whether they can eat them so I approached and tried to take the cucumber next to her nose. She didn't let it come near her! She was also scared of the Dutch hoe, but not when I used it as a tool, only when I carried it.

MegTheForgetfulCat · 24/02/2025 20:22

ErrolTheDragon · 24/02/2025 20:18

Also, the phrase 'just deserts' can mean either a fair punishment or reward, whichever you deserve. That wouldn't work if it was pudding, now would it?

Bloody autocorrect keeps trying to turn it into the wrong one.Hmm

Reading some of the posts from people convinced it's "just desserts" reminds me of that episode of Friends where Joey thinks that a "moot point" is actually a "moo point" (if you haven't seen it: "it's like a cow's opinion. It doesn't matter. It is moo").

ErrolTheDragon · 24/02/2025 20:18

Also, the phrase 'just deserts' can mean either a fair punishment or reward, whichever you deserve. That wouldn't work if it was pudding, now would it?

Bloody autocorrect keeps trying to turn it into the wrong one.Hmm

PandaTime · 24/02/2025 20:17

Australia: "Why are you using strange words? It's zucchini."
UK: "FUCK YOU, AMERICA! YOU'RE SO DUMB!"
USA: 😧

phoenixrosehere · 24/02/2025 20:17

ClarafromHR · 24/02/2025 20:03

Oh dear. That’s really sad that Australians and Kiwis have adopted even more Americanisms.

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Yes, darn those Americans for adopting words from the settlers and immigrants who brought xyz over.

Courgette and Aubergine are French words.

GrouchyKiwi · 24/02/2025 20:15

ClarafromHR · 24/02/2025 20:03

Oh dear. That’s really sad that Australians and Kiwis have adopted even more Americanisms.

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This is a very weird response.

Do you know the size of Australia's Italian population? Of course they're going to use Italian words like zucchini.

We call peppers "capsicum" too. Better word, frankly.

NZ and Australia have massive immigrant populations from across Europe and beyond, and plenty of our own native words too. Why on earth do we have to speak the same way as Brits?

Bonkers Grin

MegTheForgetfulCat · 24/02/2025 20:14

Lovelysausagedogscrumpy · 24/02/2025 20:10

Nope. It’s desserts, as in puddings. A desert is an arid, hot landscape.

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Once again, no. Some words have more than one meaning. Yes, a desert is a hot arid place, but that's not the word being used in "just deserts". It's pronounced like desserts but spelt deserts. Read the link in my earlier post, which explains where it comes from.

www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/just-deserts-or-just-desserts

Lovelysausagedogscrumpy · 24/02/2025 20:10

MegTheForgetfulCat · 24/02/2025 19:10

No, for the umpteenth time, it really is just deserts. Deserts = what you deserve.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/just-deserts-or-just-desserts

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Nope. It’s desserts, as in puddings. A desert is an arid, hot landscape.

ErrolTheDragon · 24/02/2025 20:08

Oh dear. That’s really sad that Australians and Kiwis have adopted even more Americanisms.

Some of the kiwis deny it.

But really, why is it 'sad'? Why on earth shouldn't they use an Italian rather than a French word for a vegetable?

Mind you, why do the Americans use 'zucchini' when they're a type of squash which is a truly American word?

Lovelysausagedogscrumpy · 24/02/2025 20:08

EleanorReally · 24/02/2025 18:58

australian!

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G’day !! Didn’t realise you used Zucchini too 🤣. Been to your beautiful country a couple of times and loved it - nice people too. Love your sense of humour !!

ErrolTheDragon · 24/02/2025 20:04

Wow, no one has already pointed that out over 400 posts in, @Mere1 , @Zone2NorthLondon , @NormasArse etc😂

ClarafromHR · 24/02/2025 20:03

WillIEverBeOk · 24/02/2025 13:13

No, Australia. Those two words are not used at all in Australia, or in New Zealand.

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Oh dear. That’s really sad that Australians and Kiwis have adopted even more Americanisms.

Mere1 · 24/02/2025 19:59

WillIEverBeOk · 24/02/2025 12:55

YANBU. But I had to google 'courgettes'. Very strange word to use. Not sure why you can't say zucchini which is what it is.

It isn’t in England.

InveterateWineDrinker · 24/02/2025 19:55

Shodan · 24/02/2025 19:18

Never mind all that.

What I want to know is why you have an apostrophe in 'assume'?

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I thought everyone knew that to ass'u'me was to make an ass out of you and me.

Bigearringsbigsmile · 24/02/2025 19:52

Redheadedstepchild · 24/02/2025 17:43

But have you ever put a cucumber behind a cat, just out of its line of vision to make them jump?

It sounds like quite a cruel thing to do but apparently they think it's a snake. Might be an urban myth or social media hoax but I have no access to either a cat or a cucumber at present to prove it and I don't know anyone who would be happy if I turned up at their house with a cucumber and asked if I could frighten their cat with it. Maybe a few years ago I did but I mix in better circles these days.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Zone2NorthLondon · 24/02/2025 19:52

WillIEverBeOk · 24/02/2025 12:55

YANBU. But I had to google 'courgettes'. Very strange word to use. Not sure why you can't say zucchini which is what it is.

LoL Getting all snippy when it’s you does not know your veg nomenclature
Zucchini,is not a usual UK term for courgette

Christwosheds · 24/02/2025 19:46

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 24/02/2025 12:58

You are about to get your just desserts.

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eg Courgette cake with icing.

NormasArse · 24/02/2025 19:37

WillIEverBeOk · 24/02/2025 12:55

YANBU. But I had to google 'courgettes'. Very strange word to use. Not sure why you can't say zucchini which is what it is.

Not in the UK.

TroysMammy · 24/02/2025 19:36

There is swede in Branston pickle. Only it's called rutabaga which is what a swede is called in the US. Sneaky eh?

MegTheForgetfulCat · 24/02/2025 19:36

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 24/02/2025 19:10

Oh dear 🤣🤣 It really isn’t. There was a VERY long thread about it, did you miss it?

https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/just-deserts-or-just-desserts

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X-posted!