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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
BeaAndBen · 24/02/2025 13:37

Bigearringsbigsmile · 24/02/2025 13:11

No it's not!!

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It really is. Deserts from Deserve. “Your just desserts” is “what you justly deserve.”

Pronounced the same as desserts but different origin.

I’m sure we did this on the weekend, didn’t we?

igglepiggle599 · 24/02/2025 13:37

WillIEverBeOk · 24/02/2025 13:33

For the fourth time, I'm not American, it is interesting you ass'ume I am, @TagSplashMaverick .

Also no, it isn't. it's is POSSESSIVE. ie it is. Otherwise its is fine.

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Copy-editor here. In the sentence, 'Yes, it's eggplant' you definitely need an apostrophe. The apostrophe replaces the letter 'i' in the implied, 'it is eggplant'.

bellsend · 24/02/2025 13:37

Dear god here we go again….

wherearemypastnames · 24/02/2025 13:36

Am I the only one that takes off the whole plastic from the cucumber then ?

Doesn't seem to go off before I eat it

Nothatgingerpirate · 24/02/2025 13:35

BetterWithPockets · 24/02/2025 12:57

It depends where you live. In the UK, they’re courgettes.

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I know zucchini as well.
Isn't courgette a French term?

AngryBird6122 · 24/02/2025 13:35

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.

Strange of you to assume everyone calls them Zucchini

ShelleyCarpenter · 24/02/2025 13:34

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.

I can’t imagine going on an Australian/New Zealand forum and telling them they are using “strange words” You’re making yourself sound ridiculous.

ErrolTheDragon · 24/02/2025 13:34

Thanks @FeralWoman

Greek and Italian influences don't explain 'eggplant', Italian is melanzana and Greek is similar. A quick search suggests that's more like 'apple plant' (mela).

ExcessiveNumberOfNinjas · 24/02/2025 13:33

swimlyn · 24/02/2025 13:31

My eggplant will be returned as it’s not produced a single egg in days.

😂

TagSplashMaverick · 24/02/2025 13:33

WillIEverBeOk · 24/02/2025 13:33

For the fourth time, I'm not American, it is interesting you ass'ume I am, @TagSplashMaverick .

Also no, it isn't. it's is POSSESSIVE. ie it is. Otherwise its is fine.

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Oh my good god. 😂

Blubbles · 24/02/2025 13:33

WillIEverBeOk · 24/02/2025 13:29

America has absolutely nothing to do with this. I don't know why you think it does?

Oh, and last I checked, this is an International site that even uses an American domain address, not .co.uk.

Edited
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So what?

You're still wrong by insisting it's only got one name....

WillIEverBeOk · 24/02/2025 13:33

TagSplashMaverick · 24/02/2025 13:31

US arrogance is hilarious.

(And it is ‘it’s’)

Edited
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For the fourth time, I'm not American, it is interesting you ass'ume I am, @TagSplashMaverick .

Also no, it isn't. it's is POSSESSIVE. ie it is. Otherwise its is fine.

InveterateWineDrinker · 24/02/2025 13:32

The other thing worth pointing out is that in the UK, cucumbers are generally priced per unit. So they have to be graded and then sorted so that every single cucumber is the size and weight of an 85p cucumber, while the 72p ones and the 97p ones get chucked away. This makes them expensive, so worthy of better protection.

IBSisBS · 24/02/2025 13:31

SeatbeltExtender · 24/02/2025 13:09

What is a cucumber in the US ;-) ?

I think in the us they have two types, a smaller bitter one they use for making pickles and what they call an English or British cucumber. See it referenced a few times in recipes online!

miIIicant · 24/02/2025 13:31

ErrolTheDragon · 24/02/2025 13:18

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

Interesting... I wonder why in this instance you went with the American English version rather than the U.K. French-derived equivalents?

Fwiw the etymology of aubergine is ... eggplant.

https://www.etymonline.com/word/aubergine

Edited

Ah..an Aussie. That explains it.

Ivyy · 24/02/2025 13:31

InveterateWineDrinker · 24/02/2025 13:21

Cucumbers have a much higher water content and a more porous skin than courgettes.

Although both start to dry out the moment you harvest them, the cucumber will shrivel up much faster.

Ahh ok makes sense

TagSplashMaverick · 24/02/2025 13:31

WillIEverBeOk · 24/02/2025 13:00

Genuinely had to google that word too. Its like a completely different language is spoken on here!

And yes, its eggplant.

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US arrogance is hilarious.

(And it is ‘it’s’)

swimlyn · 24/02/2025 13:31

My eggplant will be returned as it’s not produced a single egg in days.

miIIicant · 24/02/2025 13:31

Gogogo12345 · 24/02/2025 13:12

In England it's courgette

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In Scotland, Wales and N Ireland it's courgette too.

MegTheForgetfulCat · 24/02/2025 13:29

Bigearringsbigsmile · 24/02/2025 13:11

No it's not!!

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It is. Just deserts = what you fairly (justly) deserve. It's nothing to do with pudding!

WillIEverBeOk · 24/02/2025 13:29

EleanorReally · 24/02/2025 13:28

dont be ridiculous!
this is not an american website

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America has absolutely nothing to do with this. I don't know why you think it does?

Oh, and last I checked, this is an International site that even uses an American domain address, not .co.uk.

WillIEverBeOk · 24/02/2025 13:28

miIIicant · 24/02/2025 13:27

I heard that American education isn't that great. Sad.

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Interesting assumption. I'm not American.

Bruisername · 24/02/2025 13:28

Caplin · 24/02/2025 13:26

I used to work for a major supermarket chain. If they aren’t wrapped then the skin of cucumbers quickly dehydrates and hardens which isn’t pleasant. They have tried to take the wrap off, but the quality goes downhill quickly as it dehydrates, whilst courgettes don’t have the same water content.

thank you. We have the experts reply!

FeralWoman · 24/02/2025 13:28

ErrolTheDragon · 24/02/2025 13:22

Ok sorry, the same as the US version rather than British English. I thought, but may well be wrong that in general Australia and NZ tended more towards the latter rather than the former form of English?

We generally use the British version of English, along with British version of legal systems and government, and which side of the road to drive on.

EleanorReally · 24/02/2025 13:28

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.

dont be ridiculous!
this is not an american website