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Original poster

If I say pass me a cup what do you give me

50 replies

lollylawyer · 27/12/2024 12:17

I assert pass me a cup is any drinking vessel and my kids would give me a glass. DH says it can only refer to a mug with a handle. What’s a cup in your house?

OP posts:
Original poster
lollylawyer · 27/12/2024 12:34

Eminybob · 27/12/2024 12:26

I think cup can be used generically for any drinking vessel. Although in my mind it is a plastic beaker that the DC use for drinks.
If I specifically mean a handled hot beverage vessel I would say mug, as we don't have any "cup and saucer" cups in this house.

Generic drinking vessel is what it is in my head. And context would matter so if it’s at dinner I’d likely want a glass for water. If I’m standing by the kettle I’d likely want a mug.

OP posts:
DreamW3aver · 27/12/2024 12:37

I've never come across a glass being referred to as a cup, why would you change it's perfect descriptive name 😁

Original poster
lollylawyer · 27/12/2024 12:40

I think it’s been the years of plastic cups that have confused me into thinking a cup is for water
I’ve had to tell DH that so far Mumsnet says he is right

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mrsm43s · 27/12/2024 12:46

I'd expect to be passed what I asked for, so if I asked for a cup, I'd expect to be passed a cup (and probably the accompanying saucer.)

If I wanted a glass, I'd ask for a glass.

If I wanted a mug, I'd ask for a mug.

IpsyUpsyDaisyDoos · 27/12/2024 12:49

BarbaraHoward · 27/12/2024 12:24

We have cups and mugs, but I'd probably give DH a mug as we use them more often and tend to call both cups. If I wanted the smaller size I'd say coffee cup.

Neither of us would ever refer to a glass as a cup.

Coffee cup is smaller in your house? Our coffee cups are the biggest cups we have! Unless it's espresso, but then we'd say "get me an espresso cup please", specifically.

Ginkypig · 27/12/2024 12:58

Sirzy · 27/12/2024 12:22

Cup and mug are probably used interchangeably in many homes. I wouldn’t pass a glass if someone asked for a cup though!

This.

ExquisiteDecorations · 27/12/2024 12:59

I had this discussion with DS (20 but SNs around language). I said cup (or mug can't remember which) and he got a glass out of the cupboard, ours are all jumbled up in one cupboard. I said that's a glass, it's for a hot drink so it needs to be a cup/mug and he said what's the difference and I said a glass is made of glass at which point he pulled out the half-pint handled glass that I often make milky coffee in and we agreed that it is not actually as clearcut as it seems.

WalterdelaMare · 27/12/2024 13:00

A cup would be a tea cup that sits on a saucer. We don’t have any in our house.

Dontwearmysocks · 27/12/2024 13:01

username299 · 27/12/2024 12:18

A cup is a mug in my house. A vessel with a handle for hot drinks.

A glass is a vessel with no handle for cold drinks.

Agreed

GetyourheadoutoftheovenIris · 27/12/2024 13:03

We have cups and saucers as well as mugs but would say cup for both. ‘Would you like a cup of tea/coffee?’ might be followed by, ‘would you prefer a cup or mug’.
I would offer a glass of water.

Wonderi · 27/12/2024 13:04

I immediately thought of mug but I have lots of plastic cups and so I wouldn’t call them mugs or glasses, they are cups.

Growing up I would tell my DD to get herself a cup and she would get her own plastic ones.
So if I told her to get me a cup she would most likely assume I meant a plastic cup and not a mug.

Snowmanscarf · 27/12/2024 13:10

doodleschnoodle · 27/12/2024 12:24

Depends on who is asking and context. Kids would get passed a plastic beaker or glass. Adults it depends why they were asking.

This

IrisApfel · 27/12/2024 13:17

Cup is a mug, a teacup or a kids beaker with handles.

A glass is a glass and has no handles.

FeralWoman · 27/12/2024 13:19

lollylawyer · 27/12/2024 12:34

Generic drinking vessel is what it is in my head. And context would matter so if it’s at dinner I’d likely want a glass for water. If I’m standing by the kettle I’d likely want a mug.

Show quote history

Ask for the drinking vessel that you want. Don’t make others play guessing games as to what you might want.

Anyway, IMO you’re both wrong. A cup is a plastic drinking vessel for cold drinks. A glass is a glass drinking vessel for cold drinks. A mug is a ceramic/china/porcelain drinking vessel for hot or cold drinks and has a handle. A teacup is a teacup for hot tea, has a handle and usually has a matching saucer.

If someone asks me for a cup I’ll be passing them a plastic cup.

BigSilly · 27/12/2024 13:32

A mug, but only because we don't have any cups and saucers

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 27/12/2024 13:33

A mug.

Mumistiredzzzz · 27/12/2024 13:33

DappledThings · 27/12/2024 12:24

Cup in our house would be a child's plastic one. A glass is a glass and a mug is a ceramic item with a handle.

Exactly this.

OnePeppyDenimHelper · 27/12/2024 13:34

A cup

Feelingfestivefeelingfestive · 27/12/2024 13:36

A cup is a cup for tea coffee/maybe a mug. We probably call our cups mugs.

A glass is for water or soft drinks.

ILoveAnnaQuay · 27/12/2024 13:39

we don't have cups, only mugs. But we do ask if anyone wants a cup of tea/coffee.

I'd say a cup has to be made out of china/porcelain/similar and have a handle.

There's no way I'd give someone a glass if they asked for a cup

NunyaBeeswax · 27/12/2024 13:39

In my 'ouse, you'd get an enamel cup.

If you asked for a mug, you'd get a mug.

If you asked for a beaker, you'd get a plastic beaker.

And if you asked for a glass,.you'd get a pint glass as that's the only sized glass I have.

Shinyandnew1 · 27/12/2024 13:43

I would pass you a mug. If you wanted a glass, you should ask for that.

mondaytosunday · 27/12/2024 13:49

A cup is a cup. My son does this - I ask him to do something and he alters it slightly. I'll say can you put the milk back in the fridge in the door. He'll put it on a shelf. I'll ask him to give me a cup, he'll pass me a glass. If I wanted a glass I'd have asked for one. A glass is not a cup. Though I do think a mug and cup are interchangeable.

Anywherebuthere · 27/12/2024 13:53

A mug for a hot drink. A glass for a cold drink.

Can't remember the last time we used cups. Those are usually for guests.

Justploddingonandon · 27/12/2024 14:15

A mug if it was an adult asking, we don't have any of the dainty cup and saucer type.
If a child I'd check what they want it for ( if not obvious) and depending on the answer would be either a mug or a plastic cup.

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