To hate the word "pudding?"

[Misswrite89]

I hate it when people use the word pudding instead of dessert. AIBU?

Well that's what I've always believed - think it was on one of these question answering shows for kids I saw 30 years ago, possibly called "Why?"

There are at least 4 stories/ myths about where the word "loo" comes from - the room 100 one is no more valid than any of the others, although the gardez l'eau one is historically unlikely because the word loo only started being used between the World Wars - its 20th century slang.

The most likely explanation is that it was military slang picked up by WW1 soldiers in France - again it is an Anglicised version of French for the "place of ease/ comfort" lieux d’aisance (lieux pronounced loo)... The timing for "loo" entering the English language best for that one.

stillwishihadabs - so is "dinner" not a thing at all, in your house?

We have lunch (midday- usually cold, sometimes hot) , afternoon tea (cake, tea and coffee), dinner (evening meal, regardless of time really) and then dessert. "Supper is not really a thing, but might occasionally be used to dis rive a snack bore bed eg warm milk and a biscuit. (This is in Australia, and sounds most similar to what southerners use I think)

This is all about class and class markers.

Bertrand Russell nailed it when she said she thought people using dessert or afters were "refained "

(off point but I've asked this before but WHY do people misspell words in order to add shame to the people you are castigating - could you not do that without misspelling. Especially since this people you are mocking can actually spell these words - oh got it it is so you can make sure that people realise that upper class is good. working class is good. but any aspirational class is laughable. Jesus how horrible.)

Otherwise why would you care or judge what other people called "pudding".

If you read a LOT of English novels (I have - for pleasure) you could absolutely pass as upper class. I am Irish and utterly immersed in English novels and I think I could fake it completely (although I do think if in the 21st century I used scent instead of perfume I might wonder it I was married to Jeffry Archer)

I think not really, "what's for supper?" Sounds much more natural than "what's for dinner?"to my ear. I suppose I think describing for example a Monday night shepards pie (made with left overs from yesterday's roast) as dinner is pretentious and a bit ridiculous. For me dinner has at least 2 courses and is served with wine. I suppose we have people over for dinner, but don't eat dinner every day.

However, to me stillwishIhadabs the sort of answer I'd expect to "what's for supper?" would be a "toast and horlicks then straight to bed". I agree that an easy meal made from leftovers is perhaps not grand enough to be dinner but then we'd call it "tea". We also add a possessive where I come from so I'd say "what do you want for your tea DH?" Or " what shall we have for our tea tonight"? "What shall we have for tea" sounds a bit childish to me. Very very subtle regional differences.

I use both. Pudding tends to be for a hot type, dessert for a cold one.
So Christmas pudding - can't call that Christmas dessert now, can you - but ice cream would be dessert, not pudding.

My nan used to say "sweet" - which was at least an accurate description - but I don't use that.

Much prefer Pudding, dessert sounds limp to me, and that phrase " just deserts".

And then there are the 'restaurants' who offer 'Deserts' for pudding ...

This is all about class and class markers.

Yes it is ... on a relatively small island, among a relatively small group of people. Americans don't 'avoid it all' by saying 'French press'; they sincerely couldn't give a rat's ass about it and they are not the only ones who find it really incongruous - to the point of ridiculous - in a world where media and business are global, and where English is spoken more and more by people whose cultures are light years away from that of Britain.

In other words, class markers are irrelevant in the wider picture. To those pointing out the issue of reverse snobbery - true up to a point, but overall the whole country is a victim of this system designed to keep certain people in their place. It truly is a caste system and it holds everyone back.

Pud is the worst word in the world. DH says it to puss me off. It reminds me of Paul Hollywood who I loathe.

I could never serve jam sponge and custard and call it dessert, its a pudding!

Same way a trifle, or strawberries and cream couldn't be called a pudding.

ds(12) calls it "afters", no idea why as dh and I don't call it that. I guess its a generic term for pudding or dessert.

But looking glass instead of mirror!!?

I've known some v U people and never heard any under the age of 90 use looking glass!!

My mum says looking glass, she's 62.

Yanbu. Pudding is stodge and custard. I'd say dessert when out, afters at home.

Pud pud pud

I don't use either! We have breakfast, lunch and dinner. After dinner it'll be "mum can we have" an ice lolly, biscuits etc. It's not a formal kind of thing in my household as such.

I've never liked the expression 'tea'. Tea to me is a hot drink from a cup. For some reason saying "what are we having for tea" seems a bit fuddy duddy to me.

I say pudding (Lancashire lass born and bred) To me dessert sounds posher than pudding and I would only request dessert if in a restaurant. It doesn't bother me what anyone else uses though.

Of course it's English, nobody else gives a fuck.

Kelpeed, I suspect Yseulte was (correctly imo) answering your question, "What would be interesting (to me) is whether this obsession with identifying class markers is just an English thing?"

Yeah, mostly just an English thing. Occasionally come across some kind of "class marker" thing in Australia, but not really - more if you use certain words, or a certain accent, you're considered to be a "posh pom". But most people here don't give a rat's arse either.

Ah the cheese and crackers /oatcakes before a meal is A Thing in Australia. My inlaws (upper middle if I had to place them, of course despite them claiming Australia isn't riddled with class issues like the British they are still so superior to nearly everyone else ;)) did this when they had a big meal. I had no idea it was A Thing.

Ha cross post Thumb! My Aussie in laws are far more concerned with "class" as I'd see it than I've ever been. Maybe not with vocabulary but with status and who you know and doing the correct thing, correct grammar, correct everything.... All whilst saying "we're not like the English..." at every opportunity!