to think I have strange vocab

[pinkhappy]

I recently moved to a new city. I had some new friends round and discovered that not one of them had heard of a (criminal) fence. This is a word that everyone I knew before would have known.

Then I was listening to the radio and they used the word antimacassar which I had never heard of. Turns out everyone in my new city knows it.

So, a poll. Do you know

1. what a (criminal) fence is only

2. what an antimacassar is only

3. both

4. neither

2

3

2

Both.

4 🤷‍♀️

2

4 antimacassar is one of my favourite words but have never had the opportunity to use it!

3

Oh ffs I meant 3- i need sleep

4 for me but then I've never met a fence who deals in macassars because I'm too classy for that.

We used to have macassars on our old leather sofa, particularly useful with an ex who used to always have gel in his hair

4

2

3

I only know Fence from Red Dead Redemption

3
I have no idea how many people in my city know the meaning of these words though

How do you know what everyone in your city knows?!

I’ve heard of both of them. I think fence is more common. Antimacassar is quite old fashioned though and I wouldn’t be surprised that someone didn’t know it.

This is one of the strangest humble brags I've ever seen

3

Neither word is unusual.

Also I suppose if you're going to humble brag about your vocab it might be good to use some examples which show you have a good education not that you watch the bill and have a grandma.

3

I live in London

3

3 - but I can't say that I'd use either in conversation - or expect to hear either one.

My grandma still had Antimacassars on her chairs until she died in 1997.

3 but I haven’t actually seen an antimacassar in anyone’s house in years. 20-30 years ago all my fussy great aunts had them though.