Cunning linguists
Sandwiches, how many do you have?
Eveysdad · 30/09/2015 22:43
I remember having a discussion about this a few years ago at work, so let's ask:
I have 2 slices of bread, I butter both of them, put cheese, ham and pickle on one and put the other on top, I then cut it directly in half.
How many sandwiches do I have? 1 or 2
DragonsCanHop · 30/09/2015 22:46
1 sandwich cut in half.
Our meeting sandwiches are cut into triangles and I always feel greedy if I take more than two triangles so I gourge on crisps instead 
MrsLeighHalfpenny · 30/09/2015 22:50
I'd say that was 2 sandwiches. And if you cut each in half, you'd have 4 smaller sandwiches. And so on.
Bimblepops · 30/09/2015 22:55
One. As far as I'm concerned one sandwich = 2 slices of bread & filling. Anything less is part-sandwich.
Gruach · 30/09/2015 22:55
You have a "round" of sandwiches. (Even if you cut your two slices into four little sandwiches.)
SwedishEdith · 30/09/2015 23:01
Each individual part = a sandwich. I wouldn't send someone to the buffet and say, "Get me half a round, or 2 part-sandwiches, please". I'd ask them to get me 2 sandwiches at least
TurnOffTheTv · 30/09/2015 23:01
One sandwich, cut in half. You wouldn't ask someone to make you two sandwiches, because surely they would use 4 slices of bread plus filling?
JobobeanHo · 30/09/2015 23:04
You have one sandwich cut in half. A buffet situation is different.
PurpleDaisies · 30/09/2015 23:09
This has been a long running source of argument in the Daisies household. I (correctly) say that makes one sandwich which has been cut in half while my husband due to a defect in his upbringing thinks that you magically have two sandwiches when you cut it. He is clearly wrong.
treaclesoda · 30/09/2015 23:12
I would call that 'a' sandwich. But I'm not sure if I'd call it 'one' sandwich, and I definitely wouldn't call it two sandwiches.
Does that make sense to anyone else?
Heathcliff27 · 30/09/2015 23:13
You'd have a piece here too and if you put it in a tupperware box to take to work it would be in a piece box
senua · 30/09/2015 23:18
Wiki says a sandwich is "A dish or foodstuff where two or more slices of bread serve as the wrapper or container of some other food."
No mention of fractions of a slice. So two whole slices = one sandwich, and two whole slices cut up still = one sandwich.
Hero1callylost · 30/09/2015 23:18
Ongoing argument in my house too. We have to talk in number of slices now to avoid confusion!
Allalonenow · 30/09/2015 23:19
You would have "a round" even if you had cut it into two or four.
And if you put it in a box, it would be in a "snap box" or "bait box".
ouryve · 30/09/2015 23:20
It's all in how it first presents to you.
If you have made a sandwich, you can cut it into as many pieces as you like and it's still a sandwich, just a cut up one.
Agree about the buffet situation, though. In that situation, each piece of sandwich is a sandwich.
inmyheadimthequeen · 30/09/2015 23:22
I would call that one sandwich too (or a piece if I was at home 
) as would all my family. However, my MIL isn't a big eater and if she wants a sandwich she would say 'just the one' or 'one round' meaning one slice of bread.
SenecaFalls · 30/09/2015 23:22
If I have a sandwich for lunch, which is always cut in half, I say one sandwich. But if there is a plate of tea sandwiches for a party or meeting, which are little triangles but which each no doubt started as a larger sandwich cut in halves and then fourths, I would say each one is a sandwich.
StealthPolarBear · 30/09/2015 23:23
Well when it's sold in a box is it sold as a sandwich or two? I think one.
AndNowItsSeven · 30/09/2015 23:26
It's two, if you eat sandwiches at a picnic you don't say " pass me half a sandwich".
StealthPolarBear · 30/09/2015 23:29
But the things you buy in the triangular boxes form the supermarket?
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