LANGUAGE JEWELS

A Language Of Their Own: 10 New England Words Explained

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Few regions in the world are as gorgeous as New England. The six states that comprise "Yankeeland" are filled with beautiful landscapes, historical sites, and, perhaps most importantly, amazingly friendly people.

With that in mind, New Englanders certainly have a particularly colorful vernacular. We have selected ten of the most amazing and iconic New England slang terms to make you feel like a local the next time you visit. Enjoy!

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We’ll start with one of the most well-known regional terms. if you find yourself on a hot summer’s day in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, or Wisconsin, you can ask someone to point you in the direction of the nearest "bubbler". Rest assured, you are not asking them for champagne or any other type of bubbly drink; they’ll just point you to the closest drinking fountain.

Curiously, a state outside of New England also famously calls their drinking fountains "bubblers". Residents of Portland, Oregon, regularly drink from the iconic "Benson Bubblers", named after philanthropist Simon Benson.

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Who knew that bugs could be this tasty? Now, don’t get us wrong: We are strictly speaking of the type of bug someone from New England would recommend. "Bug" is a New England term for the delicious lobster, a true delicacy of the region.

The reason for this nickname is rather obvious: Lobsters and insects share several characteristics. In fact, lobsters belong to the arthropod family, which makes them close relatives of several common insects.

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In New England, your groceries only travel in the fanciest of rides! While calling shopping carts "carriages" might sound a little silly, it adds a layer of formality and elegance to a mundane trip to the supermarket. It can also be considered a journey back in time: After all, when was the last time the word "carriage" was used in everyday conversation?

So remember: The next time you are shopping in New England, make sure to take a moment to appreciate this quirky term for shopping carts. And please remember to return your carriage after you are done shopping.

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We hesitated to include "clicker" on this list: Anyone who watched TV with their grandparents has heard at least once "Can you pass the clicker?" However, this term is still extremely popular in New England, and you might hear it used to describe a plethora of different devices.

As you might have guessed, the term "clicker" comes from a bygone era when buttons on a remote control made a distinctive clicking sound if pressed. However, the term encompasses every device or gadget that clicks, like a cash register.

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Dungarees, a New England term for blue jeans or denim, definitively sounds too silly to describe such a fashion staple. Jeans have grown to be the common denominator in many different outfits, but don’t expect to hear a designer present their new "dungaree" line at the next Levi’s fashion show.

Now, to be fair, this word is not particularly popular these days; it is mostly an old-fashioned term used by an older generation. Regardless, should you wish to add a little humor to your next visit to New England, be sure to pack a pair of dungarees in your suitcase!

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If Dorothy had traveled to Boston instead of the magical Land of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West would have been a far more positive character. The New England use of the adjective "wicked" is particularly versatile: It can be used to describe something impressive, or of excellent quality. In fact, the one use of this word that New Englanders don’t regularly employ is the one most commonly found in dictionaries, which is "evil" or "mischievous".

How did this word grow to have such a contrasting definition? No one is completely sure, but most agree that it first appeared in New England vocabulary during the infamous Salem witch trials. However, it seems to have acquired its current positive meaning during the 20th century.

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Let’s once again take an imaginary trip to New England: Imagine you're at the end of a lovely dinner at the home of a New England friend or relative. Now, let’s also say that this person asks you to do them a solid and "run this to the barrel" while handing you a bag.

Not sure how to answer our hypothetical friend? Don’t panic: For starters, they don’t actually exist, but we’ve got you covered. In some New England states, "barrel" is just another term for a trash can.

By the way, always remember to throw your recyclables into the recycling barrel.

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You would think that something as universal as a rubber band would be known by one universally recognized name. However, New England has another word for this versatile object, despite being ever-present in virtually every office around the world.

Unsurprisingly, that word is "elastic", taken directly from the rubber band’s most important characteristic. While this term might sound old-fashioned, to this day many New Englanders ask someone for "an elastic" when they need to hold some stuff together.

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This is the only derogatory term in this list. While the term "flatlander", which describes someone who doesn’t come from New England, isn’t particularly insulting in meaning, it can easily be used to disparage someone visiting the region. Let’s put it this way: You probably don’t want to be called a flatlander in New England.

"Flatlander" also indirectly describes one of New England’s most beautiful sceneries: Its gorgeous hills and mountains. Granted, being called a "flatlander" doesn’t necessarily imply that you live in a flat place: It just describes that you are unaccustomed to the region’s ways.

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Let’s end this article with another fictional visit to New England. Let’s say you want to conclude your trip on a sweet note and decide to order a milkshake. You might be surprised when someone places a drink made from milk and syrup in front of you, instead of the ice-cream-based treat most Americans know and love.

That’s because, in New England, milkshakes are known by an entirely different name. The term "frappe" describes what the rest of the world calls a milkshake. This word comes directly from France: In French, frappé is a term that describes a chilled or iced drink.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Discover 10 Iconic Movie Moments That Weren't In The Script!

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Have you ever had an unexpected adventure or a spontaneous moment that turned out to be unforgettable? Well, that's exactly what happened in these famous movie scenes that became iconic moments in film history.

Some actors have a magical touch that goes beyond their acting skills, being able to create moments that stick in your memory, even though they were never part of the script.

Join us as we uncover these 10 completely improvised moments and lines that stole the show!

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It is no secret: Jack Nicholson is one of the most talented actors of all time, and the evidence is everywhere you look.

A big piece of evidence is the fact that one of the most famous lines in movie history came from his brilliant mind. The mythical "Here's Johnny!" from The Shining (1980) was entirely crafted by Nicholson as it wasn't found in the film's script or Stephen King's original book.

Yet, the actor's creativity, coupled with Kubrick's directing expertise, transformed that scene into an emblem of horror cinema.

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Who could ever forget the legendary shark from Jaws (1975)? With its huge mouth and sharp teeth, it frightened even the bravest spirits. So, when faced with the movie's formidable sea monster, actor Roy Scheider couldn't help delivering this creative line.

"You're gonna need a bigger boat," as later revealed, was a line used as an inside joke by the cast and crew, as the boats on which they did the actual filming were quite small. Thus, Scheider took the phrase and perfectly placed it within the film, even though it wasn't originally scripted.

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If you are reading this article, chances are you've watched the masterpiece Casablanca (1942). And you probably know that one of its countless iconic lines was a spontaneous creation of the talented Humphrey Bogart.

The well-remembered line "Here's looking at you, kid" came out of Bogart's mouth and perfectly fit the moment. It worked so well that it was named the greatest-ever movie line by Premiere Magazine.

But here's a fact: the movie's script was not yet finished when filming began.

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While the famous lineup scene in The Usual Suspects (1995) was in the script, the actors’ fits of laughter were completely improvised. Or should we say, impossible to hold back!

As revealed by the film's screenwriter, Christopher McQuarrie, it was a small accident that caused laughter among the actors: let's just say one of them accidentally let out... a gas.

However, that spontaneous moment added a touch to the scene, and that shot ended up making the final cut.

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Have you ever taken a cruise? If you're on the bow, your hair in the wind, you probably can't resist the impulse to imitate Leonardo DiCaprio, delivering that iconic line from the now classic Titanic (1997).

But, if it weren't for the actor's genius, the famous "I'm the king of the world!" would not have reached us, as it was not in the movie's script!

Sure, standing in front of the vast ocean may make you feel all-powerful, but DiCaprio's brilliance took it a step further and made up those lines while filming in a studio setting!

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Leonardo DiCaprio's talent for improvisation isn't just a thing of one time. From Titanic when he was just a twenty-something, to his more mature roles in films like the western Django Unchained (2012), Leo's talent always shines.

In Django, DiCaprio once again showed his acting skills, moving through unexpected turns like a champion.

During a passionate monologue, Leonardo DiCaprio's character slams his hand down on a table, and he actually cuts himself. Blood begins to dribble, but he incorporates the accident into the scene, as part of the plot. That's a mark of true talent!

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From The Simpsons to Scary Movie, numerous series and films have quoted this iconic line from A Few Good Men (1992) that has become a pop culture hit!

But if it weren't for Jack Nicholson in his performance as Colonel Nathan R. Jessup, this memorable phrase from the famous courtroom scene wouldn't have had the same impact or recognition that it has today.

The actor took a simple line from the script, "You already have the truth," and transformed it into the legendary, "You can't handle the truth." It's proof of Nicholson's genius!

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A gem of American cinema, Midnight Cowboy (1969) is a perfectly crafted masterpiece acclaimed by critics and audiences alike.

But even in this great classic, there's room for spontaneity. In fact, one of the most memorable moments in the movie wasn't even in the script. While playing the con man Ratso Rizzo, Dustin Hoffman found himself in the middle of real New York City traffic during filming. When a taxi unexpectedly went too close, Hoffman's instinctive response was perfect: "Hey! I'm walking here."

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Leonardo is back once again. This time, joined by the incredible Matthew McConaughey. Together, they delivered one of the best moments of 21st-century film history: the unforgettable chest-pounding scene in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013).

Turns out this bizarre gesture is something McConaughey often does before filming his scenes. But it was Leonardo DiCaprio who saw this spontaneous act and suggested incorporating it into the film's well-known scene. The eccentric nature of the characters allowed for this twist, which was accepted and appreciated by the director.

But wait, there's more! Believe it or not, part of the dialogue between the two characters was also unscripted.

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Martin Scorsese, the successful director, revealed that one of the most famous lines in Taxi Driver (1976) and why not, in world cinema, was improvised by Robert De Niro.

The iconic "You talkin' to me?" monologue was not in the script; it was a spontaneous creation of the actor during the filming of the exceptional mirror scene. It's the small details like these that make Taxi Driver a true classic and Travis Bickle an unforgettable character.

Naturally, this role made De Niro earn an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.