kracer20 t1_j8gl7w6 wrote
"Coming down the pike" is one that I didn't know for a long time. I wonder what other misunderstanding we can come up with?
V6Ga t1_j8gzt17 wrote
Expand this please?
ksdkjlf t1_j8jd3t2 wrote
I'm assuming they mean they only learned it was "pike" rather than "pipe" recently,.since it's a commonly cited mondegreen — or as reddit calls it, a r/BoneAppleTea.
Pike meaning "highway" is a shortening of turnpike, a term for a toll road most commonly encountered in the US Northeast, as u/jungl3j1m points out. So it's basically just "coming down the road". But to folks who don't call highways "pikes", it is often interpreted as "pipe".
A turnpike was originally a type of military defense that was used to stop horses or vehicles from going down a road — either like a cheval de fries or a turnstile — a set of pikes, turning around a central axis. Eventually it meant any sort of barrier, and then the road on which such a barrier might exist, i.e. a toll road.
V6Ga t1_j8ma5o0 wrote
But it is both, and this has been covered by people a couple times.
I say both, but I also had no idea how much my language was bent by having a dyed in the wool New England Yankee around from childhood.
Down the pike from roadways, and down the pipe from aqueducts, and later pneumatic tube messenging systems
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumatic_tube
In fact, some of the people following up on this thought it more likely to be down the pipe "originally" or at least dominantly as pneumatic tube messages just show up without warning, whereas anything coming down the highway gives ample warning before arrival.
Language is general is fun. Hawaii and New England share lots of weird similarities that the rest of the US apparently does not. For me Aunt does not rhyme with Ant (that's not so uncommon because Auntie never rhymes with anty). And apparently this is the New England way as well. Tomahto is also not uncommon and that too is a New Englandism. Zoris too.
jungl3j1m t1_j8ih50l wrote
“Pike” is a word for a road that connects towns, used chiefly in New England. Examples are the Chamberburg Pike and the Jersey Turnpike.
SturrPhox t1_j8ill7j wrote
Wait, is that really only a northeast thing? I've seen them in NJ, NY, and PA and just kinda assumed everyone else had them too.
ksdkjlf t1_j8jdaxh wrote
"Turnpike" and "pike" is def a NE thing. In most other places they're are just called toll roads or highways.
V6Ga t1_j8magca wrote
In many important senses, PA, NJ, and NY are New England, because of the history.
Ohio also has or had a turnpike, but that's because Pennsylvania called theirs a turnpike.
I wonder if any states not connected to New England proper have turnpike other than Ohio.
ChrisGeritol t1_j8j7fqk wrote
Pikes (the fish) have sharp teeth. Be careful when trying to cum down the pike.
Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments