Americanisms

[Danoff]

@Jimlaad43

Well, takeaway has an extra syllable. I don't think I'd cringe when I hear takeaway though, so let's start by asking what's wrong with take-out?

 

[Omnis]

Take-out sounds like you're getting food to-go. Takeaway sounds like you're stealing food or hauling off the garbage.

 

[Jimlaad43]

Really?

Takeaway makes sense. You're Taking food away. You can Take food out, but that's not the right context.

the away sound fits well on the end of Take when you say it, as it is an alliterative sound, but out is a bit of a clunky syllable to shove on the end of the word.

 

[Wiegert]

You can Take food out, but that's not the right context.

 

[Danoff]

Really?

Takeaway makes sense. You're Taking food away. You can Take food out, but that's not the right context.

Rather than "dining in", you're "taking out". That makes a ton of sense. I'm not saying takeaway is wrong, I'm saying take out is fine.

the away sound fits well on the end of Take when you say it, as it is an alliterative sound, but out is a bit of a clunky syllable to shove on the end of the word.

You like all of the "a" sounds. Okay... that's fine. But many many compound words don't comprise alliterative sounds. Timeout, for example, has a similar sound to take-out. Honestly I think you're just not used to the sound, because to someone who has heard it quite often, there is nothing awkward about the sound.

 

[Bopop4]

People actually say takeaway instead of takeout when talking about food?

...

 

[Jimlaad43]

Rather than "dining in", you're "taking out". That makes a ton of sense. I'm not saying takeaway is wrong, I'm saying take out is fine.




You like all of the "a" sounds. Okay... that's fine. But many many compound words don't comprise alliterative sounds. Timeout, for example, has a similar sound to take-out. Honestly I think you're just not used to the sound, because to someone who has heard it quite often, there is nothing awkward about the sound.

You try and justify your point and the word you say is "Timeout"?

Takeaway slips off the tongue better than Take-out.

 

[TB]

You both take it OUT of the establishment and AWAY from the establishment. Both are correct, neither are incorrect.

 

[Roger the Horse]

When you eat outside a pub you take it outside of the establishment, but you do not take it away. Therefore, takeaway is correct, as it is more specific.

 

[TB]

When you eat outside a pub you take it outside of the establishment, but you do not take it away. Therefore, takeaway is correct, as it is more specific.

If you've taken it OUTside, you have taken it AWAY as you are no longer inside the pub/restaurant/food dispensary. Again, interchangeable. Maybe not regionally accepted, sure, but interchangeable nonetheless.

EDIT: Conversely, if you're talking about a place that has outside seating, then neither is correct as the exterior is simply an extension of the interior.

 

[Danoff]

I'm fine with takeaway... I do not understand the problem with take-out.

 

[Ken]

I don't use either takeaway or takeout when it comes to food. I use the term "to go". I don't think I've ever used any of the former terms. Maybe its the rather bland regional dialect of Colorado.

 

[Roger the Horse]

THE PROBLEM WITH USING TAKE OUT IS THAT IT GIVES ONES SPEECH ROUGHLY ALL THE FLOW AND FINESSE OF A TYPICAL TELEGRAM STOP

 

[TB]

Fine. Complain about a phrase you'll never hear in/around your damp rock nor be forced to utter.

 

[Danoff]

THE PROBLEM WITH USING TAKE OUT IS THAT IT GIVES ONES SPEECH ROUGHLY ALL THE FLOW AND FINESSE OF A TYPICAL TELEGRAM STOP

Again, what?

Maybe this is another Americanism, but I don't generally choose my speech based on alliteration or finesse. I choose it based on clarity of communication. When I write I'll choose words to avoid simple stylistic things like repeating the same word over and over. But when I talk... I'm just trying to be clear.

A compound word like Takeout has a lot of the same sort of features as other compound words like timeout, or trashcan, or bookshelf, or snowball, or shoelace, or spotlight. I mean, there isn't a lot of alliteration in that list, and usually there's a hard consonant at the junction, and two syllables. Why takeout is the horrid guttural disgusting sounding word is a concept that seems to be just totally beyond me.

It's like you took an every day word like "table" and said "Oh I hate that word, it sounds terrible. I just cringe when I hear it".

I never stay "starfish". No alliteration and it's so disjointed. Ew... starfish.

 

[W3H5]

I've been using both 'takeout' and 'takeaway' for years now. McDonald's staff don't always understand if I use just one.

 

[Danoff]

I've been using both 'takeout' and 'takeaway' for years now. McDonald's staff don't always understand if I use just one.

Ironically if I'm actually in a restaurant talking to staff, I don't use either one. I use "carry out", which, at least in the US, is universally understood by restaurant staff. "To go" is also universally accepted.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

I don't see what the issue is. Both takeaway and take out make perfect sense to me.

One Americanism that always drove me nuts was referring to a manual gearbox a as "standard transmission." "Stick shift" sounds a bit odd to me, but standard is just plain outdated. The standard transmission in America is an automatic, and has been for many years.

 

[Jimlaad43]

"Stick shift"

IKR. If you've got "Automatic", why do people in America not just say "Manual". Simple word, and is by definition the opposite of automatic.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

IKR. If you've got "Automatic", why do people in America not just say "Manual". Simple word, and is by definition the opposite of automatic.

Exactly. I think the worst, even worse than standard, though, is when people refer to a manual as a "5 speed" or "6 speed." That tells me nothing about whether it's an automatic or manual.

 

[Pupik]

Ironically if I'm actually in a restaurant talking to staff, I don't use either one. I use "carry out", which, at least in the US, is universally understood by restaurant staff. "To go" is also universally accepted.

Same here, especially in my travels. Although take-out is mostly understood, it seems like it was a really popular way to describe "Chinese Food Without Eating It At Said Restaurant".

I think the average order-taker is going to understand all of those terms, though.

 

[W3H5]

I think 'to go' is probably the best universal phrase in this situation. I've used that I'm plenty of countries and have had no issue. It's short and simple and is very literal.

 

[Liquid]

Ha, in such a situation where I haven't finished a meal but I want them to box it for me to take home, I ask "Can I have this boxed up to take away please?"

There is nothing grammatically wrong with 'to go', I just don't like the sound of it.

 

[TB]

Are we still talking about this?!?

 

[Roger the Horse]

Yes. Personally I think everyone should refer to all food that is cooked but isn't eaten in a restaurant as "portable".

 

[TB]

Only things made in restaurants? I'm pretty sure that sandwich from home I had for lunch transported well.

 

[Marisauna]

Yes. Personally I think everyone should refer to all food that is cooked but isn't eaten in a restaurant as "portable".

To me the word "portable" conjures up images of folding something in your pocket.

Excuse me as I patent the foldable sandwich.

 

[Omnis]

If you UKers are talking about boiling something, do you say "bringing it up to the boil," or is it a boil?

 

[Liquid]

Bring it to the boil.

With the, without up.

 

[Omnis]

Without to? You mean up?

"The boil." That's so weird. I'm pretty sure everyone in 'murica says "a boil." That's why we won the war.