# "Canadian" as pejorative? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 15, 2012, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107 "2012-12-15T13:18:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107/1 "2012-12-15T13:18:22Z")
I have a work-related email from someone commenting on a priority list who said > [@](#): > > This analysis is a little “Canadian” but it does seem to put the greatest benefit first. I am trying to figure out just what he meant. In this context he seems to mean “simple-minded” but I have never heard this before. I’m 55 but I’ve never heard this. Anybody ever hear of this word used in such a way? ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107/2 "2012-12-15T13:43:16Z")
Cooperative? Hockey-related? Considering the good of the group as well as individual rights? Does it involve [a big bowl of pudding](http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/385747/the-pudding-has-been-knocked-over)? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107/3 "2012-12-15T13:46:08Z")
When I describe someone/something as Canadian, I mean overly polite. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107/4 "2012-12-15T13:47:48Z")
The only pejorative sense I know of is assholes who use it for “code” for black people. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107/5 "2012-12-15T14:39:19Z")
I have seen it used to mean “socialist” (more or less), when someone does something that does not put self-interest first. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107/6 "2012-12-15T15:04:11Z")
If the OP’s writer is not Canadian and its intent was pejorative, that writer is an asshat. Canadians generally are good-natured, friendly people with a good sense of humor. After seeing the movie _Argo_, I’ll say it again: Thank You, Canada. ETA: I’ve never heard it used as a pejorative. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107/7 "2012-12-15T15:44:18Z")
He’s not your buddy, guy. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107/8 "2012-12-15T15:47:57Z")
How _could_ you use Canadian as a pejorative? We’re pretty much the nicest people ever. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107/9 "2012-12-15T15:49:38Z")
I thought the pejorative form was “Canyuck”? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107/10 "2012-12-15T15:55:50Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > How _could_ you use Canadian as a pejorative? We’re pretty much the nicest people ever. Blame Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107/11 "2012-12-15T16:02:53Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > How _could_ you use Canadian as a pejorative? We’re pretty much the nicest people ever. Yeah, that’s the problem. What are you hiding? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107/12 "2012-12-15T16:05:40Z")
Yeah, ya damned icebacks, sneaking over the border and taking all our gardening and maid jobs. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107/13 "2012-12-15T16:10:34Z")
I’m in Canada. I wonder what would happen if someone here described something as being somewhat “American.” ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107/14 "2012-12-15T16:14:03Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I’m in Canada. I wonder what would happen if someone here described something as being somewhat “American.” In Thailand, they have what they call “American share,” which the rest of us know as “Dutch treat.” How the saying got started, no one knows. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107/15 "2012-12-15T16:27:42Z")
Some of the villagers in Kewaskum, Wisconsin refer to the part of the village east of the Milwaukee river as “little Canada” because they consider it ignored and neglected compared to the rest of the village. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107/16 "2012-12-15T16:33:25Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > When I describe someone/something as Canadian, I mean overly polite. Except for Scott, he’s a dick. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107/17 "2012-12-15T16:43:51Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I’m in Canada. I wonder what would happen if someone here described something as being somewhat “American.” LOUD ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107/18 "2012-12-15T17:09:53Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I’m in Canada. I wonder what would happen if someone here described something as being somewhat “American.” Loud/rude/self-centered. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107/19 "2012-12-15T17:31:05Z")
The German spelling is Kanada, and…in Auschwitz the area reserved for the victims’ goods and clothing to be sent back for German interests was called “Kanada.” Shame. But worth knowing in this thread/context; I’m guessing land of plenty. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107/20 "2012-12-15T17:38:01Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I’m in Canada. I wonder what would happen if someone here described something as being somewhat “American.” Well, as an American who has immigrated to Canada, I suspect they would mean loud and pushy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-as-pejorative/644107.md?page=2)