# Define your region (of the US) with a yes/no question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [June 16, 2022, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327 "2022-06-16T20:20:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 6

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**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2022, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327/101 "2022-06-18T19:03:13Z")

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I thought “wicked \_\_\_\_\_\_” was a Connecticut/Rhode Island/Eastern Mass thing.

Tripler  
Coastal band of dialect, not really inland.

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2022, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327/102 "2022-06-18T19:09:18Z")

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> [@eschereal](#):
>
> Can you always spot people from the other side of the country because they cannot pronounce the name of your state?
> 
> Oreegawn  
> Nevahda  
> Colorahdo

WEST-consin.

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**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2022, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327/103 "2022-06-18T19:50:00Z")

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> [@Tripler](#):
>
> I thought “wicked \_\_\_\_\_\_” was a Connecticut/Rhode Island/Eastern Mass thing.
> 
> Tripler  
> Coastal band of dialect, not really inland.

I live in CT and have never heard it here. I don’t know about RI. I don’t recall it in Boston when I was in college 50 years ago. I definitely here it in Maine.

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**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2022, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327/104 "2022-06-18T19:52:32Z")

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Interesting. . . my brother-in-law, born and raised in Norwalk, uses it like a Sailor. Other folks I’d met used it (just not as much). Must have been a very small subset of people then.

Tripler  
One wicked coincidence.

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2022, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327/105 "2022-06-18T20:10:42Z")

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> [@OldGuy](#):
>
> I don’t recall it in Boston when I was in college 50 years ago.

There was an ad for Hyundai, which aired on the Super Bowl two years ago, that featured several celebrities who were born and raised in the Boston area (Chris Evans, John Krasinski, Rachel Dratch), doing their Boston accents, and calling the car “wicked smaht” several times. Being a Midwesterner, I have no idea how often “wicked” is actually used by Bostonians, however.

[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/2SJjZ8MnTtA/maxresdefault.jpg "2020 Hyundai Sonata Super Bowl 2020 TV Commercial Smaht Pahk Ft John Krasinski Chris Evans T1") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SJjZ8MnTtA)

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**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2022, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327/106 "2022-06-18T20:27:02Z")

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> [@eschereal](#):
>
> Chili” peppers?

Well, properly speaking, they are chilis. They’re not pepper.

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2022, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327/107 "2022-06-18T20:32:02Z")

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Do you put your clothes in a chester draws?  
Do you order a frappe at the McDonald’s?  
Do you put jimmies on your sundae?  
Do you place your groceries in a carriage at the supermarket?

If yes = Boston

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**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2022, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327/108 "2022-06-18T20:33:17Z")

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> [@Acsenray](#):
>
> Well, properly speaking, they are chilis.

Not if you are from New Mexico.

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**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2022, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327/109 "2022-06-18T20:37:13Z")

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> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> Being a Midwesterner, I have no idea how often “wicked” is actually used by Bostonians, however.

I’ve lived in the Boston area for nearly 20 years.

Among my college educated coworkers and social circle, almost never hear it. Unless they are putting it on for laughs.

From blue collar workers, I hear it sometimes (I have spent many years working around warehouse and retail workers doing industrial engineering-ish stuff).

I hear way more ABOUT it than I hear it said naturally in conversation.

.

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**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2022, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327/110 "2022-06-18T20:57:22Z")

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Square cut is also Chicago as well as a number of places around the Midwest (Milwaukee, Columbus, and others. Detroit’s pan is square and square cut.)

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**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2022, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327/111 "2022-06-18T21:07:41Z")

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Yes, Dayton-style pizza (which is what you get in Columbus—the founder of Donatos got the recipe from Dayton) is a circular cracker-thin pie cut into little squares.

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**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2022, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327/112 "2022-06-18T21:17:02Z")

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It’s mostly kids saying it. Adults use it for satirical emphasis sometimes. The way I’ve heard it most often is something like that “That kid is wicket smott”. It is more than just the words, the accent is part of it.

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**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2022, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327/113 "2022-06-18T21:55:18Z")

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South Side Chicago:

Do you know what a Big Baby is?  
Do you ever take your fries with mild sauce?

Mostly south and west sides;

Do you know what a tips and links combo is?

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**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2022, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327/114 "2022-06-18T22:04:51Z")

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I grew up just outside Boston and still live here. In my social group _wicked_ is still used regularly, although often with an affected accent.

Do you get your liquor from a _packie_?

If yes, then you’re from Boston.

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**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2022, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327/115 "2022-06-18T22:58:11Z")

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> [@eschereal](#):
>
> Can you always spot people from the other side of the country because they cannot pronounce the name of your state?
> 
> Oreegawn  
> Nevahda  
> Colorahdo

Don’t … don’t!

[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/167Zs9L0Cbk/maxresdefault.jpg "Nevada or Nevaaada Trump should watch Veep") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=167Zs9L0Cbk)

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**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2022, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327/116 "2022-06-19T00:05:40Z")

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Wa **r** shington

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**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2022, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327/117 "2022-06-19T00:18:59Z")

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Califor-nye-ay

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**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2022, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327/118 "2022-06-19T00:51:23Z")

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Were the majority of people in your state not born here?

If you travel further north in your state does it become more southern?

Is the central part of your state the lightning capital of the USA?

Can you swim with manatees in your state?

Is 2/3 of your state a peninsula?

Was your state the first of the continental US states to be settled by Europeans?

Is your state the only place on Earth where you can find both wild alligators and crocodiles?

Is one of your state’s beaches is the shark tooth capital of the world?

My state says “yes” to all the above. My state is Rhode Island!

No, obviously it’s Florida.

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**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2022, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327/119 "2022-06-19T03:30:39Z")

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Is your State Fair so mammoth that people take the week off work and eat there every day?

– Minnesota

Speaking of which, does your State Fair offer over sixty delicacies _On A Stick?_

– Minnesota, uh course, hey?..

(Including “Fried Walleye on a Stick”, “Deep Fried S’mores on a Stick”, and of course, “Hot Dish on a Stick”) [The food **IS** amazing. See if you can keep from salivating…](https://www.bonappetit.com/restaurants-travel/article/minnesota-state-fair-food)

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**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2022, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-your-region-of-the-us-with-a-yes-no-question/966327/120 "2022-06-19T04:03:23Z")

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Does your state have the deepest lake in the country?

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