# I Hate the Word "Veggies" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 2, 2011, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986 "2011-04-02T23:42:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986/161 "2011-04-09T00:24:46Z")
Is this the proper moment to request pics? ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986/162 "2011-04-09T00:48:25Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > I don’t see much difference, but why is that the only word for the female one (besides “women’s underwear”)? After all, we have all too many words for men’s underwear. Underwear is a fine word, a little long, but not excessive. Words that end in “-ies” sound child-like to me. Calling women’s underwear ‘panties’ is just creepy. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986/163 "2011-04-09T01:03:37Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > There’s panties and briefs and bikinis and thongs. And tap pants and pettipants. And a bunch more I’m spacing on. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > G-strings, v-strings, tangas, boyshorts, minikinis\*, Brazilian-cut, hipsters… > > \*I may have made that one up. But… but those are _kinds_ of panties. > [@j66](#): > > Underwear is a fine word, a little long, but not excessive. It’s not the length, it’s the imprecision. A brassiere, a slip, a t-shirt, garter belt and stockings, or woolen long-johns may also be “underwear.” > [@j66](#): > > Calling women’s underwear ‘panties’ is just creepy. I’m not seeing what other word one could possibly use that denoted the article’s role but not its cut. And I think this is news to all the women I know. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986/164 "2011-04-09T01:15:30Z")
> [@j66](#): > > Underwear is a fine word, a little long, but not excessive. > > Words that end in “-ies” sound child-like to me. Calling women’s underwear ‘panties’ is just creepy. I agree, but my point is we don’t have a single word that refers to women’s underwear as such, (other than “women’s underwear”). You can’t call them “boxers,” etc. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986/165 "2011-04-09T02:31:45Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > It’s not the length, it’s the imprecision. A brassiere, a slip, a t-shirt, garter belt and stockings, or woolen long-johns may also be “underwear.” But in general, they are not, whether they are women’s or men’s. T-shirts, undershirts, bras, camisoles, socks, tights, pantyhose, nylons, … … and underwear. ‘Underwear’ is not the only word used for a group and an element in the group. > [@guizot](#): > > I agree, but my point is we don’t have a single word that refers to women’s underwear as such, (other than “women’s underwear”). You can’t call them “boxers,” etc. Yes, you can, if they’re boxers. Briefs, too. There is no single word for men’s either - boxers, briefs … ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986/166 "2011-04-09T02:45:48Z")
Undies. ---
**Author:** ![xoferew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/e9a140/32.png) [@xoferew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xoferew)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986/167 "2011-04-09T02:49:34Z")
Once I accidentally wore overpanties over my underpanties. For people who object to the “-ies” ending, you can just call them pan in Japanese. For example, “You scandalous no-pan! Put your himo-pan back on immediately!” If that helps. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986/168 "2011-04-09T02:55:18Z")
Nope. Gonna need pictures. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986/169 "2011-04-09T03:00:29Z")
> [@j66](#): > > There is no single word for men’s either - boxers, briefs … I believe you’ve run the gamut from A to B. Oh! No, you haven’t! Boxer briefs. Which look to me like a sort of a corset, but whatever. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986/170 "2011-04-09T05:27:06Z")
What’s wrong with underpants? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986/171 "2011-04-09T06:09:21Z")
I hate “sippy cup” or “tippy cup” but I can’t think of any other name for them. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986/172 "2011-04-09T07:01:57Z")
> [@Darth\_Nader](#): > > Is this the proper moment to request pics? Sorry, I do videocam only. :o ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986/173 "2011-04-09T07:02:47Z")
> [@j66](#): > > ‘Underwear’ is not the only word used for a group and an element in the group. Yes, there are many other imprecise words. Some people call all soda “coke”. Which is fine when you don’t need to be precise. But when you do need to precisely specify “panties” (presumably very rare), as opposed to all the other underwear women wear, you have to say “panties.” The odd thing is, kids only wear one item of underwear, so it would never be necessary to be more specific than just saying “underwear”. I can’t imagine how the more specific terms could be associated with them. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986/174 "2011-04-09T16:01:13Z")
> [@j66](#): > > Yes, you can, if they’re boxers. Briefs, too. Well, you can call them “Rumplestillskin,” if you want, too, but that’s academic. If you google the word “boxers” alone, besides the dogs, how many women do you see? Try it. > [@j66](#): > > There is no single word for men’s either - boxers, briefs … There are several for the men’s clothes, but really only one–which unfortunately is “panties”–that clearly connotes the sex of the wearer, unless you wish to use the more cumbersome “women’s underwear.” ---
**Author:** ![xoferew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/e9a140/32.png) [@xoferew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xoferew)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986/175 "2011-04-09T16:33:47Z")
> [@Darth\_Nader](#): > > Nope. Gonna need pictures. * * * …V I hope no one’s sensibilities were offended by this graphic depiction of undergarmentry. ---
**Author:** ![xoferew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/e9a140/32.png) [@xoferew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xoferew)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986/176 "2011-04-09T16:45:53Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Well, you can call them “Rumplestillskin,” if you want, too, but that’s academic. If you google the word “boxers” alone, besides the dogs, how many women do you see? Try it.There are several for the men’s clothes, but really only one–which unfortunately is “panties”–that clearly connotes the sex of the wearer, unless you wish to use the more cumbersome “women’s underwear.” Hey, a liberated man can wear panties if he chooses! In fact, I’ve Seen Pictures! Incidentally, almost all my …things… are boyshorts, and are those ever actually worn by boys? I mean, not my personal ones, but in general? I wore some boxers once, in college. I got them as a free prize from Smartfood popcorn for a poem I sent them. My mom sewed the crotch opening shut to prevent dorm room Genital Surprise. ---
**Author:** ![BDoors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BDoors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BDoors)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986/177 "2011-04-09T17:34:22Z")
To be honest, I find quite a lot of the everyday American lexicon to be slightly juvenile. I always notice it in the software industry, dominated as it is by US companies. Instead of saying that their new product has a number of interesting features, they talk about it having “a bunch of cool stuff”. Forty-year-old men talking like they’re still fourteen. But it’s not just that. In America, a cat or kitten is a “kitty”, a word that nobody here over the age of five would use. Offensive language is called “potty mouth”, by grown men and women. And the little finger is the “pinky”. Because it’s pink? I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986/178 "2011-04-09T19:07:47Z")
> [@BDoors](#): > > And the little finger is the “pinky”. Because it’s pink? I don’t know. For your edification (American English: maybe da widdle babby will learn sumpin!):[ > [@](#): > > Meanwhile, folks in Scotland had taken the Dutch word “pinck” meaning “small” and applied it to anything tiny, and the term “pinkie” meaning “the smallest finger” entered English from the Scots around 1800. ]([http://www.word-detective.com/081203.html](http://www.word-detective.com/081203.html))From what I’m seeing here, there’s a minority of folks (as usual, grossly inflated on this board) who absolutely _hate_ the diminutive /i/ suffix commonly used in English. I say: tough titties. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986/179 "2011-04-09T19:36:53Z")
My annoyance is tangentially related to the topic, and I’ve been wanting to bitch about it for a hot minute. . . I HATE the little internet cutesyisms, DH, DS, DD, etc. It took me longer than it should have to realize that the letters stood for “dear husband,” “dear daughter,” “dear son.” I mean, what the fuck? Is it too difficult to type husband, son, daughter, etc? Must we ALWAYS be so fucking adorable about everything? Gah. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986/180 "2011-04-09T20:23:49Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > The soggy paper plate of sliced tomatoes, onions, pickles and a few leaves of lettuce sitting next to the buns at the BBQ, those are veggies. I beg your pardon. The word is “buttocks.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-word-veggies/576986.md?page=10)