# Incredibly common products which the store clerk never heard of **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 23, 2021, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225 "2021-09-23T21:29:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 25
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/483 "2022-02-02T10:35:55Z")
“Hey Jim how come whenever I ask for a glass of water it’s always lukewarm and never has ice?” “… How else is it supposed to be? I can’t fit my 5 gallon water jug in the fridge” Conversation I once had. ---
**Author:** ![sunstone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunstone/32/3372_2.png) [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/484 "2022-02-04T20:03:36Z")
A couple of years ago I went into the local plumbing store to get some petcock lubricant. The young fellow (who I judged as knowledgeable from previous experiences) looked at me as if I was attempting an off color joke, and told me “No, we don’t have any” I then went over to the older fellow and asked him, and of course he knew what I wanted. So the younger man learned what an obsolete term meant and I got my silicon lubricant. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/485 "2022-02-04T20:11:47Z")
> [@Dandan](#): > > “What is molasses?” The south end of a northbound labor of moles. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/486 "2022-02-04T20:16:08Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > > > > [@DCnDC](#): > > > > > > What’s a ‘currier’? > > > > Someone who makes curry? > > > [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > > > Someone who grooms horses. > > You don’t want to combine these. And why not? > **[Hurali Saaru Recipe - Healthy Horse Gram and Coconut Curry](https://www.archanaskitchen.com/hurali-saaru-recipe-healthy-horse-gram-and-coconut-curry)** > > The Hurali Saaru Recipe is a delicious lentil curry that is made from horse gram also known as Kollu in Tamil or Kulith in Hindi. In this recipe the horse gram is cooked with aromatic spices ground into a masala with coconut and finally seasoned... ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/487 "2022-02-04T20:27:16Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > No, not a power tool; at least, I’ve never seen the term used for one That’s a sling blade. Billy Bob Thornton made a movie featuring them. 😊 Grass whip is a cool name too. ---
**Author:** ![Dandan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@Dandan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandan)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/488 "2022-02-04T20:30:34Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > > [@Dandan](#): > > > > “What is molasses?” > > The south end of a northbound labor of moles. I’m’a slowin’ down… Dan ---
**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:** [February 4, 2022, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/489 "2022-02-04T20:34:32Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Lawn whip is a cool name too. Until you mishear your wife asking you to “Hit the pies with Cool Whip”, and ruin Thanksgiving dessert for the entire extended family. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/490 "2022-02-04T21:06:30Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > That’s a sling blade. Some people call it a kaiser blade. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/491 "2022-02-04T21:16:10Z")
> [@sunstone](#): > > A couple of years ago I went into the local plumbing store to get some petcock lubricant. I’ve never heard of a petcock before, but a little research tells me it is a type of valve mostly used in vehicle motors. Is a plumbing store likely to carry either the part or lubricant for it? Maybe try an auto parts store? ---
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/492 "2022-02-05T22:50:52Z")
It’s also a term used for certain types of water shutoffs (aka faucets or stopcocks). ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/493 "2022-03-16T15:22:05Z")
It is sweet. I accidently licked my finger after applying red loctite. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/494 "2022-03-16T16:48:30Z")
Denny’s has a new Steak Sandwich with Au Jus I decided to try. Went in, got it to go but looking at the bag I saw they didn’t give me my container with juice. I told the server they forgot the Au Jus that came with the sandwich and he had no idea what that was. I responded with “Oh it’s the streak juice that you dip the sandwich in.” Again, blank look and he took me to go see the cook and ask him about it. Again, the cook had no idea what I was talking about. Then a friendly waitress heard this and went into the back and got me exactly what I wanted. Not only had they never heard of it, it was already on their menu! ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/495 "2022-03-16T22:31:37Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > we used it on various fasteners holding various Very Important Bits together I read that as “Very Important B **r** its” at first. I wanted to know why you were fastening British people together! 😆 ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/496 "2022-03-16T23:40:28Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Again, blank look and he took me to go see the cook and ask him about it. Again, the cook had no idea what I was talking about. Then a friendly waitress heard this and went into the back and got me exactly what I wanted. “Ohhh! \*That’s what that brown stuff is for!” I could kind of see the front ent person not knowing what au jus is but the _cook_? One more reason I never, ever fo to Denny’s. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/497 "2022-03-18T13:18:18Z")
Hummus. Just hummus in general at the grocery store. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/498 "2022-03-18T14:38:48Z")
Went to a big box hardware store recently and it was the one that I don’t normally go to (blue vs orange). I needed a basic construction material and didn’t want to walk around the huge store to figure out the arrangement. Two store employees were loading shelves near where I walked in and I asked them “where would I find thinset mortar?” I had to explain what it was and they still had to use their phones or whatever devices the store uses to look it up and tell me the aisle. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2022, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/499 "2022-07-09T13:23:04Z")
This happens to me all the time. I love kohlrabi but many people don’t. My parents grew it in their very large garden when growing up. Many times I have had people ask “What is that?!”. Unfortunately, they used to be nice and cheap. However, Big Kohlrabi is now a thing and those greedy bastages have made them very expensive. Yes, I like Kohlrabi but not for that price! I love onions to but I am not going to pay $8 a piece for them (if they went that high). So, my Kohlrabi craving has been reduced over recent years. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2022, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/500 "2022-07-09T13:24:09Z")
ok…this post literally appeared on the first page and it is 4 months old? I am either going mentally scatterbrained and old or something weird is going on with SD. I am betting on the former. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2022, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/501 "2022-07-09T13:34:35Z")
That’s OK, its reappearance gives me a chance to 🙄 over the phrase “with _au jus_”, which also frequently appears on restaurant menus. ---
**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:** [July 9, 2022, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/502 "2022-07-09T13:36:00Z")
It could’ve been bumped by a spammer, the post got taken down, but here we are. But I love a zombie on an interesting topic. > [@Asuka](#): > > Steak Sandwich with Au Jus A waitress at our local ‘basic diner’: “And the steak sandwich is Aw Jew, so it comes with that Aw Jew Juice.” Same server who a month later said “And our Soup Du Joor of the day is…” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225.md?page=26)