Newsgroup: it.cultura.linguistica.inglese
Titolo: How can you eat that!

(British) Spotted dick is an old- fashioned, heavy sweet dish, often
boiled in a pan, which contains dried fruit such as currants.
Geez, what a name!
Sebastiano

 ha scritto nel messaggio
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currants ? what currants are exactly?

 wrote in message
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boiled in a pan, which contains dried fruit such as currants.
It's no worse than Jam Roly Poly or Rhubarb Betty and Apple Charlotte.
To my mind puddings are the high point of British Cooking.  My "Good
Housekeeping Cookery Book" has over 60 recipes for hot puddings like
Spotted Dick.
Reminds me of school dinners - Roly Poly and custard - Yummy :-))))
Cheers
-- 
John G Davies

 Cheers
(A.A. Milne 1882-1956 )
What is the matter with Mary Jane?
She's crying with all her might and main,
And she won't eat her dinner - rice pudding again -
What is the matter with Mary Jane?
What is the matter with Mary Jane?
I've promised her dolls and a daisy-chain,
And a book about animals - all in vain -
What is the matter with Mary Jane?
What is the matter with Mary Jane?
She's perfectly well, and she hasn't a pain;
But, look at her, now she's beginning again! -
What is the matter with Mary Jane?
What is the matter with Mary Jane?
I've promised her sweets and a ride in the train,
And I've begged her to stop for a bit and explain -
What is the matter with Mary Jane?
What is the matter with Mary Jane?
She's perfectly well and she hasn't a pain,
And it's lovely rice pudding for dinner again!
What is the matter with Mary Jane?
Forgive the heresy, but there are some things from dear old Blighty one
*really* can live without.
I remain, as always, etc, ecc.,
Bambi
dtb

 It's no worse than Jam Roly Poly or Rhubarb Betty and Apple Charlotte.
I think it's the name Seb was referring to.
"Dick" is an American word for penis, which AFAIK was unknown in the UK
until relatively recently.
-- 
Mary

until relatively recently.
Yeah, I was referring about that word. I didn't know it was an
American word and that is was not so well know in the UK until
recently. That explains it.
I know that maybe I sounded childly with that "how can you eat that"
but what I was thinking it wasn't the fun about the name, but the fact
that in Italian our bad words are not always common words that can be
used in other meanings.
I explaint it better, and I am sorry but I have to use some colorful
expressions.
WARNING: BAD WORDS INSIDE
ATTENZIONE: PAROLACCE
In Italian dick is "cazzo" and I is used only with that meaning (or
like interjection). Nobody would touch something called "cazzo
macchiato". That is really too strong! We can use it in a light way,
with, for example, the word "cazzata" that means a stupid thing.
The word "uccello" means bird, but even dick. We all can eat with no
problems a bird, maybe some child can make fun, but it is a normal
word.
In English a lof of bad words are of common usage with other meanings,
and that is strange for me.
Dick is even a name,
Cock is a kind of bird (gallo)
Pussy is used to call the kittens (pussy cat)
AFAIK theese words are not as strong as the Italian meaning but when I
heard them they seem strong enough, like ours. An that puzzles me!
So it is wrong to say that dick means cazzo, becouse it seems to me
that is more similar to our "uccello", but it can be used in a very
strong way.
If I am reading something about hens and cocks I do not laught about
that, but when I heard someone named Dick, or a dish with that name, I
can't stop thinking about that. Is it the same like the Italian
surname "Troia"? Maybe, but a name is chosen, a surname is "happened".
I am sorry for my colorful speech and I hope that anybody not
interested in this argument did stop reading at the warning above.
Sebastiano

*really* can live without.
What if the answer were...
What's the matter Mary Jane, you had a hard day
As you place the don't disturb sign on your door
You lost your place in line again, what a pity
You never seem to want to dance anymore
It's a long way down on this roller coaster
when the last chance streetcar
Went off the track 
and you're on it
I hear you're counting sheep again Mary Jane
What's the point of trying to dream anymore
I hear you're losing weight again Mary Jane
Do you ever wonder who you're losing it for
Well it's full speed baby in the wrong direction
There's a few more bruises
If that's the way
You insist on heading
Please be honest Mary Jane
Are you happy
Please don't censor your tears
You're the sweet crusader
And you're on your way
You're the last great innocent
And that's why I love you
So take this moment Mary Jane and be selfish
Worry not about the cars that go by
All that matters Mary Jane is your freedom
Keep warm my dear, keep dry
Tell me
Tell me
What's the matter Mary Jane... 
(Alanis Morissette)
Love,
-- 
Isa
Work like you don't need money,
Love like you've never been hurt,
And dance like no one's watching
http://web.tiscali.it/alfabeto_auschwitz/index.htm

recently. That explains it.
It was used in that context in England as long ago as the 40s, "when I
was a lad" I can remember sniggering at the name "Spotted Dick".
Cheers
John G Davies