The difference between these sandwiches is actually more about where you live than what's on them. Layer some Italian meats, cheese, toppings, and dressing on a long Italian style roll, and you've got yourself a sub, hero, grinder, hoagie, blimpie... the list can go on. Originally a sub was named for navy shipyard workers and the submarines these sandwiches resembled. The term grinder is thought to have originated from the amount of grinding, or chewing, it took to eat one.