If you’re looking forlorn and at a loss, a German speaker might describe you with a phrase that translates as “ordered but not picked up.” It’s as if you’re a forgotten pizza on a restaurant counter. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Ordered But Not Picked Up”
You’re listening to A Way with Words, a show about language and how we use it. I’m Grant Barrett.
And I’m Martha Barnette.
The other day I was telling a friend about an experience that I had in which I ended up standing there surprised and disappointed and looking kind of forlorn and at a loss.
And she said, oh, ordered and not picked up.
And I said, what?
And I was so confused when she said that.
But then we finally realized that she’s a native German speaker.
And that’s a borrowing of a German phrase.
Oh, so it’s like the takeout counter?
Yes.
Oh.
Yes, I was standing there like the pizza that got ordered and then nobody picked me up.
Oh, yeah.
That’s kind of perfect.
I know, I know.
Oh, that’s a good one.
So I’m totally borrowing that.
Ordered and not picked up for somebody who looks a little lost for words or lost in space.
Yes, isn’t that nice?
Yes, it’s very good.
Well, it led me to a treasure trove of other German sayings, so I will share those later in the show.
Yes, please.
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