Old joke from when it was considered vulgar to admit the leftovers were for you:
“Waiter, put the rest of the steak in a bag for my dog. And toss in some bread so he can make a sandwich.”
I can actually understand the waitress’s confusion, since I can’t remember ever having used the “doggie bag” subterfuge (or euphemism?), and I don’t want to dwell on how many times her age I am.
To be honest, it’s been a while since I’ve used the euphemism. These days, you ask for a “to go box” when you have too much on your plate.
In fact, the server invariably asks us whether we want anything wrapped — and why not, since it’s s win-win? We get a bonus meal, and that’s likely to make us feel more generous when calculating the tip.
And if course not having food go to waste is a plus as well.
Surely this one of those comics that should go into the ‘No, kids are not that stupid!’ category. I’ve just asked a couple of people I work with who are in their 20’s if they’ve heard of this expression, and they looked at me like I asked them if they’ve ever heard of shoes.
It may not be that widely used in the real world, but I think it’s an expression that’s in our vernacular, like ‘dial a phone’ although nobody does that any more either.
It’s a repeat/re-run, but I don’t think it’s recent.
Once you get past the unlikelihood of her being ignorant about this expression, it’s rather touching that she is concerned for the dog’s safety, and willing to bring it up with the restaurant patron.
I’m going out to eat this weekend with my son, his girlfriend and my nephew, each of whom grew up in a different part of the country. It’ll be interesting to poll them.
I did know my son never heard US ask for a doggie bag, but that doesn’t preclude him from knowing the term.
But she’s *only* concerned for the dog – not for the people who just ate the meal.
As for why Gene’s dressing in drag,.. why not?
But she’s *only* concerned for the dog – not for the people who just ate the meal.
It took me a second to see what you mean.
No, but it’s not like the food is poisoned or spoiled, so equally dangerous to people. It’s just that some ingredients are particularly bad for dogs. Like chocolate!
“I’m not Gene in drag… I’m just drawn that way.”
Chocolate, onions, grapes…bone-in chicken (or turkey, duck…any kind of bird, really), for a different issue…
My better half’s 90 year old father lives with us, and no matter how many times we tell him to “ask for a container”, he invariably asks for a doggie bag. Last week he asked for it as the food was delivered, since he had already decided he would only eat half.
Well, there are worse things a 90-year-old could be saying that were acceptable when he was growing up.
I’m in my 30s, and I generally refer to it as a doggie bag. To me, that’s not a suggestion that it’s for my dog (I don’t even have a dog), that’s just the name for a container of leftover food from a restaurant meal.
“Well, there are worse things a 90-year-old could be saying that were acceptable when he was growing up.”
Especially to a waitress.
So, do you prefer that the server bring you a container, or whisk your dishes away and return the wrapped food?
My mom’s meatballs and spaghetti can kill a dog – it did. Parents were away and youngest sister nursed the aging dog along while they were gone. Parents returned and mom saw that the meatballs and spaghetti she had left for my sister was still there and gave it to the dog as treat. Dog died.
Don’t canids in the wild at least occasionally catch birds? I’m sure I’ve seen at least one picture of a wolf with a mouthful of ptarmigan.
Generally the prohibition against bird bones has to do with cooked ones. Fresh ones are softer and less likely to splinter. Or so I’ve read in the past.
B.A.:
Comics I Don't Understand 
Old joke from when it was considered vulgar to admit the leftovers were for you:
“Waiter, put the rest of the steak in a bag for my dog. And toss in some bread so he can make a sandwich.”
I can actually understand the waitress’s confusion, since I can’t remember ever having used the “doggie bag” subterfuge (or euphemism?), and I don’t want to dwell on how many times her age I am.
To be honest, it’s been a while since I’ve used the euphemism. These days, you ask for a “to go box” when you have too much on your plate.
In fact, the server invariably asks us whether we want anything wrapped — and why not, since it’s s win-win? We get a bonus meal, and that’s likely to make us feel more generous when calculating the tip.
And if course not having food go to waste is a plus as well.
Surely this one of those comics that should go into the ‘No, kids are not that stupid!’ category. I’ve just asked a couple of people I work with who are in their 20’s if they’ve heard of this expression, and they looked at me like I asked them if they’ve ever heard of shoes.
It may not be that widely used in the real world, but I think it’s an expression that’s in our vernacular, like ‘dial a phone’ although nobody does that any more either.
It’s a repeat/re-run, but I don’t think it’s recent.
Once you get past the unlikelihood of her being ignorant about this expression, it’s rather touching that she is concerned for the dog’s safety, and willing to bring it up with the restaurant patron.
I’m going out to eat this weekend with my son, his girlfriend and my nephew, each of whom grew up in a different part of the country. It’ll be interesting to poll them.
I did know my son never heard US ask for a doggie bag, but that doesn’t preclude him from knowing the term.
But she’s *only* concerned for the dog – not for the people who just ate the meal.
As for why Gene’s dressing in drag,.. why not?
But she’s *only* concerned for the dog – not for the people who just ate the meal.
It took me a second to see what you mean.
No, but it’s not like the food is poisoned or spoiled, so equally dangerous to people. It’s just that some ingredients are particularly bad for dogs. Like chocolate!
“I’m not Gene in drag… I’m just drawn that way.”
Chocolate, onions, grapes…bone-in chicken (or turkey, duck…any kind of bird, really), for a different issue…
My better half’s 90 year old father lives with us, and no matter how many times we tell him to “ask for a container”, he invariably asks for a doggie bag. Last week he asked for it as the food was delivered, since he had already decided he would only eat half.
Well, there are worse things a 90-year-old could be saying that were acceptable when he was growing up.
I’m in my 30s, and I generally refer to it as a doggie bag. To me, that’s not a suggestion that it’s for my dog (I don’t even have a dog), that’s just the name for a container of leftover food from a restaurant meal.
“Well, there are worse things a 90-year-old could be saying that were acceptable when he was growing up.”
Especially to a waitress.
So, do you prefer that the server bring you a container, or whisk your dishes away and return the wrapped food?
My mom’s meatballs and spaghetti can kill a dog – it did. Parents were away and youngest sister nursed the aging dog along while they were gone. Parents returned and mom saw that the meatballs and spaghetti she had left for my sister was still there and gave it to the dog as treat. Dog died.
Don’t canids in the wild at least occasionally catch birds? I’m sure I’ve seen at least one picture of a wolf with a mouthful of ptarmigan.
Generally the prohibition against bird bones has to do with cooked ones. Fresh ones are softer and less likely to splinter. Or so I’ve read in the past.