Jor...Just to add to your point,Boston refers to itself as the "hub" because it considers itself the "hub of the universe". (referencing your center of the universe point).

Jor, those of us whom the East and West Coasters refer to as in "flyover" country, just need to be quiet and remember that we are too stupid to know what's good for us so those on the West and East Coast will do that for us!

Wednesday, your question about dinner and supper may have more to do with rural lifestyles rather than geography. My parents both grew up on farms, as did most of my relatives, both north and south. The way I understand it, dinner is midday, because you were so hungry from working in the fields/barns/gardens (etc) that you needed a big meal, then you'd work it off in the afternoon. Supper (evening) was the lighter meal, because you were done working for the day and didn't want to go to sleep after eating too much.

Here are some sayings I've grown up with, courtesy of my mother, who was born and grew up in Queens NY. I honestly can't tell you if they're "real" expressions, or whether my mother made them up!

Dollars to a donut, as in "She'll change her mind, dollars to a donut."

Luna Park, as in "This house is lit up like Luna Park."

All getout, as in "She's as mad as all getout."

Built like a brick chicken house, as in "He's built like a brick chicken house."

I suspect that all of these terms are really other terms that my mother has mangled to suit her purposes. I was an adult long before I found out that NO ONE says "chicken house;" the term is really "sh** house." Good one, Mother!

DLN, finally one's I've heard! My mom grew up on the south side of Chicago and she's all about "all get out". Dollars to donuts that's a more urban phrase.

To explain the basement/restroom usage:

Many of the public schools built in New England in the early 20th century followed the same plan: brick, multi-story, and with the restrooms always at the basement level. (Only the faculty restrooms were above the basement level.) Thus, the use of "basement."

Jor, I've never been anywhere that people didn't think was the center of the universe and the standard by which other areas are judged. The midwest is among the areas most firmly convinced that their way is best. Seems to be -- also -- a direct correlation between the proportion of the population who have ever traveled more than 100 miles from home and the depth of conviction that people from other places are wrong or weird or misguided or funny-sounding.

Historically, there was a time when Boston was the young country's largest city and "hub" because of the protected harbor. The term stuck for the same reason other cities cling to nicknames like "Big Apple" and "City that Works" etc.

As to regionalisms -- is anyone else old enough to remember that silly Lipton tea ad, where they tried to imitate the N'winglander's use of "soon" to mean preference? The slogan was "I'd sooner Lipton," which was a use no one had ever heard before. The more common phrasing would be "I'd just as soon Lipton as anything else" or "I'd sooner drink Lipton than that dishwater you're drinking."

Other phrases from my youth: "dumb as a thumb" "hot as Tofut (sp?)" "hot ticket -- as in, "he's a real hot ticket."

dln--I can vouch for "dollar to a donut" and "all get out" as being real phrases--my family says them, too!
Also, "mad as an old wet hen"

cfc, good info about boston. but as for the traveling 100 miles from home, some midwesterners call that grocery shopping!!!

midwesterners probably travel in the u.s. and abroad more than any other group per capita. we have a higher discretionary income. i personally have traveled everywhere in the us, europe, and the middle east. yes, i have met people from boston as well and found them to be very nice!

btw, i have my arm in a cast and can only type with one finger....no caps.

Grinder is not only used in Southwestern CT, it's used all over New England esp. MA.
some others:

Packee = liquor store
butt = cigarette

Totally off-topic but nteresting assertion that Midwesterners travel more and have more discretionary income.

I'd love to see the supporting data for that, especially since per capita income tends to be lower in the Midwest than on the coasts (according to census data).

In Boston, Prince Spaghetti Day is Wednesday

Sorry about your arm, jor.

Just thought of another, really obvious regionalism -- "Down East." The interesting thing is that for Nwinglinders, that refers to Maine or some sort of generic coastal quality. But I've discovered that Down East also refers to a part of North Carolina (again coastal), with another set of expectations about cuisine, etc. So I wonder if there aren't other "Down Easts."

cfc, don't know any other down easts but here in Chicago Downtown is the city, whether you are north, south, east or west of it.

Grew up in MA and still have family there. Whenever I go back to visit, I must stop in @ Brigham's (same store, still there from my childhood) and get a cone and delight in hearing that question .... "Would you like jimmies on it?"

1st I eat a rinder now and then at a restaurant in Little Rock!

2nd I have spent 25 years trying to explain dinner vs supper. If dinner is the noon meal, when is lunch?
As a displaced NYer, we have breakfast, lunch, dinner (around 6pm) and supper (any meal between 9pm and 2AM).

3rd People living in Arkansas consider St.Louis up north, that makes me nuts especially when my NY family considers that the South!!
NM and AZ is west, CA WA OR is west coast, ID UT CO MT etc is rockies, northern or southern. IA MN WI upper mid west etc.

Growing up in St. Louis, I always considered it the "Midwest." It was quite a surprise to me to discover that some people consider it the "South."

When I moved to the South (originally from Northern California), I had a hard time with the "dinner" at lunch time. It doesn't seem as prevalent anymore.
The other day my boss (from PA) asked me why I say "how come" instead of "why." Any input on that?

I say 'how come' also don't know why! I also have always said 'correct' instead of right? Now I hear it even on TV. When I say 'wanna go with' I get asked with what? Also noticed that TV has started saying 'gone missing' for lost.