Trouble in Paradise
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If you use 'pocketbook,' where are you from?

I have a theory here. Let's see if it pans out.
I agree with everything that muddled said. You should listen to her. -ESDReturns

Re: If you use 'pocketbook,' where are you from?

  • Originally from Boston!
  • 1950.
    image "Evolutionary game theorists...ignoring beebees on the nest since 2005"
  • imageESDReturns:
    1950.

    Crying

    And yes, I'm still feeling like a loser! I do say "bag" often too, if that makes me less grandma-ish.

  • imageESDReturns:
    1950.

    LOL! Born in 1912. 

    Based on DL and Mags and DH, I would like to say that this is a northeastern thing. OF course, you somehow escaped this nonsense, ESD.

    I agree with everything that muddled said. You should listen to her. -ESDReturns
  • imageMuddled:

    imageESDReturns:
    1950.

    LOL! Born in 1912. 

    Based on DL and Mags and DH, I would like to say that this is a northeastern thing. OF course, you somehow escaped this nonsense, ESD.

    Totally not. I've never heard anyone call it a pocketbook here unless they were old.

    image "Evolutionary game theorists...ignoring beebees on the nest since 2005"
  • imageESDReturns:
    imageMuddled:

    imageESDReturns:
    1950.

    LOL! Born in 1912. 

    Based on DL and Mags and DH, I would like to say that this is a northeastern thing. OF course, you somehow escaped this nonsense, ESD.

    Totally not. I've never heard anyone call it a pocketbook here unless they were old.

    The only other people I have ever heard use pocketbook are my grandmother and my great aunts-- all from NJ. 

    eta- of course, they were also alive in 1950. Great aunt died last year at the age of 99.

    I agree with everything that muddled said. You should listen to her. -ESDReturns
  • You may be on to something.  I think my dad called it a pocketbook until my mom broke him of that.  He's from NYC.
    This is my siggy.
  • orig from New York State.

    f.k.a.= Derniermot
  • St Louis. 

    I have tried to call it a purse, or a handbag, but those just sound stilted.

    SO SINGS MY SOUL *WHAM!* MY SAVIOR GOD TO THEE *WHAM!* HOW GREAT THOU ART *WHAM!* HOW GREAT THOU ART *WHAM!*
  • Born and raised in NYC!

    and im old as dirt!



  • Portland, OR.  But I use it metaphorically, not to refer to a physical object. 
  • Boston - and it's a "pockabook" Big Smile
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic You gotta get spanked by a lot of frogs...
  • imagedoglove:
    Originally from Boston!
  • My theory just might be right on. I'm so smart.

    I agree with everything that muddled said. You should listen to her. -ESDReturns
  • It's pocketbook or purse. I'm from MA.
    imageimage
  • imageMuddled:

    My theory just might be right on. I'm so smart.

    Smart or smaht?

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  • imageGeek_Girl:
    imageMuddled:

    My theory just might be right on. I'm so smart.

    Smart or smaht?

    It depends. Where are you from?

    I agree with everything that muddled said. You should listen to her. -ESDReturns
  • PA.  Where we say "smart" not "smaht".
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • imagestarburst604:
    Boston - and it's a "pockabook" Big Smile

    I'm originally from Maine, and my mom, grandmother, all my aunts call their purses a "pockabook".  

    PersonalMilestone Anniversary
  • *I* don't use it but I live in Maine now and everyone says "pocketbook." I always get confused as to if they mean wallet or purse. Actually I still don't know which it refers to...
  • imagemeganyani:
    *I* don't use it but I live in Maine now and everyone says "pocketbook." I always get confused as to if they mean wallet or purse. Actually I still don't know which it refers to...
    FWIW I`ve never heard of a wallet referred to as a pocketbook. Around here a wallet is a wallet and a purse is a pocketbook.
    imageimage
  • My family is from the NE Philly suburbs. We all say "pockabook." It refers to a purse, usually of mid-size.

     I'm in a Communication grad program and was an English teacher. It seems that a lot of these odd constructions originate from large immigrant populations that were prominent often around the turn of the 20th cent. 

     For example, all over the world in places where the Irish/Scottish emigrated to English-speaking regions (US, New Zeland, Austrailia, etc.) whole regions will drop the "to be" after the word needs, as in "The car needs cleaning." or "The pasta needs stiring." 

     According to Grammar Girl, the reason for this is because the mother tongue did not require "to be" after the Gaelic form of "needs."

     Something similar is probably the case for "pocketbook."

  • Either pocketbook, billfold ( I tend to use this one), or purse. In Michigan.
  • My NJ family use pocketbook.  I think I've used it in the past, but now I say purse.
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