BillyRayPreachersSon
Programmer
Is half a sandwich still a sandwich?
Personally, I'd say yes... but some people I've asked have said no.
What do you think?
Dan
[tt]D'ya think I got where I am today because I dress like Peter Pan here?[/tt]
![[banghead]](/data/assets/smilies/banghead.gif "[banghead] [banghead]")
Tek-Tips is the largest IT community on the Internet today!
Members share and learn making Tek-Tips Forums the best source of peer-reviewed technical information on the Internet!
-
Congratulations gkittelson on being selected by the Tek-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!
Is half a sandwich still a sandwich? 2
- Thread starter BillyRayPreachersSon
- Start date
- Status
Is half a sandwich still a sandwich?
Personally, I'd say yes... but some people I've asked have said no.
What do you think?
Dan
[tt]D'ya think I got where I am today because I dress like Peter Pan here?[/tt]
sleipnir214
Programmer
BillyRayPreachersSon:
I am going to agree with the consensus and say that if it's a food substance between two pieces of bread, it's a sandwich.
All:
I think that the "soup and half a sandwich" menu example Dimandja posted is a simple matter of disambiguation. A restaurant customer will know he is purchasing a sandwich that is half the size of one of the restaurant's normal sandwiches.
tsdragon:
That is a fractal open-face sandwich.
Want the best answers? Ask the best questions!
TANSTAAFL!!
I am going to agree with the consensus and say that if it's a food substance between two pieces of bread, it's a sandwich.
All:
I think that the "soup and half a sandwich" menu example Dimandja posted is a simple matter of disambiguation. A restaurant customer will know he is purchasing a sandwich that is half the size of one of the restaurant's normal sandwiches.
tsdragon:
That is a fractal open-face sandwich.
Want the best answers? Ask the best questions!
TANSTAAFL!!
>I've always thought a sandwich is a sandwich because of what it is and how it's made, not when it's served or eaten.
Blame it on the French. In French dishes are commonly named by comparison to the rest of the meal. When having multiple entrees, they are announced by their pecking order names (what pun?) rather than by how they are made. Incidentally, even drinks have they "placement" names, such as "aperitif" (a drink taken before a meal).
This naming convention keeps unsuspecting diner from filling up on lowly hors d'oeuvre, and therefore missing on the main attraction dish.
The French hors d'oeuvre literally means "off course" or "not the works". "The works" meaning the main dish. The main dish in French is called the "met de resistance", which loosely translated means the "filling dish". So, easy on those pesky tiny sandwiches.
Blame it on the French. In French dishes are commonly named by comparison to the rest of the meal. When having multiple entrees, they are announced by their pecking order names (what pun?) rather than by how they are made. Incidentally, even drinks have they "placement" names, such as "aperitif" (a drink taken before a meal).
This naming convention keeps unsuspecting diner from filling up on lowly hors d'oeuvre, and therefore missing on the main attraction dish.
The French hors d'oeuvre literally means "off course" or "not the works". "The works" meaning the main dish. The main dish in French is called the "met de resistance", which loosely translated means the "filling dish". So, easy on those pesky tiny sandwiches.
I don't believe my half a hole comment was off-topic.
a half hole is a hole
a half sandwich is still a sandwich
a half bar of chocolate is still chocolate (even a bar of chocolate)
a half glass of water is still a glass of water
a half-a$$'d idea is still an idea
a half of an ice cube is still and ice cube
a half carrot is still a carrot
a half salad is still a salad
a half note is still a note
a half moon is still a moon
This sandwich discussion is not unique to sandwiches and that was my point. Obviously this doesn't extend to all things.
A half cup is not a cup
a half pizza is not a pizza (it is of course still pizza, just not a pizza
a half dollar is not a dollar
~Thadeus
a half hole is a hole
a half sandwich is still a sandwich
a half bar of chocolate is still chocolate (even a bar of chocolate)
a half glass of water is still a glass of water
a half-a$$'d idea is still an idea
a half of an ice cube is still and ice cube
a half carrot is still a carrot
a half salad is still a salad
a half note is still a note
a half moon is still a moon
This sandwich discussion is not unique to sandwiches and that was my point. Obviously this doesn't extend to all things.
A half cup is not a cup
a half pizza is not a pizza (it is of course still pizza, just not a pizza
a half dollar is not a dollar
~Thadeus
sleipnir214
Programmer
I the U.S., if you have clearly more than 1/2 of a currency note, you can turn it in to your bank and get a whole note.
If you have badly-damaged money, you can send it to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing for new notes, too.
See:
Want the best answers? Ask the best questions!
TANSTAAFL!!
If you have badly-damaged money, you can send it to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing for new notes, too.
See:
Want the best answers? Ask the best questions!
TANSTAAFL!!
RodKnowlton
MIS
- Apr 26, 2000
- 1,005
Dimandja,
The French phrases you referenced are course names, not names for different items of food. The menu may only say "hors d'oeuvres", but you can still ask what the hors d'oeuvres are and be told "little sandwiches". Just like a sandwich in Los Estados Unidos can be lunch, dinner or a snack[1], but's still a sandwich.
Thadeus,
half of an ice cube is an ice rectangular prism
half a league is 1/3 of a light brigade charge.
[1] dinner, supper or snack in some areas.
The French phrases you referenced are course names, not names for different items of food. The menu may only say "hors d'oeuvres", but you can still ask what the hors d'oeuvres are and be told "little sandwiches". Just like a sandwich in Los Estados Unidos can be lunch, dinner or a snack[1], but's still a sandwich.
Thadeus,
half of an ice cube is an ice rectangular prism
half a league is 1/3 of a light brigade charge.
[1] dinner, supper or snack in some areas.
CajunCenturion
Programmer
Half a league can also be approximately 1.5 to 2.0 statute miles.
Good Luck
--------------
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
Good Luck
--------------
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
>The French phrases you referenced are course names, not names for different items of food.
Of course, Rod.
My point was that the French are more apt to use course names. They like to emphasize the "atmosphere" of a meal, rather than the actual meal item. And yes, each course can be described -- and the French will do it in excruciating detail.
In that sense, an hors d'oeuvre that is a sandwich would be referred to as a canapes or some such, rather than a sandwich.
Of course, Rod.
My point was that the French are more apt to use course names. They like to emphasize the "atmosphere" of a meal, rather than the actual meal item. And yes, each course can be described -- and the French will do it in excruciating detail.
In that sense, an hors d'oeuvre that is a sandwich would be referred to as a canapes or some such, rather than a sandwich.
sleipnir214
Programmer
RodKnowlton:
thread1256-1063504
Want the best answers? Ask the best questions!
TANSTAAFL!!
RodKnowlton said:
thread1256-1063504
Want the best answers? Ask the best questions!
TANSTAAFL!!
CajunCenturion
Programmer
==> would be referred to as a canapes or some such, rather than a sandwich.
There is a difference between a canape and a sandwich. A sandwich uses two slices of bread or cracker, but a canape only uses one.
Good Luck
--------------
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
There is a difference between a canape and a sandwich. A sandwich uses two slices of bread or cracker, but a canape only uses one.
Good Luck
--------------
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
-
1
- #33
craigsboyd
IS-IT--Management
Half a sandwich is a damn shame, no matter which way you slice it.
In the words of Eric Idle & John Cleese:
Half a bee, philosophically, must ipso facto half not be.
But half the bee, has got to be, vis-a-vis its entity.
D'you see?
But can a bee be said to be, or not to be an entire bee, when half the bee is not a bee, due to some ancient injury?
Half a bee, philosophically, must ipso facto half not be.
But half the bee, has got to be, vis-a-vis its entity.
D'you see?
But can a bee be said to be, or not to be an entire bee, when half the bee is not a bee, due to some ancient injury?
spewn
Programmer
- May 7, 2001
- 1,034
according to kraft foods:
"A sandwich just isn't a sandwich without the tangy zip of Miracle Whip"
anyway, if I were half the man your momma is, I'd be twice the man you are.
if the queen had balls she'd be king...(so does the world have it wrong? should it be King RuPaul?)
and there is no half a hole, since a hole has no pre-defined, naturally recognized depth. by the same token, if you were hired to dig a hole, and your boss asks if you're done digging the hole, you cannot correctly answer him; you can only say you have started, but you'll never be finished or halfway done.
and lastly, when is a door not a door?
- g
"A sandwich just isn't a sandwich without the tangy zip of Miracle Whip"
anyway, if I were half the man your momma is, I'd be twice the man you are.
if the queen had balls she'd be king...(so does the world have it wrong? should it be King RuPaul?)
and there is no half a hole, since a hole has no pre-defined, naturally recognized depth. by the same token, if you were hired to dig a hole, and your boss asks if you're done digging the hole, you cannot correctly answer him; you can only say you have started, but you'll never be finished or halfway done.
and lastly, when is a door not a door?
- g
Cut a sandwich in half, and the product is two sandwiches. But as Thadeus says, half a cup is not a cup and half a dollar is not a dollar.
If half of the speakers of some rare language were to die in a plague, the remainder would be half as many people and also the entire population who still speak the language.
Two half dollars will automaticlaly re-constitute a dollar, whereas two half cups would not. (Especially if they were halves of different cups).
If I spend half my money, I still have money.
No one can possibly know the moment at which they have lived half of their life. (They might guess it at 35, but could die the next day or else live to be 105.)
What we are finding is that English is imprecise and can use the same name for very diferent things.
------------------------------
An old man![[tiger]](/data/assets/smilies/tiger.gif "[tiger] [tiger]")
who lives in the UK
If half of the speakers of some rare language were to die in a plague, the remainder would be half as many people and also the entire population who still speak the language.
Two half dollars will automaticlaly re-constitute a dollar, whereas two half cups would not. (Especially if they were halves of different cups).
If I spend half my money, I still have money.
No one can possibly know the moment at which they have lived half of their life. (They might guess it at 35, but could die the next day or else live to be 105.)
What we are finding is that English is imprecise and can use the same name for very diferent things.
------------------------------
An old man
who lives in the UKWhen it's a french door?
Or when it's ajar?
________________________________________________________________
If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ222-2244 first
'If we're supposed to work in Hex, why have we only got A fingers?'
Essex Steam UK for steam enthusiasts
Or when it's ajar?
________________________________________________________________
If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ222-2244 first
'If we're supposed to work in Hex, why have we only got A fingers?'
Essex Steam UK for steam enthusiasts
spewn
Programmer
- May 7, 2001
- 1,034
it boils down to semantics...
two half dollars is still two half dollars, not one dollar. however, it equals one dollar. by the same token (no pun), they could each individually be a dollar, using the reference to US currency (coins and all), commonly referred to as "the dollar".
two half cups is still two half cups, and depending on which use of the word 'cup' depends on what those two amount to...more than generally, the assumption would be a measured cup...in which case, yes, they would amount to a cup. however, it could mean literally two halves of a cup ("container") that was cut down the middle.
back to the sandwich thing...as far as i go, half a sandwich is half a sandwich. if i ordered soup and a sandwich and i got half a sandwich, i would wonder where the other half of my sandwich went...i would think someone was crazy if they looked at a sandwich cut in half and told me there were two sandwiches there...even if there were two different bread type halves, i would still say there were two sandwich halfs, as opposed to "two halves of a sandwich" since that sounds like it implies that they were once one complete sandwich, together. or would you still say that's 1 sandwich, even if the two halfs are different bread, but same dimensions...
and then i think about this...what is half? is it still half a sandwich if you cut it 25/75? would you generalize and say you have two halves of a sandwich, and if so, then could you say you cut the sandwich in half, too? would you reference 'half' as 50% or 2 parts?
i don't think english is imprecise; in fact, it can be as precise as you make it (like code, it can be sloppy or exact, depending on you). what we suffer from is conveying imprecise (if that's the word) descriptions, and the meaning is interpreted based on your individual references and biases...
hmmm...
- g
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
- Question
