GREAZY and GREA SY

[Dennis R. Preston]

I reckon I would call it greazy Tony's (not a pejorative as far as
some foods are concerned by the way). The light and delicate of my
earlier post was misleading. But if I stuck my hand into axle grease
I'd say it was greazy; if I picked up something which had, say,
sewing machine oil on it, I would say it was "greasy." Both
situations are "negative" (I don't want no grease on me), which seems
to be my requirement for such usage.

dInIs

>In a message dated 3/11/05 11:42:36 AM, bgzimmer at RCI.RUTGERS.EDU writes:
>
>
>>  Ah, then you never had the pleasure of eating at the sub shop known as
>>  "Greasy Tony's" in New Brunswick, NJ.  Their motto was: "No charge for
>>  extra grease."  (I even had the T-shirt.)  Covert prestige, that.
>>
>>  Checking online, I see that "Greasy Tony's" was transplanted to Tucscon,
>>  AZ after the New Brunswick establishment was torn down in 1994.  But do
>>  Arizonans appreciate the joys of grease as intensely as New Jerseyans?
>>
>
>These are obviously ironic uses of "greasy." I doubt that people reading
>Tony's sign think (with Dennis)--ah! this food must be lightly and delicately
>oiled!


--
Dennis R. Preston
University Distinguished Professor
Department of Linguistics and Germanic, Slavic,
        Asian and African Languages
Wells Hall A-740
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1027 USA
Office: (517) 353-0740
Fax: (517) 432-2736