QotM

[elaby]

A Question of the Moment, because dakegra is away, and inspired by my current transcription project, which features a guy who grew up in the same area I did.

Is the phrase "down cellar" to mean "in/to the basement" strange to your ear, or perfectly normal? Usages would be:

"Where's Dad/the cat/the vaccuum cleaner?"
"Down cellar."

Or

"Where are you going?"
"Down cellar."

It's used sort of as a companion to "upstairs" in that it can mean a place and a direction.

I'm wondering if this is a regional thing or not.

Comments

[oed-1.livejournal.com]

It's a little odd. I can understand what it means, but it does not ring as a natural phrase in my ear.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

That's exactly what I was wondering. Thank you! It sounds perfectly natural to me, if, at the present time, a little nostalgia-inducing.

[oed-1.livejournal.com]

But I am also a guy who says 'duck, duck, grey duck' not 'duck, duck, goose'...so take it as you will (grin)

[elaby.livejournal.com]

That's really cool! I've never heard that one :)

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

That's because it is 'duck, duck, grey duck!'