Overheard in New York: We Should Wager a Large Sum of Money on It

Posted on December 9, 2007 | 4 Comments

Male clerk, singing: … And one of these days these foots are gonna walk all over you.

Ghetto female clerk: Foots? It’s feets.

–19th & Broadway

About these ads

This entry was posted in Amusing Language. Bookmark the permalink.

4 Responses to Overheard in New York: We Should Wager a Large Sum of Money on It

Anonymous | December 11, 2007 at 6:02 pm | Reply

Once more, you have criticized people who cannot afford editors as your “professional” targets.

Also, I am astonished by the stereotyping of “ghetto.” I work as a proofreader, yet I cannot afford to move out of the “ghetto.”
Kate | December 11, 2007 at 6:23 pm | Reply

Anon, I took this verbatim from http://www.overheardinnewyork.com. I would never use the words “ghetto girl” to describe someone (and, to be honest, I think OINY puts far too much emphasis on race), and I considered changing it, then decided to keep it as it was written.

And while the point of this blog is to go after people who can afford an editor and choose not to hire one, come on! This is funny stuff! The girl is telling the guy that he’s wrong — and she’s comically, hilariously wrong!

I won’t go after regular people for making minor grammar mistakes, but something like this is definitely postable. It wouldn’t have made OINY in the first place if it weren’t entertaining.
Anonymous | December 13, 2007 at 9:17 pm | Reply

Overheard in Linens N Things:

clerk 1 – I have to call someone in Texas, what is the time difference thee?

clerk 2 – I don’t know, 7 hours?

Okay, so it’s not grammar but it made me laugh.
legbamel | December 16, 2007 at 11:39 am | Reply

Ha! After reading this, it took me a full minute to remember that the lyric uses “boots”.

Perhaps you should link back to Overheard in New York when you use their material. I was struck by the “Ghetto” characterization, too.