James Baquet

    Ming asks his classmate Becky about some idioms in the common room of their dorm.

    Ming: Hi, Becky. Can I ask you something?

    Becky: Sure!

    Ming: Today we had 13 people in a discussion, and my teacher referred to us as a “baker’s dozen.”

    Becky: Yeah?

    Ming: But isn’t a dozen supposed to be 12?

    Becky: Usually, yes. But it’s said that in the old days a baker would give an extra loaf of bread when people bought 12. So thirteen became “a baker’s dozen.”

    Ming: Why would they do that?

    Becky: Apparently there was a law against selling bread that weighed less than standard. The bakers would add some to be sure they didn’t get punished. But there’s a small question about this.

    Ming: What’s that?

    Becky: Well, in fact they would give a little extra — called “in-bread” — with almost every purchase, not just a dozen loaves, to avoid the penalty.

    Ming: So even if I bought only one loaf, I might get an extra piece?

    Becky: That’s right!

    Ming: Oh, for the good old days!

    Becky: But some people wonder why the expression focuses on a dozen, when it could have happened with any amount one bought.

    Ming: Yeah, I see the problem. Hey, speaking of idioms using bread, last week another teacher told me, “Use your loaf.” I think he meant “use your head,” but I don’t know how they connect.

    Becky: Let me think a minute... A loaf of bread... Oh, I get it!

    Ming: Can you fill me in?

    Becky: Of course! There’s this thing called “Cockney rhyming slang.” Some British people — from London, originally — would make an expression that rhymed with a word, and then modify it a little.

    Ming: You lost me.

    Becky: OK, take for example someone referring to the telephone as a “dog.” Can you guess what the original rhyme was?

    Ming: Dog... telephone... Bone?

    Becky: Yes! Very good! The telephone became “dog and bone” and then was shortened to just “dog.”

    Ming: OK, so going back to my example, a “loaf of bread” rhymes with “head.” Remove the end, and the professor could just say “Use your loaf.”

    Becky: Exactly!

    Ming: Great! One more “bread” idiom. I heard someone say, “He’s so white bread.” What does that mean?

    Becky: Have you ever eaten white bread?

    Ming: Yes, it’s kind of bland.

    Becky: Right. So to call someone “white bread” might mean he’s kind of boring, middle-of-the-road.

    Ming: Can it have a racial meaning?

    Becky: Sometimes. You could think of a middle-class white person, going to a white-collar job and having common hobbies like golf or something as being sort of “white bread.”