Does anyone "red up" the table (inspired by the dinner/supper thread)

[Mom2Ashli]

I heard it for the first time when I ate dinner with my In-Laws. I had no clue what it meant. They live in OH. And I am from the South.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

That's funny, because the "dinner/lunch supper/dinner" thing is southern. And you say that "red up" is PA...

Down here the garden hose is a "hose-pipe", "tea", when ordered that way in a restaurant will ALWAYS be cold, iced, and syrup-sweet. You will be looked at sideways if you ask for "hot" or "unsweetened" tea. You can have your picture "made", not taken. If you are preparing to do something, you are "fixin" to do it.

 

[Misty92101]

Well I hate to disappoint those who wish to make fun but it is actually a real and proper phrase..... It is English although old English....... Derived from the word "rid" or "to rid" and it is spell "redd" or "redding"

 

[minkydog]

I saw "breffis" on there and now finally the mystery of my friend is solved!!!
Thanks for the link TC!

I didn't know that's how you spell it but I've been saying that all my life. "Whatchu kids wan fo breffis, serle & milk or aigs?"

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I've heard it before, I believe on here, but I don't use it. I don't know anyone who uses it, even though I am in part of "PA Dutch Country". Probably because the only German immigrants in my family came to America through New England, not PA, about 400 years ago.

I should mention that "PA Dutch" is actually "PA German".

 

[Shel]

My mom has always used the term "redding up" the table. We're from northwest Ohio.

 

[pogo791]

Well I hate to disappoint those who wish to make fun but it is actually a real and proper phrase..... It is English although old English....... Derived from the word "rid" or "to rid" and it is spell "redd" or "redding"

Yup; just found this at http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2007/12/reddy-or-not.html:

The Grammarphobia Blog
Reddy or not!
December 13th, 2007

Q: I spent 20 years in the Pennsylvania Dutch area of York-Lancaster, PA. Some old-time residents there consistently use the term ret up to mean clean up, as in ret up the table after dinner. Can you tell me where this term originated?

A: The verbal phrase redd up (also seen as red up, ret up, and even rid up) has its roots in a Middle English verb redden, which meant to rescue or free from, or to clear. Today, redd up means to clear an area or make it tidy.

The terms redd and redd up came to the American Midlands with the many Scottish immigrants who settled there, according to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (4th ed.).

The word redd is still used in Scotland (and Northern Ireland), the dictionary says, and its especially common in Pennsylvania in the expression redd up.

Anyone who lives in Pittsburgh is familiar with the term. The citys annual campaign against litter is called Lets Redd Up Pittsburgh.

But you dont have to be from Pennsylvania to redd up. The residents of the Shetland Islands, off northern Scotland, call their annual cleanup Da Voar Redd Up (The Spring Clean Up).

 

[NHdisneylover]

Zombie Thread Alert!

Well I hate to disappoint those who wish to make fun but it is actually a real and proper phrase..... It is English although old English....... Derived from the word "rid" or "to rid" and it is spell "redd" or "redding"

I can't for the life of me figure out how this could possibly be worth registering on the DIS to post--especially in order to revive a 9 year old thread A MAJOR pet peeve of yours?

 

[FlightlessDuck]

The word redd is still used in Scotland (and Northern Ireland), the dictionary says, and its especially common in Pennsylvania in the expression redd up.

Anyone who lives in Pittsburgh is familiar with the term. The citys annual campaign against litter is called Lets Redd Up Pittsburgh.

But you dont have to be from Pennsylvania to redd up. The residents of the Shetland Islands, off northern Scotland, call their annual cleanup Da Voar Redd Up (The Spring Clean Up).

I find it odd that it's also attributed to Pennsylvania Germans since it's Middle English and used in modern day Scotland and Northern Ireland. That's weird.

Also, I can't believe this thread is from 2004. Wow. FYI, this is the first website that is returned by Google for the search "red up the table". It's the second site for Bing.

 

[DebbieB]

I'm from Pittsburgh and have heard of it, but not with a table. It's short for "ready up". For example - someone is coming over, I need to "redd" up the house. In other words, do a quick cleaning or straightening up.

 

[jkjs]

My mother has always "red up" the table. (They also have dinner at noon and supper in the evening). When I say this it makes my proper english speaking husband cringe, so I say it frequently. Anyone else say this or know where this phrase came from?

Don't know where it comes from but my mom used to say it as well

 

[foreverdis]

I've heard it all of my life, lol! My grandmother grew up in Bellaire, Ohio, and referred to her family as 'river rats'.

When my DD was about 4 yrs old, Grandma said, 'Stephanie, redd up your toys, put your coat in the clothespress and get up on the davenport'. My daughter looked at me and asked, 'WHAT does Grandma want me to do, I don't know all those words?', lol! She learned quickly!

 

[DawnM]

I have heard the term "ready the table" but not "red"

 

[superme80]

We had to rid the table when I was younger. My mom says wrarsh and it drives me nuts!

 

[SandrA9810]

My grandmother says crick, not creek. Drives me nuts.

I'm pretty good with the dialect from Indiana, but I never heard of red up the table. Guess Indiana is too far from the Dutch areas.

 

[HM]

That's a new one for me. I would have no idea what I was supposed to do if someone said that to me.

 

[Talking Hands]

My mother has always "red up" the table. (They also have dinner at noon and supper in the evening). When I say this it makes my proper english speaking husband cringe, so I say it frequently. Anyone else say this or know where this phrase came from?

Amish use it in PA

 

[Starbrite]

Also from Pittsburgh ... we always red up the table & take out the rubbish after dinner!

 

[wovenwonder]

It's my understanding that it is PA Dutch. However, my family didn't use the phrase. I know others from near Lancaster (I'm outside Philly) who use it, but they skip the up. They just "red" the table.

For those who red or red up the table....do you outen the lights & open your bumbershoot when it's spritzing? (Rain, not cookies)

My great-great aunt used to send me to her neighbor's to see if the daughter could come up for dinner when I visited. When I'd get back, Aunt Ada always asked, "Dare she?"

I'm from Lancaster County and it is very common to 'red up' a room or a table, etc. The kids have to red up the toys when they are finished too. ;=)

 

[JessicaR]

Never heard the term before.

Found this.

http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2007/12/reddy-or-not.html

I spent 20 years in the Pennsylvania Dutch area of York-Lancaster, PA. Some old-time residents there consistently use the term “ret up” to mean clean up, as in “ret up the table” after dinner. Can tell me where this term originated?

A: The verbal phrase “redd up” (also seen as “red up,” “ret up,” and even “rid up”) has its roots in a Middle English verb redden, which meant to rescue or free from, or to clear. Today, “redd up” means to clear an area or make it tidy.

The terms “redd” and “redd up” came to the American Midlands with the many Scottish immigrants who settled there, according to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (4th ed.).

The word “redd” is still used in Scotland (and Northern Ireland), the dictionary says, and it’s especially common in Pennsylvania in the expression “redd up.”

Anyone who lives in Pittsburgh is familiar with the term. The city’s annual campaign against litter is called “Let’s Redd Up Pittsburgh.”

But you don’t have to be from Pennsylvania to redd up. The residents of the Shetland Islands, off northern Scotland, call their annual cleanup “Da Voar Redd Up” (“The Spring Clean Up”).