Getting off the car??? (San Antonio, West: school, food, education)

[buffy888]

I grew up in San Antonio off and on throughout my school years and never once heard anyone say they "got off the car" when they were really talking about exiting the vehicle. Since I have come back, I hear it quite frequently at the school where I teach from both students and teachers. Is it a San Antonio thing and I just never heard it? Or is it more specifically a Westside thing since my school is in Edgewood (and the teachers that I hear say it either grew up somewhere on the Westside or have been teaching there for numerous years)?

I just don't understand the saying. The opposite of off is on, so if you are getting off the car, then you must have been on it. The opposite of in is out, so if you were inside the car and are now leaving it, then you are getting out of the car.

I've asked other people I went to school with and none of them have heard it, either, but maybe we all just missed it?

[01Snake]

Unless they are riding on a stagecoach, that does sound odd.

[sapphire]

You might enjoy this thread, buffy:

//www.city-data.com/forum/san-a...ay-ahhh-2.html

[perticusrex]

I always say "Get off the car" or "I'm gettin' off the car." I also say "Gettin' in the car," and "Get in the car." Ooops....


BTW I'm not a westsider or a former westsider.

[SATX56]

It's the result of second languages being learned without being taught. The subtleties of a language and correct uses of some words or terms suffer. Just like someone saying "I fell on the floor" when they are outdoors falling on dirt!! Simple....education required!!

[Paka]

I heard that too...the other one was "getting down the food" when talking about taking food from the fridge. When I questioned it, I was told that if you "put up the food" then you "get it down".

[perticusrex]

Originally Posted by satx56

It's the result of second languages being learned without being taught. The subtleties of a language and correct uses of some words or terms suffer. Just like someone saying "I fell on the floor" when they are outdoors falling on dirt!! Simple....education required!!

Eeesh I also caught myself committing that offense as well. I told my son to get off the floor, which in reality was a baseball field. In everyday conversation I just don't take the time to converse properly I suppose.

[wCat]

haha.....I'm sure I have my share...but getting "off the car" isn't one of them.

[ashbeeigh]

I've never heard it, but I commit the same type of offense when speaking Spanish (and catch myself) and have to correct myself before looking like an idiot at work or speaking to only Spanish speakers. Using false cognates and such isn't unique to just Spanish to English speakers.

[catriona]

I had a friend that used to say 'get off the car', but 'get in the car'. She also would say, 'turn off the candles' and 'turn off the lights', but say 'put on the lights' and 'put on the candles'. I think satx56 has it right in that is the result of a second language being learned without being taught.