Spread the Word
June 11, 2009
Let's get straight to the point: I'm having a vocabulary issue. And it's quite a dilemma, something that really peeves me, because I keep hearing variations of this word when I eat. Which is often. Except I'm part of the problem, because I don't know which term is correct.
When you have a slice of butter on your plate, what do you call that? Is it a pat of butter? Or a pad of butter? I've heard it called both, and I call it a pad of butter, because IT LOOKS LIKE A PAD. "Pat" is something you do when you gently touch someone, right? Like you pat them on the back? IT CAN'T BE A PAT OF BUTTER.
Am I wrong about this?
Comments
As far as I know, it's a "pat." At least, that's what I've always called it. I never really thought about it, but it IS weird.
Posted by: Lawyerish | June 11, 2009 09:19 AM
I could never figure this out. I usually avoid using the term (I do the same with people when I forget their names).
Let's just say "putter" and call it a day, shall we?
Posted by: TUWABVB | June 11, 2009 10:12 AM
Sorry, but I'm fairly sure that it's pat. I have no idea where it comes from.
Posted by: Rosie | June 11, 2009 10:26 AM
It's a "pat of butter." See definition 7 on Dictionary.com
Posted by: bethany actually | June 11, 2009 10:50 AM
This blog post amuses me no end. Then again maybe I'm just in an exceedingly good mood this morning. Anyway, it's a pat of butter. But I tend to just use "butter," quantity be damned. A pat of butter sounds so snooty.
Posted by: Laura | June 11, 2009 11:24 AM
I, too, have always said "pat." Having grown up in the South, I've grown up saying a lot of things that don't make sense, so I've never questioned it!
Posted by: abbersnail | June 11, 2009 11:39 AM
Pat. Because you can't tell if it's a girl or a boy!
Posted by: Becky | June 11, 2009 12:24 PM
It's not a phrase I use very often, but I would say pat of butter. Because, see, it's just a little bit and you are just patting the toast with it a bit...
Posted by: brista | June 11, 2009 12:39 PM
Pat. Just because.
Posted by: katie | June 11, 2009 01:29 PM
Must be a Southern thing - I've never heard of either!!
Posted by: Lisa | June 11, 2009 01:54 PM
Pat.
Posted by: Erica | June 11, 2009 03:22 PM
Okay, I'm a nerd and I just googled it. Pat is a measurement.
Posted by: Erica | June 11, 2009 03:28 PM
It is, as you have already heard, "pat". But, when referring to butter, that quantity is always too small, no matter what it is for!!
Posted by: Roz Pack | June 11, 2009 03:57 PM
It's a PAT. :)
Posted by: Ki | June 11, 2009 11:17 PM
Definitely a pat. I've never even heard anyone say "pad of butter".
Posted by: Lia | June 12, 2009 07:22 AM
I've never heard anyone call it a "pad." To me, it's a "pat."
Posted by: Radish | June 12, 2009 08:22 AM
It is a pat. I thought pads were well for that time of the month which you have so cleverly avoided with pregnancy. Ah, to be pregnant and time of the monthless. LOL
Posted by: Renée | June 12, 2009 11:49 AM
"Pat"
By the way, missing the meetup tomorrow because get a rare day/night out with husband and no kids!
Posted by: nicole | June 12, 2009 04:30 PM
I have always heard it called a pat of butter.
Posted by: Bobbi Janay | June 13, 2009 04:21 PM
First it was fantastic meeting you and I'm serious about helping to plan events.
Second, I hate to say this, but I've always called it a "pat" of butter, but I have midwestern roots and that's the way it's always been said in my family. Also, I don't use butter on anything anymore.
Posted by: Vanessa | June 14, 2009 08:08 AM
I've always heard it called a "pat" of butter. Maybe because it implies that a person is lightly patting their toast with butter, not smothering it. So you have a "pat" of butter because it is a small amount. I don't know. I'm grasping for straws here.
Posted by: Chiada | June 17, 2009 11:24 AM