To brew
Norman
People in Blackpool/UK (Lancashire) use to say 'to brew', meaning they
drink a cup of tea.
But the question is : can it be used only for tea or can it be used also
for drinks in general (beer, wine and so on) ?
And what is the pronounciation ? Like 'broo' or 'breew' ?
Thank you for your help
Norman
Milano, Italy
willia...@my-deja.com
"Norman" <Rece...@BatesMotel.com> wrote:
> People in Blackpool/UK (Lancashire) use to say 'to brew', meaning they
> drink a cup of tea. But the question is : can it be used only for tea
> or can it be used also for drinks in general (beer, wine and so on) ?
If you understood what was being said correctly, then this usage of 'to
brew' as equivalent to 'to drink' is a localism. In standard English,
to brew tea is to make the drink by boiling or steeping tea leaves in
water.
'To brew' can be used of other drinks than tea, but not of all drinks.
The essential element in brewing is heat. So one can brew coffe or tea;
one brews beer, because a stage in the process involves boiling. But
one does not brew wine or distilled liquors; one does not brew Coca-Cola
or lemonade.
My dictionary does allow that mixing various ingredients to make a
beverage can be 'to brew', and that 'to brew' can have a more general
sense of 'concoct, devise'. But those usages are a little unfamiliar to
me; I would be more likely to say 'to brew up' in these instances.
> And what is the pronounciation ? Like 'broo' or 'breew' ?
The former.
Gary Williams
> Norman
> Milano, Italy
>
>
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Before you buy.
kevin...@my-deja.com
"Norman" <Rece...@BatesMotel.com> wrote:
> People in Blackpool/UK (Lancashire) use to say 'to brew', meaning they
> drink a cup of tea.
> But the question is : can it be used only for tea or can it be used
also
> for drinks in general (beer, wine and so on) ?
> And what is the pronounciation ? Like 'broo' or 'breew' ?
> Thank you for your help
With respect, are you sure you heard this correctly? I've never
heard "to brew" = "to drink a cup of a tea" (even though I've been to
Blackpool several times!). What _is_ commonly heard, however, is "brew"
= "cup of tea" as in the question: "Do you fancy a brew?" (= "Would you
like some tea?").
"Brew" is pronounced "broo". But wouldn't you know that already if
you'd ever heard the term? -:)
Kevin Flynn.
paul
erd two rite:
>Also, brew is used as the noun: "Fancy a brew?" would be understood to
>mean "Do you want a cup of tea?"
>
>In Yorkshire they use 'mash' as the verb rather than brew.
>
I've just brewed a pot of tea and once it's mashed I'll pour myself a
cuppa. As there's only myself at home the question of who's going to
be mother doesn't come into it.
--
paul
58-88 Sheffield 88-97 Milton Keynes 97-99 London 99-?? Seattle