Loose Parts by Dave Blazek for May 14, 2012

OH!! I’d thought it came from an ovine species of Pushmi-Pullyu…I think it’s called a Pushmi-Pull-ewe.

Is a reversible pullover (sweater to you Transatlanticans) called a “push-over”?

pcolli — whoa… I always thought we called them “pullovers” and you called them “jumpers”. Assuming YOU are a Transatlantican from my side.

A “sweater” can be called a “pullover” or a “cardigan,” depending on whether it buttons.

A woman can be called a “push-over” depending on whether she UN-buttons.(not that there’s anything wrong with that.)

PacoP… It gets more complicated. We CALL them all sweaters, in conversation. Mothers don’t say “bring a cardigan,” they say “bring a sweater.” Could be either kind.

We only use the other words to clarify the style.

“My new sweater? Oh, it’s a blue cardigan.” I would venture that a lot of Americans don’t know that word at all. They just say a button-front sweater.

I’ve known English people who call a pullover a jersey or a guernsey. Is that last where gansey comes from? A jersey in the US is usually a sports uniform shirt, or a shirt that look s like one. And a Guernsey is a cow.

As for a pushover, yeah, I was just making an un PC joke… but it could be a guy. And it’s not a value judgement. :)

I never did like fleas in my clothing.