That Probably Went Over Like A Flat Can Of Pop

Back when I was almost fresh out of high school, I took part in an exchange program in the USA. My English was of the British variety, and in school, we didn’t learn slang, of course, so when it came to vulgar language, I was completely innocent.

The exchange program consisted of work and lots of church get-togethers. One late afternoon, a lady from church picked me up for an outing, but first, we went to get a drink at her place. I had already had a long day — I had worked on a farm and milking started at 5:30 am — so I was tired and my brain kept switching from Dutch to English.

Back in those days, fizzy drinks — sodas — were called “priklimonade” in Dutch, or “prik” for short. So, when that very proper church lady asked me what I wanted to drink, my fuzzy mind actually asked for…  a glass of “prik”.

It was about eight years later that I finally learned what that word meant in America.