Puddings

[Geoff Bannister]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, Janette <jnferr at ...> wrote:
>
> On 10/1/07, Carol <justcarol67 at ...> wrote:
> 
> > Geoff:
> > > Adding to Goddlelfrood's comment, UK speakers, when referring to the
> > last course of a meal might variously call them "puddings", "sweets"
> > or "afters".
> > >
> > Carol:
> > I thought it was just called "pudding," no "s," as in "What's for
> > pudding?" the way an American would say, What's for dessert?" And I
> > thought "sweets" referred chiefly to what Americans call "candy."
> >
> > Carol, wondering how to make clear what we Americans mean by "pudding"
> 
> 
> montims:
> 
> Geoff was just giving the plural - generally, one would refer to it in the
> singular - "what would you like for pudding?"  "What's your favourite
> pudding?"  But for example you can say, "I can't choose - all these
> puddings look so delicious..."  "My favourite puddings are treacle tart and
> spotted dick", for example.

Geoff:
(1)  I /was/ using plurals for 'pudding; and 'sweet'. 'Afters' is an informal 
usage which has fallen a bit out of use but is said in that form.

(2) From my dictionary:

pudding:2 Chiefly Brit. the dessert course of a meal

sweet > noun 2 Brit. A sweet dish forming a course of a meal; a pudding 
or dessert