Mason Delacroix
In Canadian slang, a mickey is a 375 ml (13 oz) bottle of hard alcohol, typically shaped to fit in one's pocket. The term is believed to have originated in the 1910s and is still used today, mainly in Canada, although it may be considered old-fashioned by some. Interestingly, the term Mickey or Mickey Finn is also used to refer to a drink, usually alcoholic, that has been secretly laced with drugs, a practice known as mickeying. This usage of the word has been dated back to the 1930s.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amount of alcohol | 375 ml or 13 oz |
| Alcohol type | Hard liquor |
| Bottle shape | Flat on one side and curved on the other to fit in a pocket |
| Geographical usage | Canada |
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What You'll Learn
- 'Mickey' is Canadian slang for a 375ml bottle of hard alcohol
- A 'Mickey' is also slang for a drink that has been drugged
- The term 'Mickey' is used in Canadian political discourse to describe a policy that is pandering
- The term 'Mickey' is unfamiliar to Americans and Brits
- The term 'Mickey' is derived from the phrase 'Mickey Finn'
'Mickey' is Canadian slang for a 375ml bottle of hard alcohol
In Canada, a "mickey" is a 375 ml bottle of hard alcohol, also known as a 13 oz bottle. This term is Canadian slang and is not commonly understood by Americans or other non-Canadians. It is believed to have originated in the 1910s and is still used today, although some consider it old-fashioned.
The term "mickey" is also used in the phrase "mickey of vodka," as in Rob Ford's quote, "fill your boots." This shows that the term is not only used to describe the volume of alcohol but also as a general term for a small bottle of hard liquor.
The unique Canadian slang term "mickey" is one of many Canadianisms that can leave non-Canadians confused. Other examples include "two-four" for a case of 24 beers, "twenty-sixer" for a 750 ml bottle of liquor, and "forty-pounder" for a 1.14-liter bottle. These terms are not widely recognised outside of Canada and can lead to misunderstandings when used in conversations with people from other countries.
The origin of the term "mickey" for a small bottle of alcohol is unclear. However, it may be related to the term "Mickey Finn," which refers to a drink, usually alcoholic, that has been secretly laced with drugs. This usage of "Mickey" as slang for a drugged drink originated in the 1930s and may have contributed to the usage of "mickey" to describe a small bottle of alcohol.
In conclusion, "mickey" is Canadian slang for a 375 ml bottle of hard alcohol, equivalent to a 13 oz bottle. This term is unique to Canada and is not widely understood by people from other countries, including the neighbouring United States. It is an example of Canadian colourfulness in language and contributes to the distinctiveness of Canadian culture and heritage.
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A 'Mickey' is also slang for a drink that has been drugged
A "Mickey" is a Canadian slang term for a small bottle of hard alcohol that typically holds 375 ml or 13 oz. The bottle is usually shaped to fit in one's pocket, flat on one side and curved on the other. While the term "Mickey" for a small bottle of alcohol may be falling out of fashion, it has also been used as slang for a drink that has been drugged.
The term "Mickey" or Mickey Finn to refer to a drugged drink dates back to the 1930s. It is often used in the phrase "to slip someone a mickey," meaning to secretly drug someone's drink. This usage is common in the United States and Canada and is considered a serious crime. The drug slipped into the drink is typically one that renders the unsuspecting drinker helpless, such as a "date rape" drug or "roofie."
The phrase "Mickey Finn" is said to originate from a Chicago bartender named Mickey Finn, who allegedly drugged his patrons' drinks to rob them easily. This practice became known as "slipping a mickey." While the exact details of the story vary, it is clear that the term "Mickey" became associated with drugged drinks due to this association with Mickey Finn and his nefarious activities.
Today, the term "Mickey" is more commonly associated with the small bottle of alcohol in Canada, while the slang term for a drugged drink is more widely known in the United States. However, it is important to note that the use of "Mickey" to refer to a drugged drink is considered serious and can have dangerous implications.
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The term 'Mickey' is used in Canadian political discourse to describe a policy that is pandering
In Canada, a "mickey" is a 375 ml bottle of hard alcohol (or 13 oz). It is a term that is used in Canadian political discourse to describe a policy that is pandering or without substance. This term arose from a specific Canadian food product called Pablum, a processed cereal for infants first released in 1931. This tasteless, inert mixture of bone meal, corn meal, vitamins and grains never caught on in the rest of the English-speaking world. Commentator Lawrence Martin, for instance, described a Justin Trudeau speech as "full of pieties and pablum."
The term "mickey" is also used in the United States, but as slang for a date rape drug. This has led to some confusion, as 69% of Americans were unaware of the term's more benign usage in Canada. "Mickey" is one of several uniquely Canadian terms related to alcohol measurements, including "two-four" (a case of 24 beers), "twenty-sixer" (a 750 ml bottle of liquor), and "forty-pounder" (a 1.14-litre bottle of liquor).
The use of the term "mickey" in Canadian politics highlights the unique vocabulary that has developed in the country's political discourse. It is an example of how language can evolve and take on specific meanings within different cultural contexts. While the term may be unfamiliar to those outside of Canada, it is widely understood and used within the country, demonstrating the importance of local language nuances in political communication.
The term "mickey" is also notable for its dual meaning in Canada, referring not only to a specific alcohol measurement but also to a type of hat, known as a "toque." This dual usage further illustrates the complexity and richness of language variations across different regions.
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The term 'Mickey' is unfamiliar to Americans and Brits
The term "Mickey" is unfamiliar to Americans and Brits, as it is a Canadianism—a word or phrase that is unique to Canadian English. Specifically, "Mickey" is used to refer to a small bottle of alcohol, typically holding 375 ml or 13 ounces of liquor. The bottle is often shaped to fit in one's pocket, with a flat side and a curved side.
While the term "Mickey" may be unfamiliar to Americans and Brits, there are other words and phrases related to alcohol that are commonly used in these countries. For example, in the US, a 750 ml bottle of liquor is often called a "fifth", as it is one-fifth of a gallon. Additionally, Americans may use terms like "tall boys", "six-packs", "12-packs", and "cases of beer" to refer to different quantities of beer.
In Britain, the term "whole milk" is used instead of the Canadian term "Homo milk", which refers to milk with 3.25% fat. Brits may also use terms like "colouring pencils" instead of the Canadian term "coloured pencils".
It is worth noting that the term "Mickey" is not commonly used by all Canadians. Some Eastern Canadians and younger Canadians may be unfamiliar with the term, as it is considered old-fashioned by some. Additionally, there are regional variations in slang terms for alcohol within Canada itself.
The term "Mickey" has also been used in other contexts outside of Canada. For example, in Cockney rhyming slang, "Mickey Bliss" is a term for urine. In the US, "Mickey" or "Mickey Finn" can refer to a drug slipped into someone's drink, although this usage is considered dated and more modern terms like "date rape drug" are often used instead.
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The term 'Mickey' is derived from the phrase 'Mickey Finn'
The term Mickey is derived from the phrase Mickey Finn, which refers to a drink, usually alcoholic, that has been secretly laced with drugs. Mickey Finns are often associated with the intention to incapacitate or render the unsuspecting drinker helpless. The phrase Mickey Finn itself may originate from a person of the same name, though the specifics are unclear.
In Canadian slang, a "mickey" typically refers to a small bottle of hard liquor, containing 375 ml or 13 ounces of alcohol. These bottles are often designed to fit discreetly in one's pocket, being flat on one side and curved on the other. While the term "mickey" for this bottle size appears to be less commonly used today, particularly among younger generations, it remains a unique piece of Canadian slang that has caused confusion for non-Canadians, especially Americans.
The use of the term "Mickey" in the context of alcohol extends beyond Canadian borders as well. In the United States, for example, "mickey" can be slang for secretly spiking someone's drink with drugs, aligning with the original meaning of Mickey Finn. This usage has been found in various literary works, showcasing its presence in American cultural consciousness.
It is worth noting that the term "Mickey" has multiple meanings beyond alcohol and drugs. For instance, in Cockney rhyming slang, "mickey" can refer to urine, derived from "Mickey Bliss." In Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland, "mickey" can be slang for the vagina, while in the US during the Depression Era, it was a slang term for a potato, especially a roasted Irish potato.
The evolution of slang terms related to alcohol reflects the dynamic nature of language and the unique cultural nuances that develop within different regions. While the term "Mickey" may have originated from "Mickey Finn," referring to a drugged drink, it has taken on a new meaning in Canadian slang to describe a specific bottle size for hard liquor. This evolution showcases how language adapts and transforms over time, influenced by various social, cultural, and historical factors.
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Frequently asked questions
A "mickey" is a Canadian slang term for a 375 ml bottle of hard alcohol (13 oz). The bottle is typically shaped to fit in one's pocket, being flat on one side and curved on the other.
Yes, the term "Mickey Finn" is often used interchangeably with "mickey" to refer to a small bottle of alcohol. However, it also has a separate meaning, referring to a drink that has been secretly laced with drugs.
Yes, the term "mickey" has several slang definitions unrelated to alcohol. For example, in Cockney rhyming slang, "mickey" can refer to urine. Additionally, in the US, it can refer to an Irish person or a potato, especially a roasted one.
