Comments on: I do not think it means what you think it means...

By: Xploder

Xploder — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 16:28:00 +0000

Very true and it used to drive me absolutely nuts when I was in the Army and was repeatedly told that it was only for showering and NOT safe for drinking. Sigh.

By: plyx

plyx — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 06:03:00 +0000

I think it’s supposed to be read in the voice of Borat; “Potable water for drinking…NOT!”.

By: marilove

marilove — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:51:00 +0000

“pot-head” haha

By: Antinous / Moderator

Antinous / Moderator — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:15:00 +0000

Not sure whether I should sanction this comment. Maybe I should table it instead.

By: Antinous / Moderator

Antinous / Moderator — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 23:53:00 +0000

http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=potable&submit=Submit

For all your poncey pronunciation needs.

By: Donald Petersen

Donald Petersen — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 23:10:00 +0000

The height of hilarity for a couple of my 8th grade classmates involved accusations of heterosexuality and masticating in the cafeteria.

Sigh.

By: Antinous / Moderator

Antinous / Moderator — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:42:00 +0000

Ah, yes. Junior High School. Your epidermis is showing!

By: Víctor Jiménez Merino

Víctor Jiménez Merino — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:11:00 +0000

Also used in Spanish. Also common.

By: First Last

First Last — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:00:00 +0000

‘Potable’ is still in common use in English! And it means suitable for drinking!

By: First Last

First Last — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:00:00 +0000

You may need to have your eyes tested.

By: First Last

First Last — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:00:00 +0000

It’s the latter.

By: Paul Renault

Paul Renault — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:50:00 +0000

There was an article on another blog where the person had received a credit card with the cardhold name as ‘John Doe 3′. He called the CC company and explained that his name was ‘John Doe The Third’ – and that they should write that ’3′ on the CC using roman numerals.

“We don’t have roman numerals on our keyboards….”, came the reply.

By: Paul Renault

Paul Renault — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:46:00 +0000

Maybe it’s for cooking. Or showering. Or watering the plants.

‘Potable’ is still in common use in French. And it means suitable for drinking.

By: Henry Pootel

Henry Pootel — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:42:00 +0000

But is it pronounced “pot-able” (front-rhymes with pot) or “pote-able” (front-rhymes with coat)?

By: apenzott

apenzott — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:40:00 +0000

I have seen this in Mexico, especially at the airports.

Translation:
“If you are a native, you can drink this water safely.
If you are a tourist, you will survive the ordeal but expect a rough ride.”

OK to use to wash hands and face, but not to drink or even to brush your teeth.

By: B E Pratt

B E Pratt — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:04:00 +0000

From the Department of Redundancy Department: I remember working in a kitchen once that dealt with LOTS of eggs finding a case of eggs that had printed on it (I am not making this up), “Eggs. Fragile. Handle like eggs.”

By: jandrese

jandrese — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 20:27:00 +0000

My guess is that water is set aside for cooking or washing dishes or something where you technically need the water to be potable, but you don’t want people drinking your supply.

By: DewiMorgan

DewiMorgan — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 19:27:00 +0000

Reminds me of a few years back, working in an electronics company. We were designing a controller for a water fountain type gizmo. My boss contacted a valve company to ask about water valves. Everything went fine and normal, until he asked if the valves were okay for potable water.
I forget the exact response, but it went along the lines of:
“Oh, my. Potable water. Well, that’s dangerous stuff. Not sure we sell anything for that. Would be expensive, if we do…”

By: TheOven

TheOven — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 19:11:00 +0000

I’m just glad it’s not inflammable.

By: Destin

Destin — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 19:00:00 +0000

It does sound kind of ominous, if you don’t know any better.

“Stay away from that water, Jimmy, it might be potable!”

By: Wreckrob8

Wreckrob8 — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:51:00 +0000

The Mail says it cures and causes cancer.

By: Todd Maloy

Todd Maloy — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:50:00 +0000

Everybody knows that potable water is water designed to be put in your bong to smoke pot with.

By: howaboutthisdangit

howaboutthisdangit — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:26:00 +0000

“Just look at it, dammit!”

Perhaps they meant to say “Potty water not for drinking,” although I feel sorry for anyone who needs to be told that.

By: chgoliz

chgoliz — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:26:00 +0000

The potable water is NOT for drinking; instead, we insist you purchase this non-potable option over here….

By: Bashtarle

Bashtarle — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:21:00 +0000

Contradictions, the one thing that without fail still makes me smile <3

By: blueelm

blueelm — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:18:00 +0000

Yes it’s good water. No you can’t have any.

By: Roose_Bolton

Roose_Bolton — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:08:00 +0000

Pot-able? So….good for bongs.

By: Roose_Bolton

Roose_Bolton — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:00:00 +0000

That’s exactly what I’m getting out of it.

By: Brainspore

Brainspore — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:54:00 +0000

Stingy bastards.

By: Joshua Carmody

Joshua Carmody — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:54:00 +0000

This water is safe to drink!

But… we are going to make soup with it later. So, don’t drink it.