I just found out that "Dumpster" is a brand!*
Genericizing trademarks seems to be a specifically American habit. I wonder why. It's not like they put it up to the vote, so why would one country do a thing like that and others not?
* Bart: "Otto-man, you're living in a dumpster?"
Otto: "I wish. Dumpster brand trash bins are top of the line. This is just a Trash-Co waste disposal unit."
2 comments:
Erm in the UK, Tannoy, Cellotape, JCB, Brasso, Squezy (though the brand may be named after the term), Blu Tac,
Same in France. Scotch (as in Scotch tape), Kleenex, Frigidaire (fridge)... and since you mention it poubelle (dumpsters), named after the Prefect who first installed them in his city! How about Lord Sandwitch?
It's quite universal. Even our Srilanki cleaning lady calls the vacuum cleaner "the hoover".
As to the deep reasons for such a trend... polls are open! :-)
Post a Comment