Monday, 1 June 2009

My World Tuesday - What Does This Mean ?



(Enlarge for better view)

This banner, on an apartment building near me, always has me raising my eyebrows, whenever I walk past it..

One day I'm going to get around to calling the listed phone number and asking them just what it means...

I'm sure it's not meant to be taken literally, as how could the US get 'OUT' of the US ?? :-)

Very strange ..

*Update ... Sometimes I can be a little slow on the uptake. :-) Yes, after reading some of the comments, I think that the check in the corner, probably means that the banner should read as 'Check Us Out'.

It's just that the 'US OUT' is what grabs your eye and you totally miss the check mark. :-)

Interestingly, a Kiwi blogger reminded me that in New Zealand, the check mark is known as a 'tick' ..

I think that is where my confusion is coming from, as I am originally from NZ. My Kiwi brain is simply not translating the mark as 'Check' but as 'Tick'...

While it makes sense to Americans, it does not to me.... and we both speak the English language, but obviously, not quite the same :-)

Now, go to MY WORLD TUESDAY where people from all over our globe , show off their little corner of the world !

37 comments:

2sweetnsaxy said...

I'd be kind of curious to know what that means too. Hmmm.....

Maude Lynn said...

Is it supposed to be Check Us Out? Kind of ambiguous.

erin said...

i think it is supposed to read CHECK US OUT...rather than US OUT.
a conversation starter...
have a wonderful evening karen.

Sylvia K said...

That is indeed a curious sign???? I'm curious to know what it means, too. If you find out, I hope you'll share the answer with us! Have a great week!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Karen: That was really fun, you had your own design of what was wanted.

Esther Garvi said...

Hmmm... Banners are supposed to be short and understandable! Let us know if you find out what it means!

Greetings from West Africa,
Esther

Janie said...

I thought it meant U.S. out at first, but when I noticed the check mark, I figured it meant Check us out. Makes more sense!

Martha Z said...

When I enlarged the check was in the center of my screen making it easier to decipher. If only they knew who hard their banner was to figure out...

Barb said...

Isn't it funny that all of us in blogdom My World are studying their banner? I think they do mean "Check us out!" But...who knows?

Reader Wil said...

Doesn't the v in front of us out mean "check"? Like "mark"? Interesting symbol.

James said...

My guess is the sign maker charges by the letter so to save money and space the check mark represents "check" as in "Check us out"

SandyCarlson said...

It's an eye-catcher! And it got a consumer thinking, so it works. Cool.

Latane Barton said...

It does make you do a double take!!

Anonymous said...

That can be confusing sign. I did not take the check mark into consideration either.

Jenn Jilks said...

We blame text messaging and IM for this kind of thing. :-)

Susan at Stony River said...

Very interesting!
At first I thought, 'well that place didn't get good value for its sign, it's so difficult to make out'...but then, we all look again and think and talk about it, so I suppose it works only too well!
So ok, if I'm ever in the neighbourhood, I will *definitely* check them out! LOL

Jane Hards Photography said...

I too got the tick for check us out but it is a little out there. It's worked though on as great publicity we're all talking about it. Great idea for a post.

Guy D said...

Very interesting, great post.

Have a great week
Guy
Regina In Pictures

BPOTW said...

Ad are suppose to make you remember the product--not the fact that you don't know what the ad means! Great catch.

Carver said...

I would have reacted the same way you did. I didn't get the check part until you mentioned other comments.

Marja said...

I looked at it before I read it and had no clue what it meant either but the shop sure has everyones attention

Anonymous said...

I didn't get the check either - oh well. At least I'm not alone.

Russ said...

That funny. Good one!

BLS said...

That is funny because in NZ the mark in the corner says tick which makes no sense. I just read us out too because of that.

Sally in WA said...

Maybe if that check mark was slightly larger, it wouldn't disappear with the text. :)

Ebie said...

Hi Karen, as I clicked to enlarged, it said check us out, just like what most comments. But a really nice post.

Pierre said...

hmmm ... my SA brain would also not read "check" without the pointers left by other commentators. And "tick" would be more appropriate followed by "us off" ;-) Interesting post - thanks for sharing!

Maria Berg said...

The the check mark is known as a 'wrong' in Sweden.

well add/banners can be very difficult to understand from time to time.

Thank you for letting us one more think on different adds.
A few days in a Swedish add they said, Travel light (no bags), but they used a word that also meant Drunk...so travel drunk!
/Maria Berg

diane b said...

So what do you have to check them out for?

diane b said...

Love your yellow mellow man.

Wolynski said...

Very funny - I would've never figured out "check us out", but like you, assumed it was the HQ of some secessionist movement.

Monica said...

That's funny, I imagine others would be wondering too as there are other transplants in NV.

I lived in England and remember there were enough words that were different or had different meanings. The languages can be so interesting.

Vamsee Modugula said...

Weird way of advertising!! It certainly caught your attention and now ours.

Powell River Books said...

Goes to show how careful you need to be - it may be very clear to you, but not your intended audience. Too bad they didn't get some feedback before installing a costly sign. I invite you to come see my Fish Bridge sculpture. - Margy

Glennis said...

Difficult to understand til you mention the 'check' as opposed to a 'tick'.
Interesting1

Anonymous said...

It was rather interesting for me to read that post. Thanks for it. I like such topics and everything connected to this matter. I would like to read more soon.

Anonymous said...

Don't stop posting such articles. I like to read articles like that. BTW add some pics :)