I’ve written elsewhere (“Missing and Presumed” at http://www.grammarianinthecity.com/?p=311) about dropping the letter D from expressions such as “grill cheese,” “old fashion,” and “never close, open 24/7.” This sign has the opposite problem:
Grilled and Deli Man
Reflected light mars the photo, so to clarify, the store is hiring a “Delivery, Cashier, Grilled & Deli Man.” If I take the noun “man” as the center of this statement from a non-equal-opportunity- employer, the other words serve as modifiers. So the store seeks a “delivery man,” a “cashier man” (turning the noun “cashier” into an adjective), and a “grilled and deli man.”
The last phrase leads me to a couple of questions. Does an applicant have to submit proof that detectives placed him in a windowless room under a bright lamp where they grilled him for hours about, presumably, his qualifications for working in a deli? I can hear the boss now: “Pre-grilled applicants save interview time.” Or is the shop hiring a man who has spent some time over charcoal? I shudder at that last possibility. I shudder at the spelling/grammar error too, but less. Much less.
Hilarious! Here in Montreal we’re plagued with ads for “smoke meat,” which of course should be “smoked meat.” It’s even reached the point where we have a restaurant called “Smoke Meat Pete’s.” I should note, though, that it’s a great resto with cool ambiance: live blues, lots of wood, in a very rustic area. Oh, and in their radio ads, their tagline is “You can’t beat Pete’s meat.” Which you must agree is kind of special, huh? 😉
I find myself wondering whether “smoke meat” is an imperative statement. Also, love the tagline! It took me all weekend to figure it out.