Do you guys understand what a Colander is... and if not what do you call one of these The context being a ground attack pilot in vietnam who's just come back from a particularly gnarly mission with bullet holes in practically every every part of his plane. "That ain' barely a plane no more" Hembro said "it's a fuckin' colander" I'm British so writing that kind of thing is always a challenge, i just had an alpha reader from florida tell me that she's never heard the term....
Canadian here but I lived in USA for about 2.5 years for school. I've heard it referred to as a strainer.
Strainer is the more common term as far as I know, but also applies to strainers with thinner metal, almost like a sliding screen door (those types of strainers are similar to a sieve and are also used in sinks, not just for cooking). Maybe a reference to swiss cheese may work better for Americans? Actually, strainers typically don't have a base, so maybe it's not a true synonym for colander.
Tea strainer is less ambiguous than just strainer. Swiss cheese is also good. What about that's got more holes than (insert location of US golf open).
It definitely is a colander, though some people call it a strainer. As far as I understand it a strainer is made of screendoor material as I think @Bruce Johnson was saying.
I live in the Seattle area, but my family is from all over the US. I've always called it a 'colander' or if I can't remember that, 'the thing with holes'.
Odd, that's what we Americans call those things, too. Or possibly a "strainer." And the item in the opening post is a colander. (American, born and raised. I've been cluttering up the planet for 77 years, and a colander has always been a colander.)
Thats a colander. This is a strainer. Maybe its a regional thing in America? Its funny... You can use a strainer and a colander for the same things, but you cant always use a colander in place of a strainer and vise versa. (Edit... Why cant i get the pictures to show)
People who don't know the difference are simply more likely to call it a strainer than a colander. Strainer is more in regional common usage than colander for the uniformed.
We call the metal shot full of holes thing a colander. The screen door thingie is a strainer or sieve; I've heard both but use strainer myself.
Here's what's probably happening @big soft moose. Now I know there was another thread about generalizations and stereotypes so I'm a little guilty in this instance but I think today, in general, more American today are dependent on microwaveable meals or fast food and takeout (I think Brits call it takeaway) and less experienced in the kitchen, relative to other regions. I think if you did a poll of Americans 20, 40, and 60 years olds, you'll probably get vastly different results of a poll to define 1. colander 2. whisk 3. cuisinart (Cuisinart is technically a brand of various products but used to be synonymous with 'food processor'). I'm not saying any age group will fail but the results will be very different.
But when you were a wee lad, didn't your grandma cook on holidays or when you'd visit? In a way a lot more men are familiar with cooking now than back in the 60's and 70's when there was a stigma attached to it. In fact it seems there might be more males posting on the what are you cooking tonight thread than females? Not sure.
I grew up in the US to that being called a colander. And it looked exactly as pictured in the original post. I would also recognize strainer though might need context to make the connection.
Colander shmolander who cares? If you don't know the answer change the question. First off - Who is Hembro? - He doesn't sound very British. And who is he talking to? Another Brit or a yank? And if he is a Brit, what's he doing in Vietnam. If Hembro is American talking to a fellow American your utensil can also change name from South Central L A Home Boy to the straw-sucking Cleedis who no-never-did-leave he momma farm. but the relationship between the 2 will make your story and change your question - Sooo... Is there something that connects them outside of the war? Have they recently become close friends? Have they saved each other's lives? Are they from the same town back home? If so they can joke around - Hembro climbs out of the cockpit and descends the ladder to his waiting friend, John. "Fuck dude, you seen my wings? More holes than your sister!" They both laughed as they hugged it out on the hot tarmac, "I'm just happy to see you in one piece buddy!" Or maybe Hembro has to report to his superior. "Sorry Sarge, you seen my wings, more holes than John's ladyboy in town last night!" They both laughed as they saluted one another on the hot tarmac, "I'm just happy to see you in one piece Private!"
If you need some background to flesh out your Vietnam scene: https://www.historynet.com/douglas-a-4-skyhawks-provided-support-for-vietnam-war.htm
I'd call it a colander, as would the US-based Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, for whom it is sacred headgear.
Great Britain didn't send troops to Vietnam, but there were English soldiers who served with the Australian troops stationed there.
It doesn't sound like the flier is British, I think Moose is asking Americans because he's writing an American character.
