On the other hand, it is classic that educated foreign persons who learn English may be much more precise in their use of their new tongue.

The dapper Frenchman sat down in the restaurant, and indicated, as part of his order, that he desired "peaches and cream".

When he was served, lo and behold, the beautiful fresh peaches had been sliced into a bowl and nice fresh cream poured over.

He complained: "I asked for peaches and cream. You have brought me peaches with cream!"

Quoth the waitress, "That's the same thing, isn't it?"

"Ah, no! Mademoiselle, would you say that a woman and child is the same thing as a woman with child?"

Dave Oesterreich