Why is the phrase as American as apple pie used?

Question

As an Englishman i am amazed when i hear Americans using this phrase, ive never heard it before.Its amazing what you learn on here.Yesterday, i learnt that the USA won WW2 single handedly and also the USA is the only country who gives aid to African countries.Today i learn that Americans invented apple pie.I think i may burn my history books.

bushleaguer-try living in real world instead of a shell

Answer 1

If you burned your history books, you would be taking a step in the right direction, according to your British school system that is deleting the Holocaust from your school books, as it might offend some of your migrating population.

Answer 2

Although apple pies have been eaten since long before the discovery of America, "as American as apple pie" is a common saying in the United States, meaning "typically American".[4] However, the expression (its full form being "As American as baseball/motherhood and apple pie"[citation needed]) is clearly metaphorical, rather than literally ascribing an American origin to apple pies, since apple pie predates the United States. To some, the saying expresses the feeling that the concept "America" is not just geographical, but is instead—along with baseball and apple pie—something wholesome.

The dish was also commemorated in the phrase "for mom and apple pie" - supposedly the stock answer of soldiers in WWII, whenever journalists asked why they were going to war.

Advertisers exploited the patriotic connection in the 1970s with the TV jingle "baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet". There are claims [5] that the Apple Marketing Board of New York State used such slogans as "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" and "as American as apple pie!", and thus "was able to successfully 'rehabilitate' the apple as a popular comestible" in the early twentieth century when prohibition outlawed the production of hard cider.

Answer 3

If something is said to be as "American as apple pie," it is credited with being as American as "The Star Spangled Banner." In fact, apples were brought from Europe to America, and apple pies (1780) were very popular in Europe, especially in England, before they came to epitomize Amerian food. But Americans popularized the apple pie as the country became the world's largest apple-producing nation."
---The Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink, John F. Mariani [Lebhar-Friedman:New York] 1999 (p. 11)

Answer 4

That expression simply refers to the olden days when American women were not allowed to work. They, out of necessity did a lot of baking. Apples were plentiful and cheap and most households had a lot of apple pies.

Where do you get your information? I watched a great PBS show on WWII that showed the huge involvement of many countries particularly Great Britain in WWII. We didn't even get into it until we were forced to. As far as aid to African countries, we give very little. Even when Blowhard Bush gets on TV and announces our huge contributions, he doesn't follow through. Now telling the public what they want to hear and then doing what you want regardless of the public is certainly an American invention. Newt Gingrich invented it and Rove (the man who tells Bush what to say) and Cheney (the man who tells Bush what to do) have perfected it.

Answer 5

The phrase "As American as apple pie" means it's very American.

Like you stated that apple pie came from America it is American. Simple, classic, good old apple pie.

Good luck and best wishes...it's great you are learning alot about a different culture...kudos to you!

Answer 6

Sid Vicious! You're alive! Did you bring Elvis with you?

Answer 7

actually, we single handedly stopped the german invasion of great britain. as well as the occupation of most of western europe in WW1 and WW2. did you forget the part about getting your butt's kicked for 5 years before we (U.S.) entered the war(WW2)? if i'm not mistaken it was 2 U.S. made bombs that ended WW2...

Answer 8

its ENGLISH apple pie...no doubt about it - but judging by the appearance of some americans..they sure do eat alot of them!

Answer 9

you are too cute. I love the recycled Questions and the response by the New Audiance! Were we as bad as they are back when you started this Line of questioning? God I hope not! Love and Kisses Ta.