1. Misnomers: This is a general term for anything that is incorrectly named. It captures the fact that these phrases often mislead people about the origin of the item.
2. Eponyms: This term refers to words or phrases derived from a person's name. However, many of the examples you listed are not directly derived from names, but rather from countries or nationalities.
3. Cultural Borrowings: This term emphasizes the fact that these phrases often represent the borrowing of a product or concept from another culture.
4. Descriptive Phrases: This term highlights the fact that these phrases are often used to describe something rather than being a literal translation of the item's name.
5. Linguistic Curiosities: This term simply acknowledges the intriguing and often humorous nature of these phrases.
Here's a list with the actual names of the items in the original languages:
| English Phrase | Actual Name | Original Language |
|---|---|---|
| Danish Pastry | Wienerbrød | Danish |
| Dutch Courage | Not a specific term, but refers to drinking alcohol for courage | Dutch |
| Turkish Delight | Lokum | Turkish |
| Brazil Nuts | Castanhas do Pará | Portuguese (Brazil) |
Beyond these examples:
* French Fries: In French, they are "pommes frites" - "fried potatoes."
* German Chocolate Cake: It has no German origin; it's named for a German baker named Samuel German.
* Swiss Cheese: Not all Swiss cheeses are the "hole-y" kind; these are called Emmental or Gruyère.
These phrases reveal interesting aspects of language and cultural exchange. They show how language can evolve, borrow from other cultures, and sometimes even get things wrong!