23 Words That Have A Totally Different Meaning When You Move To NYC

Used to mean: A remote hike in the faraway woods.

Now it means: Central Park.

Used to mean: Sitting down to meat and potatoes around 6:30 p.m.

Now it means: Wolfing whatever's in your fridge/at the bodega when you get home around 10.

Used to mean: Scoping out a cool new apartment complex and signing a lease for a place three months from now.

Now it means: A frantic two-week hellscape in which you must sell your soul to Craigslist, see apartments with only 30 seconds' notice, coordinate movers at the last minute and strip-mine your entire savings account.

Used to mean: Amtrak or Thomas the Tank Engine.

Now it means: The subway.

Used to mean: A reasonable amount of money you pay each month.

Now it means: Bye-bye, one entire paycheck!

Used to mean: One drink.

Now it means: Four to five drinks.

Used to mean: Someone who makes a living by writing things professionally.

Now it means: A recent college grad who's living off their trust fund.

Used to mean: $5 sandwich.

Now it means: $10 sandwich.

Used to mean: Getting in your nice heated car and driving to work.

Now it means: Covering every square inch of exposed skin so you can walk in a 10-degree wind tunnel to get to your office.

Used to mean: Central-air-conditioned comfort.

Now it means: Hope you like showing up to work with back sweat!

Used to mean: The bright and exciting "crossroads of the world" that made you feel awestruck each and every time.

Now it means: That place you desperately avoid at all costs.

Used to mean: Dating someone an hour or two hours away.

Now it means: The same thing, but that means dating someone who lives in Yorkville when you live in Kensington.

Used to mean: A sandwich, apple, and cookies brought from home.

Now it means: A sad $12 salad eaten at your desk.

Used to mean: A gross but tiny household pest.

Now it means: A TERRIFYING SIX-INCH-LONG MONSTER.

Used to mean: Pulling your car into the closest space in the lot you can find.

Now it means: PREPARE FOR BATTLE.

Used to mean: The industrial hub of a city.

Now it means: A cardinal direction.

Used to mean: Like, most of your friends.

Now it means: OMG, you're my favorite friend in the whole world and so attractive and cool and can we go to Fairway this weekend?

Used to mean: 6 p.m.

Now it means: 11 p.m.