Magnus
Diplocat
In other words, when a product's marketing becomes so successful, the brand name becomes the 'real' name for what the product describes.
a few examples:
Band-Aid - this is a brand name for adhesive bandages, but few people will ask for anything but a Band-Aid when they have cut themselves.
Q-Tip - this is a brand name for cotton swabs, that has usurped the title.
Kleenex - this one isnt so strong as the first two but I have heard people ask for a Kleenex many more times than asking for a tissue (or a facial tissue, for that matter).
Coke - this one is regionalized somewhat to the USA's 'deep south' but if you go to a restaurant down there, you will likely be asked by the waitress "what kind of Coke you want?", where she is substituting 'Coke' for any syrupy carbonated beverage (including Pepsi, which must be infuriating to the makers of the 'other cola').
Well that's a good start, anybody think up some others?
a few examples:
Band-Aid - this is a brand name for adhesive bandages, but few people will ask for anything but a Band-Aid when they have cut themselves.
Q-Tip - this is a brand name for cotton swabs, that has usurped the title.
Kleenex - this one isnt so strong as the first two but I have heard people ask for a Kleenex many more times than asking for a tissue (or a facial tissue, for that matter).
Coke - this one is regionalized somewhat to the USA's 'deep south' but if you go to a restaurant down there, you will likely be asked by the waitress "what kind of Coke you want?", where she is substituting 'Coke' for any syrupy carbonated beverage (including Pepsi, which must be infuriating to the makers of the 'other cola').
Well that's a good start, anybody think up some others?