What It Means To Order Diner Food That Has Been Dragged Through Wisconsin

Picture a traditional diner. You'll likely envision rows of cozy cushioned booths, swiveling bar stools lined alongside a counter, jukeboxes playing classic tunes, neon signs, and of course, comfort foods galore. From sky-high stacks of pancakes and waffles to whipped cream-garnished shakes to sandwiches, burgers, salty, crispy hash browns, home fries, omelets, and countless sweet and savory indulgences, diner food has become a culinary category of its own. Folks like Guy Fieri have advocated for diners all across the nation, showcasing various staples of a true Americana diet, per Food Network.

One particularly unique element of diner culture is its distinctive jargon, filled with metaphors, slang terms, and other verbiage to describe menu items and preparation methods. For instance, "hemorrhage" translates to ketchup; "city juice" means water; and "make it cry" indicates adding onions.

For some customers, this lingo may sound like a foreign language, but once you get the hang of it, it makes the dining experience even more enjoyable. If you happen to hail from the Dairy State, there is one phrase that makes plenty of sense.

Can't get enough cheese? Well, here's a fun new way to request it at restaurants. Diner Lingo, an online dictionary jam-packed with greasy spoon vernacular, shares that when you ask for your order to be "dragged through Wisconsin," it simply means that you want the dish topped, sprinkled, or smothered with cheese. Wisconsin, after all, is well-known for its love of dairy products, especially cheese.

According to the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, more than 600 varieties of cheese are made in the state and shipped around the world. Wisconsin is also the only place to obtain the title of Master Cheesemaker outside of Europe. Needless to say, America's Dairyland knows a thing or two about fromage, and Sconnies aren't shy when it comes to "dragging" their meals through their domain — in other words, blanketed with cheddar, Colby, Gouda, mozzarella, Muenster, Parmesan, or any style that tickles your taste buds.

So, next time you pay a visit to your local joint, try ordering a burger dragged through Wisconsin. Ideally, your server will get the message and deliver you a big ol' juicy cheeseburger.