Ed Pawlowski > wrote:

>"James Silverton" > wrote

>> Have you tried buying, say sliced meats, at a delicatessen counter? You
>> can't ask for ounces since the scales read in 1/100ths of a pound; a
>> quarter pound *sometimes* works and I've had some amazing variations on
>> "point two" and "point three" pounds etc.

>It has been decades since I worked at a deli counter, but I've never heard
>anyone in the store order by ounces. Always quarter, half, or pound. I
>did hear one lady order 6 slices though.

>I did have a few encounters in Europe ordering a quarter kilo or 250 grams
>though.

Most deli counters around do not like either of the following:

3 ounces
.2 pounds

So one is reduced to asking for "somewhat less than a quater pound".

Steve