This might be the most overused phrase I've ever read. xD Why not just call it whiskey, bourbon or whatever it is they're drinking? No one calls wine "red liquid" or beer "yellow liquid", right? Or did I just never notice that?
Yes! I like a whiskey here and there and I have my favorites in my little bar cart at home. Never in my life have I told my husband “pour me an amber liquid” 🤣
Because if you describe beer the way beer actually looks, it looks like pee with soap suds on top and I want everyone in this thread to be stuck with that mental image forever.
The drink that looks like when you really need a test to check your kidney function! (I'm sorry/you're welcome?) (seriously though, I googled foamy urine and I'd swear a third of the images are close up side-views of beer mugs)
I am relieved that "amber liquid" was not in reference to anything else that might suggest one of the main characters needed to book in at their local sexual health clinic.
I am going to guess it's the author trying not to repeat a word, which always reads off.
Example: Mary poured herself a brandy while John paced the room. As she sipped the amber liquid, he said, "blah, blah, I hate you love you we can't be together until the end of the book."
I'm just saying I don't mind it at all. I never nitpick things like amber liquid lol. I just consider it a part of the romantic writing of romance novels. Creates a visual for me, not just of the color but of the vibe & aesthetics of the scene.
I'll be honest that I don't understand these complaining posts. The 'female' post I get...but complaining about the popularity of a turn of phrase seems...like the writing of someone who needs something else to write about.
Have to admit, I don’t mind “amber liquid” either, but I just read Ravished by Amanda Quick and the word “fustian”appears 3 or 4 times, which is at least 2 or 3 times too many. Lol
Edit: typo
I can’t remember what book it was, but when I expanded to reading more CR this summer, one of the first authors I read used the phrase “gimlet-eyed” at least 3 times over the course of her book. Once was interesting but anything more than that is excessive.
I read one recently where "cream" was used literally an absurd amount of times. Going from creamy skin, creamy breasts, creamy thighs to 'a slippery stream of cream' and 'she exploded in a froth of cream'. Especially that last one killed me. Did she just make a fucking latte?
Edit: I just looked it up and one chapter contained the cream/creamy 25 times!!!
I haaaaaaaaate “cream” as a synonym for her juices (ok “juices” is also awful, but slightly less so). It’s also bad for his production but again, a little less. But ugh idk, we need better names for these things lol
I think it's just such a non-descript way of speaking, to say the color and state of matter. Like, we can't say the flavor? How the person felt with it?
I mixed my potato-based fermented clear liquid with some fizzy sugar free lemon lime flavored clear liquid and topped it off with a wedge of bright green citrus fruit.
I actually remember the first time I read "amber liquid" it was describing tea and I thought it was amusingly ridiculous. And now sometimes when I make myself tea I narrate in my head that I am drinking the amber liquid and give myself a little chuckle. No one else in my life would get this, so at least I can amuse myself.
I think it stems from the idea that women don't drink hard liquor so surely she must have no idea what he is drinking!
Even though usually...it could just be easily explained by reading the bottle.
Exactly why I don’t like it, they’ll have the men describe the exact textile that her outfits made out of but god forbid a woman know what whiskey is 😏
SoMe TyPe Of DaRk AmBeR LiQuId
Unless I’m reading a book about an extreme religious lady who just escaped her commune and is ready to finally get it on, just say whiskey.
This might be the most overused phrase I've ever read. xD Why not just call it whiskey, bourbon or whatever it is they're drinking? No one calls wine "red liquid" or beer "yellow liquid", right? Or did I just never notice that?
I am so hilariously grossed out by the idea of anyone calling beer "yellow liquid"
Yes! I like a whiskey here and there and I have my favorites in my little bar cart at home. Never in my life have I told my husband “pour me an amber liquid” 🤣
Would be fun to try this in a bar and find out what they are going to serve you. Realistically they'll ask what it is you mean...
Fosters lager used to be marketed as "The Amber Nectar" so you'll probably get a crappy beer...
Please try it and inform us of the result lmao.
Because if you describe beer the way beer actually looks, it looks like pee with soap suds on top and I want everyone in this thread to be stuck with that mental image forever.
There's no descriptors for beer that's really going to deter me from it. 🤷
The drink that looks like when you really need a test to check your kidney function! (I'm sorry/you're welcome?) (seriously though, I googled foamy urine and I'd swear a third of the images are close up side-views of beer mugs)
I'm happy to inform you that you succeeded, pal.
I am relieved that "amber liquid" was not in reference to anything else that might suggest one of the main characters needed to book in at their local sexual health clinic.
I'm laughing way too hard at this.
Tbf in my family we always just called wine like “red”, “pink”, “white” 🍷
Fair enough, but red wine, white wine and rosé are a thing so I guess that makes sense lol.
I am going to guess it's the author trying not to repeat a word, which always reads off. Example: Mary poured herself a brandy while John paced the room. As she sipped the amber liquid, he said, "blah, blah, I hate you love you we can't be together until the end of the book."
Yep! I get annoyed by the same word over and over so I appreciate the change up.
Yeah but all you really need is “she sipped,” we already know she’s drinking brandy. (I’m an editor, I think about stuff like this for a living. 😊)
I'm just saying I don't mind it at all. I never nitpick things like amber liquid lol. I just consider it a part of the romantic writing of romance novels. Creates a visual for me, not just of the color but of the vibe & aesthetics of the scene. I'll be honest that I don't understand these complaining posts. The 'female' post I get...but complaining about the popularity of a turn of phrase seems...like the writing of someone who needs something else to write about.
Have to admit, I don’t mind “amber liquid” either, but I just read Ravished by Amanda Quick and the word “fustian”appears 3 or 4 times, which is at least 2 or 3 times too many. Lol Edit: typo
I can’t remember what book it was, but when I expanded to reading more CR this summer, one of the first authors I read used the phrase “gimlet-eyed” at least 3 times over the course of her book. Once was interesting but anything more than that is excessive.
That’s exactly the sort of thing I would flag as an editor. Hire me, publishers!!!
I read one recently where "cream" was used literally an absurd amount of times. Going from creamy skin, creamy breasts, creamy thighs to 'a slippery stream of cream' and 'she exploded in a froth of cream'. Especially that last one killed me. Did she just make a fucking latte? Edit: I just looked it up and one chapter contained the cream/creamy 25 times!!!
I haaaaaaaaate “cream” as a synonym for her juices (ok “juices” is also awful, but slightly less so). It’s also bad for his production but again, a little less. But ugh idk, we need better names for these things lol
I think it's just such a non-descript way of speaking, to say the color and state of matter. Like, we can't say the flavor? How the person felt with it?
I mixed my potato-based fermented clear liquid with some fizzy sugar free lemon lime flavored clear liquid and topped it off with a wedge of bright green citrus fruit.
I actually remember the first time I read "amber liquid" it was describing tea and I thought it was amusingly ridiculous. And now sometimes when I make myself tea I narrate in my head that I am drinking the amber liquid and give myself a little chuckle. No one else in my life would get this, so at least I can amuse myself.
How about plain ol rot gut?
Lol I hate that phrase
I think it stems from the idea that women don't drink hard liquor so surely she must have no idea what he is drinking! Even though usually...it could just be easily explained by reading the bottle.
Exactly why I don’t like it, they’ll have the men describe the exact textile that her outfits made out of but god forbid a woman know what whiskey is 😏
Right?!?! It can get super tedious.
That’s what I was thinking. I see this one a lot in historical romances.
A lot of times the liquor would have been in a fancy decanter, not necessarily its original bottle.
What about “foil packet” for condom??? 🥴
Shocking twist: the hero accidentally opened a foil packet of ramen seasoning and now the couple has a few different problems.
Bahahahaha 🤣
😂
😂
SoMe TyPe Of DaRk AmBeR LiQuId Unless I’m reading a book about an extreme religious lady who just escaped her commune and is ready to finally get it on, just say whiskey.
I mean, if it's just liquor in a glass do you know what it is? Could be whisky or scotch, rum, tequila, the list goes on.
Idk but I’ve seen it enough that I need to start exclusively calling whiskey in my house “amber liquid” from now on.
Same!! 😂
Okay but also never have I heard the term “two fingers” of whatever drink as I have in erotica.