cordial vs squash

[nyota]

In BrE, what's the difference between cordial and squash understood as fruit juices/syrups you dilute with water before you drink them?

[JohnParis]

A cordial is an alcoholic beverage. Squash is not.

John

[nyota]

A cordial is an alcoholic beverage. Squash is not.

John

As far as I know a cordial doesn't have to be/ isn't an alcoholic drink in BrE?

[Seriah]

Cordial definitely isn't alcoholic! I was given it loads as a child! Alcoholic cordials are liqueurs.

In my experience squash and cordial refer to the same thing.... concentrated fruit syrup that you add water to. Cordial is just a slightly posher word for it. If I was in a high-end supermarket I would expect to find cordial. I think cordial is sometimes made without fruit e.g. ginger or mint but squash is always fruity? That is just speculation though.

In the north of England people also call squash/cordial 'juice' which can get so confusing!

[JohnParis]

Sorry everyone - my bad. I took my definition from the American Oxford Dictionary.
Here's the definition from the Oxford Dictionary of the English Language.

• British a sweet fruit-flavoured drink: wine cups and fruit cordials[mass noun] :a tall glass of blackcurrant cordial
• North American another term for liqueur

[bhaisahab]

Sorry everyone - my bad. I took my definition from the American Oxford Dictionary.
Here's the definition from the Oxford Dictionary of the English Language.

• British a sweet fruit-flavoured drink: wine cups and fruit cordials[mass noun] :a tall glass of blackcurrant cordial
• North American another term for liqueur

"my bad"?

[birdeen's call]

"my bad"?

Is this idiom unknown in the UK, bhaisahab?

PS: I've just read that it's a very fresh one. I was apparently coined in the 80s: http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/langu...es/002693.html

It seems to be very frequently used it America. I like watching American shows and I often hear it.

[Rover_KE]

'My bad' = 'my mistake.'

[5jj]

Is this idiom unknown in the UK, bhaisahab?

It's unknown to me, though I have to admit that I no longer reside in the UK.

One of the many good things about this site is that we can all learn, all of the time.

[Tdol]

I think cordial is sometimes made without fruit e.g. ginger or mint but squash is always fruity? That is just speculation though.

Not necessarily- we do refer to lime cordial. I think squash is always fruity, but not all fruity ones are squash. I wonder whether it's to do with the sweetness, as lime cordial is less sweet.