What were the words used by Frasier and Niles Crane as a synonym for conundrum?

What were the words used by Frasier and Niles Crane as a synonym for conundrum? - Pile of metal trash utilizing in junkyard

In one of the episodes of Frasier (I cannot recall the exact episode number) the brothers are describing a difficult situation, using different words. I believe some of those were in different languages (I can only guess is French?).

The dialogue is fuzzy in my head but it goes something like:

Frasier: I find myself in a sort of [X], well maybe not [X], more of a [Y]. Or maybe more of a [Z].
Niles: Why, what happened?
Frasier: [explains]
Niles: That's not a [Z], that's more of a [A]!

What were those words and what do they mean?



Best Answer

You seem to mean this dialogue from the season 9 opener:

Frasier: Niles, listen, I didn't want to say anything in front of the others, but I find myself in a bit of a quandary. Well, it's not so much a quandary, really, it's more of a pickle. Well, not so much a pickle, but well, no more than a... cornichon.

Niles: What is it?

Frasier: I think I want to be with Lana, not Claire.

Niles: Forgive me, Frasier, but that's one big-ass cornichon.

Basically, 2 things are happening here:

  1. Frasier is trying to pretend he has a small problem, but as Niles suggests, it's actually a big one. His phrases are progressively diminutive: 'Quandary' is a difficult dilemma, 'pickle' is slang for a small predicament, and 'cornichon' is a small pickle, hence an even smaller problem.

  2. Frasier and his brother are often portrayed as pretentious. So when they converse, they're prone to use classy words like 'quandary' (instead of 'problem') and French foodie terms like 'cornichon' (The Crane brothers love French, gourmet food, and French gourmet food). This tendency is then humoristically undercut when Niles uncharacteristically says 'big-ass'.




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What is the age difference between Frasier and Niles Crane?

Born in Seattle, Washington, in 1957, to Hester Crane, a psychiatrist, and Martin Crane, a police detective. Although the exact date of Niles' birth is never revealed, he's roughly two years younger than Frasier.

How far apart are Frasier and Niles?

38 years now." That puts Niles' birth pretty squarely in 1957, making him indeed five years younger than Frasier.

How old is Fraser from the Fraser show?

Frasier Crane is 41 years old in season 1 as he was at the end of Cheers. When Frasier ended after 11 seasons in 2004, Frasier Crane is 52 years old.

How old was Frasier in Cheers?

Kelsey Grammer (Frasier Crane) Kelsey Grammer was 27 during the first season of Cheers on which he played the pretentious yet personable psychiatrist Frasier Crane. He was 38 when the show ended in 1993 though he would go on to portray the character for 11 more years on the highly-successful spin-off, Frasier.



Niles' Top 15 Puns \u0026 Wordplay - Frasier




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