How do I say...

I have seen it spelled in more cases than none as hmfp.

Really? I thought it was spelled hmph.

Devil Ledbetter said:

Really? I thought it was spelled hmph.

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That's what I thought, too.

Of course, you won't find *hmph* in the dictionary...

Why can't you just say:

He grunted. "Who do you think you're fooling?"

or perhaps

He grunted derisively. "Who do you think you're fooling?"

Devil Ledbetter said:

Really? I thought it was spelled hmph.

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I'd go with hmph, too.

He grunted. "Who do you think you're fooling?"

And now I have Paul Simon going through my head ...

And she loved me ... she GOT DOWN ON HER KNEES AND HUGGED ME ... CUZ SHE ...
LOVED ... ME ... LIKE A ROCK.

I use "Humph".

So would...
He humphed et al
be appropriate?

LOL. No idea. When I use humph, I do it in dialogue. "Humph. Who do you think you're fooling?"

Word for area in front of restaurant with overhang??

I'm writing a day we were stuck out in the middle of nowhere on a cold, wet day. There was nothing around for miles except a restaurant that was closed, so we ended up staying there for the entire day and pitched out tent there for the night. But I'm not sure what to call that area.

Basically, there was the building with a concrete area in front of it. The roof extended over the concrete. Right in front of that was the parking lot. They had a couple benches in the shaded area. That's it. What would you call that area - a porch? A veranda? A ____????

Patio?

I think you're talking about the patio... but it depends on how far it extended and such. A veranda, if I am not mistaken, extends the entire length of the front, whereas a porch is usually raised up off the ground (like in front of a house).

That's off the top of my head though.

patio with an awning. (?)

Awning, maybe. I personally would not call it a patio.

Overhang might be another word.

Portico, maybe.

I agree - a patio in my mind is raised off the ground. A veranda is a fenced or screened in sitting room in the front of a house. We've all seen them all the time - it was the entire length of the building and about 10 feet wide - just wide enough to provide a bit of shade to the front of the building. I'm guessing a porch is the best word, but that doesn't seem to fit either!!

I would say portico.

Here's a picture of it - is that a portico??

Out in the Southwest we call them patios, and they are not raised up off the ground. And all the restaurants I go to where they have outside seating call the outside seating area the patio. It could be a regional thing.

"Patio" in this context probably is regional because it doesn't have the same definition here.

JeanneTGC said:

Out in the Southwest we call them patios, and they are not raised up off the ground. And all the restaurants I go to where they have outside seating call the outside seating area the patio. It could be a regional thing.

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I'm from the southwest (USA, because I'm sure other countries have regions that are west of the south). I vouch for this.

Patio and Awning were the first words that came to mind.

Were I reading, I'd probably have to go look up "portico."

OK - I just looked up portico. I've never even heard of that word!! Yeah - I think portico it is!!