[Acajack]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

They're still an expression here.

If you want to say... actually, I don't know how to explain this one without an example.

My parents have their neighbours over for dinner all the time. And my mother puts out all the right utensils, even though she doesn't give a shit if people know how to use them properly, or care to do.

If you were there, and your spouse used the wrong fork, you could say, "I got her straight off the fish flakes."

It's just a way of explaining that someone is down to earth, no facade, might be a bit rough around the edges.

To be honest I had never heard the expression fish flakes before an hour ago when I looked up dried cod. All of my discussions about this had taken place in French with Acadian relatives. Though I can't recall what they called fish flakes in French. Guess I will have to ask my dad.