Is a hot dog a sandwich?
Merriam-Webster says yes. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council says no. New York taxes it as one. Both sides, a ruling, and a sentence. Below: both sides as they'd actually put it, then the ruling The Judge gives when two people bring this one into a Settle It room.
Both sides
It's meat inside bread. That is the entire definition of a sandwich. Merriam-Webster literally lists it. Case closed.
Nobody has ever said 'I'll have a sandwich' and meant a hot dog. It has its own category, its own bun, its own council. It's a hot dog.
The Judge's ruling
Ruling: On the definition, Maya has it: Merriam-Webster argued in a 2016 article that a hot dog in a bun qualifies as a sandwich, and New York State's tax department treats it as a sandwich for sales-tax purposes. On the culture, Theo has it: the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council formally ruled in 2015 that a hot dog is its own category, and nobody at the ballpark is yelling for a sandwich when they want a hot dog. This is a taxonomy question wearing a lunch costume. Merriam-Webster says yes, and New York counts hot dogs on buns as sandwiches for sales tax. At the cookout, Theo can keep calling them hot dogs.
Sentence: Maya may say 'technically' once, then never again. Theo buys the next round of hot dogs and does not call them sandwiches while paying.
Share the card, or better, send the loser the link. Sample ruling. In the app, the Judge waits for both sides and can ask follow-up questions before deciding.
Sources
- Merriam-Webster, 'Sandwich History: 10 Words You Can Chew On' (2016)
- NHDSC, 'Is a hot dog a sandwich?' (2015 ruling: no)
- New York State Department of Taxation, sandwiches taxable (hot dogs listed)