Thread: Can you break down this to make sense? Какой крепости чаю прикажете подать

I know the meaning of all the words, I know all the case endings, Why is the meaning not so apparent?

I understand it is a saying in Петер with the answer-- Только в Петропавловской.

Originally Posted by perrea

I understand it is a saying in Петер with the answer-- Только в Петропавловской.

Не понял, о чем здесь речь. Предложение значит "насколько крепкий чай вы хотите, чтобы я подал". Так понятно?

There is a wordplay.

Какой | крепости | чаю | прикажете | подать -
What | strength| tea | will you order | to serve -
How much strong tea would you like.

Word "крепость" can mean both fortress (hence pun about Petropavlovskya ) and strength of a beverage.

You rock! I finally get it! Крутой. Спасибо, Молодец!
Вы русский? Петроградец?

Originally Posted by perrea

Вы русский? Петроградец?

Russian, Siberian, if it was addressed to me.

The old joke goes like this (with possible variations in the reply):

Person A: Какой крепости чаю прикажете подать?
Person B: (Какой угодно, только не Петропавловской).

крепость has at least two meanings: 1) strength of tea, coffee, etc. , 2) fortress

Петропавловская крепость - used to be a famous prison in St.Petersburg (btw, this is the modern name of the city, Петроград was shortly used after 1917), at present it's a national historic site.

I guess the joke is clearer with negation (не).