Picture a typical department store dressing room with a mother and daughter team trying on a variety of outfits within hearing distance of others in the barn-like stalls.

It’s sales season, and this is a discount store, so they are particularly security conscious. Part of this means that no accessories or items like coats are allowed into the dressing rooms, only clothes that you actually need to try on.

The daughter models an outfit for her mom and complains that she isn’t able to see the complete effect because she hasn’t been allowed to bring the coat into the changing room.

“They have this rule that says you’re not allowed to bring in a coat,” she complains loudly. “It’s verboten.”

“Verboten?” her mom replies equally loudly. “Maybe because that’s a brand name label.”

The conversation volume drops as the embarrassed daughter explains the meaning of ‘verboten’ while disembodied gasps and chuckles issue from various anonymous stalls.