Takeaway’s cryptic two-word message leaves customer baffled as people finally work out meaning

A takeaway left people online scratching their heads after it sent off a customer’s meal with two cryptic words written on the lid - even though the meaning behind them has turned out to be surprisingly obvious.

Many takeaways scribble numbers or words on the packaging of dishes, so that both staff and customers know what’s inside.

After all, if you’ve got friends round for a big Saturday night Indian feast, it’s good to know what’s what so that you don’t end up with your best friend’s vindaloo when you’ve opted for a korma.

But one person was recently left more confused than ever by the code words on theirs when it arrived, posting a photo on Reddit and asking: “Got this from my local takeaway… erm?”

What's your go-to order? (Emma Farrer/Getty Images)

The meal had been delivered in a silver takeaway tray, with a cardboard lid on top.

On the lid was written: “Booter Sos.”

Many people took to the comments to try and work out what it could mean, with some suggestions arguably more helpful than others.

“Well what are you waiting for!? Booter needs help!” one joked.

“Is it a German Indian?” someone else asked.

A third wrote: “Is the dish butter chicken? Booter sos/butter sauce maybe?”

It turns out they’re right – well, kind of... and the confusion isn’t actually down to a spelling mistake.

Someone else explained: “Google Translate reckons it's ‘butter sauce’ in Urdu.”

The original poster confirmed that’s exactly what was inside, replying: “Funnily enough I’m half-Indian and my dad speaks Urdu. Wish I’d learned to speak it growing up.

"And yes it was butter chicken side sauce with no chicken.”

Naturally, it didn’t take long for someone to say their order had ‘piqued’ the interest, asking why they opted for the sauce without the chicken, given that butter chicken is a well-known – and beloved – dish in its own right.

They responded: “I’m a veggie who likes the flavour of butter chicken sauce (sshh)… but also you know when you go to the chippy and get a tiiiny pot of curry sauce that barely covers 3 chips? The chips can swim in this size tub.”

Mystery solved!

Now you'll know exactly what's inside the tub if you see a 'butter sos' label - and, if you're still none the wiser about what something says, there's no reason why you can't get onto Google Translate for a helping hand.