Southern Talk: Phrases with Flavor
89One Way to Talk
The various parts of the United States have their own regional expressions and idioms: New England, Midwest, Texas (it's its own country), California (another country), and the region of my childhood---the American South.
I began hearing certain expressions as a child. When I attended Auburn University, I added many more to my Southern dictionary. As I share some of my favorites, I invite other Hubbers to share expressions from whatever part of the world they live in.
1. Can I carry you to the store? This doesn't refer to a literal "carrying" on one's back. It refers to giving a car ride to someone else.
2. Shoot, I reckon. Sure, I guess. "Reckon" is used often when expressing an opinion or an estimate. "I reckon he done wore hisself out."
3. Come sit a spell. "Spell" means a while, a period of time. You say it when you want a person to linger in your company.
4. He whupped up on that guy. He got the best of his opponent in a fight.
5. More nervous than a long-tailed cat in a roomful of rocking chairs. Self-explanatory.
6. Mean as a snake. Refers to a person who seems to have no redeeming social value. Don't turn your back on this guy.
7. Mean and ornery. Having a nasty disposition. Doesn't play well with others.
8. Stubborn as a mule. Farmers in the South had plenty of experience with mules as farm animals, particularly in pulling a plow in the field. A mule decides when he will go and when he will stand still. There are humans with similar behavior.
9. Flat-cold good. Extremely good as in food or in performance (as an Auburn football player).
10. He done good. He did well. A phrase that is a nightmare for a schoolteacher to hear from a student.
11. Proud as punch. Extremely proud of a person or an accomplishment.
12. Dumb as a post. Similar to a modern expression: "He's not the sharpest knife in the drawer." This phrase refers to extreme achievement in dumbness.
13. Goodern' snuff and not half as dusty. Reflects an old-time affection for snuff tobacco that men (and perhaps some women, too) stuffed in their noses or tucked inside a cheek (the one on the face).
14. Cold as a welldiggers a-- in a March wind. Self-explanatory.
15. So ugly she'd make a train jump the track and take to the dirt road. A woman (it could be a male, also) extremely limited in physical attractiveness.
16. Preacher, you done stopped preachin' and gone to meddlin'. Taken from an often repeated story about what one person called out in church when the preacher began condemning the speaker's pet vice.
17. Pull up your drawers. In this instance, "drawers" refer to trousers. Usually said by a mother to a boy with sloppy dressing habits.
18. She's got her nose in a book. She is reading something.
19. Got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Started the day in a foul mood.
20. Knocked him flattern' a pancake. Self-explanatory.
21. When pigs fly. This expression in a response means "You have little or no chance of seeing that occur."
22. He took a shine to her. He found her quite appealing.
23. He's got more problems than Carter has Liver Pills. In olden days, a popular over-the-counter medicine for liver problems was Carter's Little Liver Pills. Having more problems than Carter has pills indicates a large number of problems.
24. Sunday-go-to-meetin' outfit. Clothing reserved for the special occasion for attending Sunday church services. A grade or two higher than regular workday clothes.
25. That dog won't hunt. As an example, "That plan you just described won't work."
26. If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch. Using the familiar image of a family's hunting dogs, it refers to being able to keep up with the people who know what they're doing.
27. I haven't seen her in a month of Sundays. I haven't seen her in a very long time.
28. He shows up every blue moon. He makes only rare appearances.
29. Not worth a plugged nickel. Referring to a nickel with a hole in it, which no longer has value.
30. Sawin' logs. In a deep sleep and probably snoring, too.
31. He flat planted one on her. He gave her a big kiss.
32. Scrumptious. Very good; often refers to food: That pecan pie was scrumptious.
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That is a bit of an interesting hub you don't read it very often. Thank you for writing it.
I have to confess to a deep affection for Southern expressions. They're not always the most graceful but they have a way of sending a message.Southern language isn't pompous or phony; it comes from Real People.
I've heard nearly every one of these in Texas and use some myself. Love them, thanks!
Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey. Don't mess with the bull or you'll get the horns.
Better to be pissed off then pissed on.
I'm from Louisiana and we use quite a few of those expressions too. Thanks for the post! I enjoyed it!
sweating like icetea in august.that dog or whatevers gonna bite you an it wont let go till it thunders. this kitchen is so small you cant cus a cat without getting hair in your mouth.
Hi, love these and use many of them to oonfuse & delight these Northerners(G); my Dad gave me all of his best expressions including my favorites: "hotter than a two-dollar pistol" (when something is really cool), "going to beat the band" or "going to town" (when someone is really working or doing something well), and when something doesn't really help, "That don't butter no biscuits".
Thank you for sharing!
Alberta, Canada
I remembered a friend in her 80's took in a 40 year old man to rent a room from her,well he was a night owl an drove her nuts playing the radio washing his truck ex.. when i asked Ruth how's it working out.She said 'he's like a hot fart in a skillet! Another time I ordered a pizza my way all veggies,my carnevor husband at the time took one look at it and said well looks like they dragged it through the garden but did'nt go no where's near the barn. ok one more.hangin in there,like a hair in a biscuit
War Eagle!
Hello, hello, 2 years ago
That is a bit of an interesting hub you don't read it very often. Thank you for writing it.