GTKY: Popular sayings, quotes or words where you live.

Skeemer · March 2014

I'm from the South & there's so many funny things that people say here that are just normal to me because I hear them all the time. What are some of the funny things your family & friends say in your part of the country?

ETA: Extra points & cookies for explaining to us outsiders what the quote or saying means!

Skeemer · March 2014

Southern sayings that I hear all the time -

1) Hanging in there like a hair in a biscuit.

IE: "How's your dad John?"
"Aww, he is so stubborn. He keeps hanging in there like a hair in a biscuit."

2) Trying to get sick.

IE: Sickness is supsected but not full force yet. "Lucy is coughing. Is she okay?" "Yeah, but I think she's trying to get sick."

I'm sure I've got more but I know there other Southerners from my part of the country that can share.

jensavicci · March 2014

I steal my terms from everyone else lol Philly doesn't have any good ones that I can think of that are funny and not annoying.

Lately I've been saying "well fuck me gently with a chainsaw" when being sarcastic. No idea where it's from lol but it's just weird enough for me to like it.

katnipeverclean · March 2014

"Fixin' to" : I will be doing so presently, promptly or in a moment's time.

ie: DH: Oh no! We are out of ice cream!

Me: I know, it's ok I'm fixin' to go to the grocery store.

Buggy: Cart at the grocery store.

There are a whole bunch more. I will update them as I come across them, bless your heart!

jensavicci · March 2014

Oh! DW's fam says things like "lawd willing and the creek don't rise" and "you're going to hell in a hand basket" or something like that lol it cracks me up cuz I don't have a clue what they're talking about.

TugboatSheila · March 2014

Piecin' (verb): to eat in small amounts instead of a full meal

Used in Context: "Are you ready for dinner?" ... "No, I've been piecin' all day"

baby+drumm · March 2014

So I'm a teacher, and I frequently hear these:

Nut Up

-"If that student yelled out one more time, I was going to nut up on him."

Basically means that you are really about to scold that student. (Interesting, I know, but I hear it DAILY)

Squirrely

-"Lord, my students are squirrely today!"

Means the kids were bouncing off the walls.

Bless his/her heart...

In the south, you don't want your name in a sentence with this phrase...it doesn't mean someone is praying for you!

JayBzo · March 2014

I can't think of anything cool we say, except we say "Please?" if we didn't hear what someone said - it throws new people off because, well, it doesn't make sense!

I guess we say pop - but it is not that unheard of anymore (as opposed to Soda etc).

Guess I am boring!

Skeemer · March 2014

JP27 said:

Piecin' (verb): to eat in small amounts instead of a full meal

Used in Context: "Are you ready for dinner?" ... "No, I've been piecin' all day"

Never heard this! Where are you from @jp27 ? (Well, round about where are you from?)

jnnfrrose6 · March 2014

MIL is from up North and always says "If I had my druthers..." I've never heard anyone before her ever use druthers in an actual sentence.

TugboatSheila · March 2014

Skeemer said:

JP27 said:

Piecin' (verb): to eat in small amounts instead of a full meal

Used in Context: "Are you ready for dinner?" ... "No, I've been piecin' all day"

Never heard this! Where are you from @jp27 ? (Well, round about where are you from?)

I live in the general Dayton, Ohio area but I heard this in Springfield, Ohio. We say it in our household though

Skeemer · March 2014

baby+drumm said:
Squirrely
-"Lord, my students are squirrely today!"
Means the kids were bouncing off the walls.

LOL I forgot about "squirrely"! But absolutely, I say this all the time along with "Froggy" which means about the same thing.

I'll add -

3) Up a creek without a paddle in a wire canoe.

IE: The situation is bad. REALLY bad. Lol.

4) I don't have a dog in that race.

IE: When asked for my opinion & I don't want to give it or don't have any thoughts on a subject.

5) That dog won't hunt.

IE: Someone is trying to convince you of something & you're calling bullcrap on them.

Skeemer · March 2014

@jensavicci

Oh good grief that's going to give me nightmares tonight. Lol

jackieo1309 · March 2014

"Mad" as an alternative to "very"- as in "That line is mad long!"

"Let me tell you"- Usually preceded by a teeth-sucking noise from DH's puerto rican family. I keep finding myself saying this now though (minus the teeth sucking)!

We always learn some fun new Bronx high school slang from DH's cousin (she's 17) but these aren't necessarily used by older people. Recently we learned "Why you comin' at me from both sides of my neck?!", meaning something like "why are you making fun of me/nagging me?"

JayBzo · March 2014

Oh my favorite from my southern memaw is to stop being "ugly" - as in acting out. And I always say her line to my DH when he is bad (as a joke) that "God doesn't like ugly" or to quit "showing his ass". Both things memaw would say if you were acting like a heathen that day.

I am not southern, but she is and I love it! : )

Skeemer · March 2014

@jaybzo Hilarious! My grandmother used to say "Pissy legged boy" in reference to anyone's boyfriend that was up to no good. Lol. I've never heard anyone else say it but your memaw sounds like she might!

TugboatSheila · March 2014

I just thought of another one. I think this is in general used in the Midwest. You add "the" in front of nouns.

I'm going to THE Kroger. I went to THE Walmart. I saw him at THE Taco Bell.

I tell myself it's from our German ancestors hahahah (because of the Der, Die and Das)

baby+drumm · March 2014

JayBzo said:

Oh my favorite from my southern memaw is to stop being "ugly" - as in acting out. And I always say her line to my DH when he is bad (as a joke) that "God doesn't like ugly" or to quit "showing his ass". Both things memaw would say if you were acting like a heathen that day.

I am not southern, but she is and I love it! : )

I have to admit, I tell my students (and sometimes DS) that they are "being ugly" meaning they are acting up.

katnipeverclean · March 2014

Skeemer said:

baby+drumm said:
Squirrely
-"Lord, my students are squirrely today!"
Means the kids were bouncing off the walls.

LOL I forgot about "squirrely"! But absolutely, I say this all the time along with "Froggy" which means about the same thing.
I'll add -
3) Up a creek without a paddle in a wire canoe.
IE: The situation is bad. REALLY bad. Lol.
4) I don't have a dog in that race.
IE: When asked for my opinion & I don't want to give it or don't have any thoughts on a subject.
5) That dog won't hunt.
IE: Someone is trying to convince you of something & you're calling bullcrap on them.

My dad says "Up shit's creek without a paddle!" which I find hilarious.

A Few More:

Come hell or high water! Something is happening no matter what!

ie: Come hell or high water, I am getting the house painted today!

Drunker than Cooter Brown! Cooter Brown was a draft dodger who allegedly lived on the Mason-Dixon line and spent the entire Civil War drunk so as to be unfit for battle. Thus, neither the Confederate nor the Yankee army wanted him.

ie: Did you see Tim last night? He was at the pool hall all night and went home drunker than Cooter Brown!

Yankee someone who is either from or lives above the Mason-Dixon line.

ie: Did you go to Anna's wedding? Lord, it was awful. She's a Yankee though, bless her heart! Sometimes this is used in a not nice way, but mostly I've heard it used to explain someone who isn't from around these here parts and doesn't quite get the customs. For example, I have a friend who thinks it's so weird that we sit in chairs on our front porch or driveway in the Summer time and wave at folks as they drive by. It's not a bad thing, she's a Yankee so she doesn't get it.

I also occasionally hear the Civil War referred to as "The War of Northern Aggression" but that is always in jest.

ETA:

High Cotton back during the cotton boom if your crops did particularly well that year it was known as high cotton.

ie: If someone did well financially one year you might refer to them as living in high cotton! "Did you see Ron bought a new boat and fixed up his lake house? He is living in high cotton this year!"

lindslalala · March 2014

In NorCal we have "Hella" as in "I'm hella tired". Basically just means really or a lot.

Skeemer · March 2014

SarahVol131 said:
Yankee someone who is either from or lives above the Mason-Dixon line.
ie: Did you go to Anna's wedding? Lord, it was awful. She's a Yankee though, bless her heart! Sometimes this is used in a not nice way, but mostly I've heard it used to explain someone who isn't from around these here parts and doesn't quite get the customs. For example, I have a friend who thinks it's so weird that we sit in chairs on our front porch or driveway in the Summer time and wave at folks as they drive by. It's not a bad thing, she's a Yankee so she doesn't get it.

This is how I've always heard Yankee said also. Just in reference to someone who isn't from here & isn't familiar with our ways. Like when a Yankee orders a Coke & then is asked by a Southern server, "What kind?" heehee.

cuntasaurusrex · March 2014

I'm from the north, and we speak like normal humans here

The only thing I can think of is that in Buffalo, people preface all interstate highways with "the". "I'm getting on THE 90, or I'm getting on THE 290."

Skeemer · March 2014

aliletz said:

I'm from the north, and we speak like normal humans here The only thing I can think of is that in Buffalo, people preface all interstate highways with "the". "I'm getting on THE 90, or I'm getting on THE 290."

Yankee! :P

Lol. One thing I've noticed my Northern family does is make some things plural. Like, "I'm going to Targets" or "I love Krogers".

baby+drumm · March 2014

How about "I Swanee" (spelling?) or "I Declare!"

Examples:

"I Swanee, he is going to run me to an early grave!"
"I Declare, he is going to run me to an early grave!"

Both meaning, "I swear"...I think.

My personal favorite "I'm heating to death" or "I'm about to heat to death".

Meaning the person is really hot, making heat a verb.

"Sh*ts and Giggles"

I'm just going to party for sh*ts and giggles.

Meaning just for fun.

Being from Georgia, I could do this all day!

katnipeverclean · March 2014

aliletz said:

I'm from the north, and we speak like normal humans here The only thing I can think of is that in Buffalo, people preface all interstate highways with "the". "I'm getting on THE 90, or I'm getting on THE 290."

This is why there is no truer quote than Resse Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama, "People need a passport to come down here!"

baby+drumm · March 2014

If anyone is interested in more, I'd say check this out.

Hehe.

https://www.examiner.com/article/southern-isms-50-of-the-funniest-southern-expressions-and-colloquialisms

Skeemer · March 2014

@baby+drumm

"I declare" made me laugh. My 2 year old son is now saying, "Oh dear!" & I think he got it from watching Pollyanna the old Disney flick. LOL.

ashcross · March 2014

Skeemer said:

baby+drumm said:
Squirrely
-"Lord, my students are squirrely today!"
Means the kids were bouncing off the walls.

LOL I forgot about "squirrely"! But absolutely, I say this all the time along with "Froggy" which means about the same thing.
I'll add -
3) Up a creek without a paddle in a wire canoe.
IE: The situation is bad. REALLY bad. Lol.
4) I don't have a dog in that race.
IE: When asked for my opinion & I don't want to give it or don't have any thoughts on a subject.
5) That dog won't hunt.
IE: Someone is trying to convince you of something & you're calling bullcrap on them.

Geez where are you from? I'm from the South and haven't heard half of these before.

Skeemer · March 2014

@ashcross

Sweet Home Alabama It probably helps that I work with 13 men & I hear their banter 40 hrs a week.

ashcross · March 2014

Skeemer said:

@ashcross
Sweet Home Alabama It probably helps that I work with 13 men & I hear their banter 40 hrs a week.

hahaha okay well Alabama is the deep south! Gotta love Southerners. I will say a lot of the sayings that I do recognize, I only hear from older generations.

baby+drumm · March 2014

Oh, Oh....

"He doesn't have a pot to p*ss in."

-Meaning BOY IS BROKE!

Palan · March 2014

I say this to my 3.5 y/o all the time, "quit being ugly", never thought of it as regional.

ashcross · March 2014

aliletz said:

I'm from the north, and we speak like normal humans here The only thing I can think of is that in Buffalo, people preface all interstate highways with "the". "I'm getting on THE 90, or I'm getting on THE 290."

I have plenty of friends and family from the North and they have their funny accents and sayings as well. Here are a few:

it wasn't a faucet it was a spicket

if something was really good it was 'wicked good'

a whole pizza is called a pie

don't cha know

ya betcha.

the beach," is called "the shore

And the whole Boston area has very unique way of saying things.

Skeemer · March 2014

@ashcross @luckynumbers81

I so loved hearing Boston Rob talk on Survivor! I remember him saying "wicked" a lot.

AKbadwolf · March 2014

jensavicci

I've used the phrase Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise. It basically means baring anything major happening to prevent it.

So I am going to be on time Lord willing and the creek don't rise. I am going to be on time baring anything major happening.

Outside or Lower 48- Both terms mean the continental 48 states. Alaskans refer to Hawaii as Southern Alaska.

Eskimo Ice Cream- Fat of a seal or Caribou whipped to a creamy texture and eaten with nuts and berries.

Termination Dust- The light layer of snow that hits the mountains in the fall. Means Winters on its way

Break-up- Springtime in Alaska where car color is undeterminable because there is so much dust that has been trapped in the snow all winter and it is sprayed on the cars in road spray.

Cheechako- Someone new to Alaska that doesn't understand the way things work up here.

Denali- Native term for Mt. McKinley (Tallest peak in North America). Great way to confuse cheechako's

Combat Fishing- People fishing for Salmon up here. Nice days have the heaviest and easiest accessed streams with people shoulder to shoulder fly fishing. It is very frequent the hook lands in another fisherman vs the fish you want.

Alcan- Alaska Canadian Highway

kmawb · March 2014

jensavicci said:

I steal my terms from everyone else lol Philly doesn't have any good ones that I can think of that are funny and not annoying. Lately I've been saying "well fuck me gently with a chainsaw" when being sarcastic. No idea where it's from lol but it's just weird enough for me to like it.

@jensavicci, that is a line from the movie Heathers.

jnnfrrose6 · March 2014

SarahVol131 said:

Skeemer said:

baby+drumm said:

I also occasionally hear the Civil War referred to as "The War of Northern Aggression" but that is always in jest.

It's also "the recent Unpleasantness."

My father is from up North, but has lived in Georgia since he went to college (well over 30 years now). He's still a Yankee to my mother's family, just not a damn Yankee.

jensavicci · March 2014

kmawb said:

jensavicci said:

I steal my terms from everyone else lol Philly doesn't have any good ones that I can think of that are funny and not annoying.

Lately I've been saying "well fuck me gently with a chainsaw" when being sarcastic. No idea where it's from lol but it's just weird enough for me to like it.

@jensavicci, that is a line from the movie Heathers.

--------------what is with my quotes today------------

Is it? I've never seen it. My friends have been saying it and I loved it!

I've got another one. "Child it is hotter than a bell peppers coochie out here" xD I also stole this from a movie a made it mine.

kmawb · March 2014

Some of the ones I use that are from my great-grandmother (known as Nana-isms) so they're not really regional:

"As useless as tits on a bull": used when someone or something is entirely pointless.

"You bet your sweet bippy": you can count on it

"Nuttier than squirel turds": someone is really acting really crazy/weird

jnnfrrose6 · March 2014

DH is a fan of "even a blind squirrel can find a nut sometimes."

kmawb · March 2014

jensavicci said:

jensavicci said:

I steal my terms from everyone else lol Philly doesn't have any good ones that I can think of that are funny and not annoying. Lately I've been saying "well fuck me gently with a chainsaw" when being sarcastic. No idea where it's from lol but it's just weird enough for me to like it.

@jensavicci, that is a line from the movie Heathers.
Is it? I've never seen it. My friends have been saying it and I loved it! .

That's from where I know it. You should watch the movie (if you don't mind late 80s black comedy), it is kind of a cult classic.

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