I'm sure if you've ever been around a Southerner for even a fraction of a second, you would have noticed we have a way of saying things that people from other places don't. We really just have a different way of communicating down in the southern states when compared our northern or western neighbors.
With a lot of these sayings, I thought they were pretty common everywhere, but now I've realized they're definitely not. Especially when I say some of these things in, say, England, people tend to look at me look I'm crazy.
You can call us southerners, rednecks, or whatever else you can think of, but you can't say we're not creative.
1. "Quit bein' ugly"
This has absolutely nothing to do with someone's physical appearance. It just means stop misbehaving.
2. "Bless your heart"
Probably the most recognized and popular saying out of all of these. Pay attention to whose using this and what the context is. Sometimes it means "Aw, sweetie" and it's sort of a good thing. Other times, it's more sarcastic and is more like a "God help them" kind of situation.
3. "Let's roll this juicy bean footage"
Apparently, this is more of an older southern saying. The only people I've ever heard say this is my boyfriend and his family, but I'm sure there are others out there. It just means "let's go", and it was in a Bush's Baked Beans commercial.
4. "Knee-high to a grasshopper"
"I haven't seen you since you were knee-high to a grasshopper!" References to a height that you used to be, A.K.A., pretty short. This phrase is usually accompanied by the hand gesture of someone miming a height, somewhere around or below their hips.
5. "Eyeballs are floatin'"
You just really really really have to pee. "I gotta find a bathroom; my eyeballs are floatin'!"
6. "Hold your horses"
This isn't only a southern phrase, because my Pap from Ohio used to tell me this ALL the time. I think it's just a hick saying in general. It just means be patient.
7. "Holler"
There are two meanings for this one. A holler, when used as a noun, is the space between two hills. There's usually a steam or something down there... Like a big ditch sort of. The other meaning, used as a verb, is to tell/yell at someone. "Holler when suppers ready."
8. "Idjit"
Idiot.
9. "Coke"
We're talking about Coca-Cola products usually, but any carbonated beverage is fair game. Coke, Sprite, Mountain Dew. It's all included.
10. "Rode hard and put away wet"
Sounds a little inappropriate, but it's a metaphor meaning you're really exhausted. Think of horses being ridden and then being put away in the barn without being sprayed down or without a blanket.
11. "Sweeper"
Vacuum cleaner.
12. "Daddy's gonna skin your hide"
You're in so much trouble, you're probably going to get a-whippin'.
13. "Whippin'"
Get your behind beat. I'm sorry, that's another saying, but I think you can understand what I mean.
14. "This ain't my first rodeo"
It's not your first time doing something and you know how to do it.
15. "I'm runnin' around like a chicken with its head cut off"
You're frazzled and you're running around quickly trying to get stuff done.
16. "If "ifs" and "buts" were candy and nuts, it would be Christmas every day."
Everyone is making good excuses.
17. "He's dumber than a box of rocks"
Self-explanatory. Poor boy.
18. "Look what the cat drug in"
Someone would probably say this to you if they haven't seen you in a while.
19. "Shut your pie-hole"
A nicer way of telling someone to shut up.
20. "Cattywompus"
If something is cattywompus, that's not good. Like its just wack, basically.
21. "Catty-cornered"
"Ride-Aid is catty-cornered to Walgreens." Diagonal. Usually on a corner.
22. "I have a-hankerin' for"
Another way to say you have a craving for something.
23. "Dagnabbit/dagummit/dadgomit"
All substitutions for that GD word that we really don't like in the south.
24. "What in tarnation?"
Also known as, "What the hell?"
25. "I reckon"
"Do you want to go to the store with me?" "I reckon." Used to agree with someone, typically.
26. "Buggy"
Those carts you use at the grocery store.
27. "Piggly-Wiggly"
This isn't really a phrase; its a place. We have grocery stores called Piggly-Wiggly. Frequently shortened and known as The Pig.
28. "Can't never could"
If you never try, you'll never know.
29. "H-e-double hockey sticks"
When you don't want to actually say hell.
30. "She's as pretty as a peach"
We love peaches down south. This is a fantastic compliment.
Hopefully next time you're faced with some of these sayings, you won't be as confused. Try throwing them into your vanacular, because it's a good time.
