Carters Little Liver Pills became Carters Little Pills in 1951, but the South doesnt really pay attention to history. Perhaps New Englanders and Southerners have more in common than we realized. She has her feathers ruffled. All Rights Reserved. And theres a good reason for that. Someone typically says this to someone who pitches hissy fits (see above) for no apparent reason. Cant get more southern than that. If that aint a fact, Gods a possum.You can take that to the bank.You can hang your hat on it.You can bet the farm on it.Hes so honest you could shoot craps with him over the phone.If I say a hen dips snuff, you can look under her wing for the can. Used to could Someone who was once able to do something might say this. Yall This is a contraction for you all. 2022 Galvanized Media. They thought I was being impertinent when it was simply an automatic response. Favorite Southern Sayings . This is the couth Southerner's way of insulting your intelligence without using so many words. Common as cornbread, old as dirt, funny as all get-outhomespun expressions link modern Texans to our rural and agricultural past, conveying the resolute spirit and plainspoken humor of our heroes and pioneers. Hes blind in one eye and cant see outta the other He has no idea about whatever the topic is. "Bless your heart" and "Take your sweet time" might seem like sympathetic phrases but they're not always. (Is it crooked? Its true that we routinely speak in similes, metaphors, and hyperbole, which are sometimes difficult to understand, but Im going to try to clear up some of this nonsense. ", "It's darker than six feet up a bull's asshole. Hes on a first-name basis with the bottom of the deck.So crooked that if he swallowed a nail hed spit up a corkscrew.So crooked you cant tell from his tracks if hes coming or going.He knows more ways to take your money than a roomful of lawyers.Crooked as a dogs hind leg.Crooked as the Brazos.Slicker than a slop jar.More twists than a pretzel factory.Crooked as a barrel of fish hooks.So crooked he has to unscrew his britches at night.Shes more slippery than a pocketful of pudding.Hes slicker than a boiled onion.I wouldnt trust him any farther than I can throw him. We wondered how far beyond "bless your heart" we could go and recruited our FB Southern brain trust to help us out. Confused as a goat on AstroTurf.My tongue got caught in my eyeteeth and I couldnt see what I was saying.I can explain it to you, but I cant understand it for you.He ran em around the barn.Cattywampus to Miss Joness. He could eat corn through a picket fence. Grinning like a possum Christian Wallace writes about West Texas, oil and gas, music, cowboys, history, and history-making Texans. Close. My mother was raised in a community between Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and New Orleans. Noisy as two skeletons dancing on a tin roof. You can also say, Shes pitchin a hissy fit. It means the same thing. Close. No, seriously, this means Youre kidding.. (We trot this one out when a guestusually a family membertells us how very busy they are and how they really must be goingsetting us up to beg them to stay. You dont want to be around a hormonal hen after shes had an ice bath. I feel pecked by a hundred chickens. A pot doesn't call the kettle black. Happier than a hog eating slop. The Southern version of happier than a bird with a french fry. 29. I know there are millions more but its past my bedtime & Im worn slap out and 1 for the Yankees- Catawampus adj: askew, awry, cater-cornered. She released her fourth Southern novel with Revell in 2021. Why are you all gussied up? Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. daily newsletter, You Know You're from the Midwest if You Know What These Words Mean. Hotter than a 2 dollar pistol - smoking hot could be weather or a nice looking person Inebriated Southerners have measured their drunkenness by him ever since. Slicker than cat poop Colder than a witchs boobie in a brass bra Shes so skinny she has to run around in the shower to get wet. This means there is more than one way to do something. When Someone might say this after not seeing the person in a very long time. Never look a gift horse in the mouth. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { These days you'll find her on Bravo's .css-gegin5{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#9a0500;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-gegin5:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Real Housewives of New York, but Tinsley Mortimer is very much a southern gal at heartwhich is why we decided she'd be the perfect person to school us on the art of southern expressions. Tougher than a 2 dollar steak-pretty darn tough You could ride all the way to Big Spring on it and never split a hair.It wouldnt cut hot butter.You could scratch your back with it and never draw blood. (I will whip your backside.) He doesnt have the good sense god gave a dead goose. It implies that youre so full of yourself you cant fit into your pants (britches). Her pants are so tight you can see her religion- (Snored. For more up-to-date information, sign up for our We also dont pronounce ts and almost never use gs at the ending of words. I should also note that we rarely use rs. Sugah for sugar, suppah for supper. Hes got a hitch in his gitalong.Sick as a dog passing peach pits.All stove up.Im so sick Id have to get better to die.Sore as a boil.Her hoppers busted.As full of pains as an old window.Ive got the green apple nasties.He looks like death warmed over.So sick he needs two beds.Pitiful as a three-legged dog. Fine as frogs hair split four ways Whats that? Not what I had my face fixed for.Like hugging a rose bush.Nothing to write home about.That dog wont hunt.Id just as soon bite a bug.I dont cotton to it. This means "be sweet and come over and give me some of that sweetness"a kiss. Shelby Slauer and Frank Olito. To allow the menu buttons to display, add whiteestate.org to IE's trusted sites. Its raining cats and dogs. His breaths so strong you could hang out the washing on it.That coffees so strong itll put hair on your chest.Coffee so strong itll walk into your cup.Coffee so strong itll raise a blood blister on a boot.Hes so strong he makes Samson look sensitive. We certainly love that corn mush, which is why we enjoy shrimp and grits. Every Southern girl in the history of the universe has been told this by her mother and grandmothers when she first starts to date and is having relationship issues. In other words, make yourself scarce cause theyll miss you. Chip Gaines Bought Larry McMurtrys Historic Texas Bookstore. ), She drove her ducks to a bad pond o' water. Our way with words goes way beyond "fixin' to." Barking up the wrong tree The phrase refers to a key step in horse grooming when a horse runs fast, it works up a sweat, especially under the saddle. Cant swing a dead cat without hitting a Wal-Mart. Busier than fat and hungry man in a competition of eating burgers. But it might not mean what you think it means. Press J to jump to the feed. Yall. (I want more than I can afford. If something is really, really, good, FreezeFrame34 says: That's so good, it makes me wanna slap my mamma! Valerie Fraser Luesse has been affiliated with Southern Living and its parent company since 1988. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Its about a feeling and an attitude that cant be described in a blog post. 13. Their vociferous habit wakes up the house, signaling time to work. My shirt is all cattywampus My shirt isnt hanging right. Brad Paisley 0 Copy To learn more, click here. Hottern the blue blazes Its really hot. Since I havent even scratched the surface with these southern sayings, Ill post more in the future. You will then have access to all the teacher resources, using a simple drop menu structure. Hes been saucered and blowed.He sure cleaned your plow. Imagine a horse eating a carrot, and youll get the picture. It's also the rhythm. the Texanist, is a staff writer. Theyre commenting on whats inside that person or how theyre behaving. siligut. 1. Bonus: Bless Your Heart ), Whatever cranks your tractor. Well, the lights are on, but ain't nobody home. Grandparents are from the south. robie2 has two favorite Southern sayings: Slicker than sh*t on a hoe handle. However, its usually a statement of mild disapproval. Im bad about aint got none. (No joke, Yankees, this saying is also the basis for brand of seasonings called Slap Ya Mamma!) )Calling for Earl. Search. You'll find a list of the currently available teaching aids below. The beginnings of this Southern saying are lost to timejust suffice it to say that it means that the speaker is ravenously hungry. ), Does that picture look cattywampus to you? ), She's gettin' above her raisin'. We have provided a download link below to Firefox 2 installer. She squeezes a quarter so tight you can hear the eagle scream Shes very tight-fisted with her money. Hes dumber n dirt, bless his heart This is self-explanatoryunless you know something about dirt I dont know. Just fell off the turnip (watermelon, tater) truck.Hes so country he thinks a seven-course meal is a possum and a six-pack.They lived so far out in the country that the sun set between their house and town. Put on your big girl /boy panties ( the persons sex doesnt matter) which means deal with it, take charge, fix it & such Cooter Brown is an infamous character in Southern lore. Post author: Post published: February 17, 2023 Post category: mark bailey trade centre wales car collection mark bailey trade centre wales car collection My favourite phrase from Yorkshire is "'appy as a pig in muck". Shes got more nerve than Carters got Liver Pills. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. (I love you bunches. Do go on Youre kidding, right? xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); Listen to them talk first-hand. Looks like shes been chewed up, spit out, and stepped on.Looks like she was rode hard and put away wet.She looks like chewed twine.He looks like Bowsers bone.I was born tired and Ive since suffered a relapse.One wheel down and the axle dragging.Im near about past going. If you lay down with the dogs, you're gonna git up with fleas. Lets go down yonder: The southern way of asking you to go somewhere. Farmers used to dunk hens in cold water to break their broodiness. By get your feathers ruffled - dont get all upset now Bestlifeonline.com is part of the Meredith Health Group. "Shut up" is viewed as rather rude in the South. She was madder than a wet hen. Busier than a wolf in the house of the hens. You probably like to assume that you're smarter than this water fowl, but if a Southerner thinks you aren't, they'll surely set you straight. His porch light is on, but no one is home Hes not very smart. 8. So crooked that if he swallowed a nail, hed spit up a corkscrew. In the 1840s, the site says, British writers used it to make fun of American Southern slang. Check out our Southernisms 2.0. Touchstone Pictures You cant carry a tune in a bucket. Slicker than owl shit- slicker than shit in a home handle or slicker than snot on a doorknob -can be used on all kinds do things-Nice shoes to con man ), I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck. "Ragamuffin" basically means disheveled. We really arent trying to be obsequious. This phrase means that something is good. Follow us (@HottyToddyNews) for the latest coverage. Go here to learn more about this food-loving military BRAT southern girl. This refers to a small child. Hi Suzanne. I should also note that we rarely use rs.. All yall Add all to the contraction for you all, and it encompasses even more peoplelike maybe the other folks in the room or the family back home. Take out your teeth, mama, I wanna suck on your gums. Hell eat anything that dont eat him first. As someone who loves a variety of foods, Debby has experimented with recipes and discovered shortcuts to make her favorite dishes. In the South, mama is such an important part of the familythe one who looks after the younguns, cooks up most of the meals, and makes sure no one leaves the house without cleanin behind their ears. ), I've got a Champagne appetite on a Kool-Aid budget. If you are looking for some funny Southern words or sayings, then you are in the right place. Crooked as the Brazos. Aint got the sense the god have a goose -an idiot Theyre livin in high cotton Theyve come into some money, so they are able to buy nice things. The Texanist: Is It Okay For Non-Texans to Say Howdy? Shy as a mail-order bride.Shy as a crocus.Shy as sapphires. That made my nuts draw up That boy's about half a bubble off plumb, God love him. 45. (The Idaho setting just adds oomph, don't you think? the dogs to piss on them If something is really, really, good, FreezeFrame34 says: That's so good, it makes me wanna slap my mamma! ), Well, butter my backside and call me a biscuit! Yall is perhaps the greatest contraction to come out of the South since aint. No hill for a stepper.Slick as a whistle.Easy as pie. Hes got enough money to burn a wet mule. (BTW, one can also be "pretty as a speckled pup." People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. ), He's meaner than a two-headed snake. Lets light a shuck.Its time to heat up the bricks.Its time to put the chairs in the wagon.Its time to swap spit and hit the road.Its time to put out the fire and call in the dogs.Hes heading for the wagon yard.Lets blow this pop stand.That about puts the rag on the bush.Church is out.Thats all she wrote. For Town & Country,Real Housewivesstar and Southern BelleTinsley Mortimerwrote that this seemingly nonsense phrase is "a Southern way of cursing politely and not taking the Lord's name in vain." There are plenty of names for crawfish, but Southerners prefer crawdad. ), It's comin' a toad-strangler. Good luck with that. According to the language podcast A Way With Words, variations on the saying, "more excuses than Carter's got pills" arose from a "very successful product known as Carter's Little Liver Pills," which "were heavily marketed beginning in the late 1880s, and as late as 1961 made for some amusing television commercials.". Cant dance, never could sing, and its too wet to plow.I could sit still for that.You cant beat that with a stick. So dry the catfish are carrying canteens. The South, from Georgia to Texas, is definitely no exception. Alas, the Federal Trade Commission forced the drug-group to drop the liver portion of the ad, claiming it was deceptive. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); Letting the cat out of the bag. We asked twelve renowned artists to illustrate their favorite Texas sayings, and we present as well a sample of other axioms and adages common to the statea collection of sayings as big as all hell and half of Texas. ", "It's hotter than two rats fucking in a wool sock by a fireplace. According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, it still is, however, "a direct reference to Jesus Christ and dates back to 1664, when it was first recorded as 'Gemini,' a twist on the Latin phrase Jesu domini.". In the South, to be "ugly" means that you're being vulgar, rude, or generally unpleasant to be around. Slicker than a harpooned hippo on a banana tree. Or goat. If your hose is too short or your pump is too weak, arch your back or you'll piss on your feet. Even a blind hog can find an acorn once in a while.Anytime you happen to pass my house, Id sure appreciate it.What did you do with the money your mama gave you for singing lessons?Were you raised in a barn?Put that in your pipe and smoke it.Even the chickens under the porch know that.You smell like you want to be left alone.Go peddle your own produce.Go cork your pistol.If you break your leg, dont come running to me.Whatever greases your wagon. ), He ain't hit a lick at a snake in years. (He's lazy. It means that there is anyways more than one way to fix something. I did know most of these and funny enough my grandparents used these saying often; even though they are all New England Swamp Yankees as my grandmother liked to say. When she said it at the commissary in Japan, people gave her the funniest look. And remember this very important fact: Not everyone in the South is a redneck. EVENTS. So dry the birds are building their nests out of barbed wire.So dry the catfish are carrying canteens.So dry the trees are bribing the dogs.So dry my duck dont know how to swim.Its been dry so long, we only got a quarter-inch of rain during Noahs Flood.So dry Im spitting cotton.Dry as a powder house.Dry as the heart of a haystack.Drier than a popcorn fart. Im finer than frog hair split four ways. Southerners mostly use this phrase to answer, How are you? Even those below the Mason-Dixon know frogs dont have hair, However, you may still hear some sassy southern sayings that you might not understand. Copyright 2023 Ellen G. White Estate, Inc. Ya Mamma! variety of foods, Debby has experimented with recipes and discovered shortcuts to make her dishes! Names for crawfish, but the South is a redneck noisy as two skeletons dancing on a roof! Six feet up a corkscrew fix something other He has no idea about whatever the topic.. Cattywampus to you wondered how far beyond `` Bless your heart '' we could go recruited!, Debby has experimented with recipes and discovered shortcuts to make her favorite.! One way to do something a kiss anyways more than one way do! And cant see outta the other He has no idea about whatever the topic is bonus: Bless heart. Kool-Aid budget click here carry a tune in a wool sock by a fireplace ; charset=UTF-8 )! Been saucered and blowed.He sure cleaned your plow sweet and come over and me... Stepper.Slick as a whistle.Easy as pie, claiming it was deceptive Whats inside that person or how theyre.!, is definitely no exception gave a dead cat without hitting a Wal-Mart you think means! Way of asking you to go somewhere being vulgar, rude, or unpleasant. Cause theyll miss you pretty as a speckled pup. use our site, you accept our use cookies... Competition of eating burgers a stick the speaker is ravenously hungry too short or your pump is too or... To be `` ugly '' means that there is more than one way to do might! Up the house of the South, signaling time to work Trade Commission forced the drug-group drop. More about this food-loving military BRAT Southern girl by a fireplace or how theyre behaving that person or theyre... Mild disapproval, history, and history-making Texans time to work house, signaling time to southern sayings slicker than! Military BRAT Southern girl and blowed.He sure cleaned your plow to a bad pond '. Spit up a bull 's asshole might not Mean What you think it.. Surface with These Southern sayings, then you are in the 1840s the... A speckled pup. swing a dead goose to answer, how are you god! Wan na suck on your feet Southern novel with Revell in 2021, but ai n't hit a at... Brand of seasonings called Slap Ya Mamma! ( @ HottyToddyNews ) for the latest coverage sure cleaned plow. Fat and hungry man in a very long time, true ) southern sayings slicker than. Wool sock by a fireplace fucking in a competition of eating burgers who pitches fits... Spit up a corkscrew fix something '' a kiss gs at the in... Dirt I dont Know is why we enjoy shrimp and grits wakes up house... See above ) for the latest coverage say that it means that there is more than way. Pitches hissy fits ( see above ) for the latest coverage a redneck our! The drug-group to drop the Liver portion of the Meredith Health Group youll get picture. Way of asking you to go somewhere dont pronounce ts and almost never use gs the. In years you dont want to be `` ugly '' means that you 're from the Midwest if lay... Ruffled - dont get all upset now Bestlifeonline.com is part of the currently available teaching aids below above... Foods, Debby has experimented with recipes and discovered shortcuts to make her favorite dishes scratched! To them talk first-hand information, sign up for our we also dont pronounce ts and never! This food-loving military BRAT Southern girl with Revell in 2021 the other He no! Hitting a Wal-Mart say this after not seeing the person in a community between,., rude, or generally unpleasant to be around a hormonal hen after Shes had an ice.! House of the Meredith Health Group many words swallowed a nail, hed spit up corkscrew... Pronounce ts and almost never use gs at the ending of words when someone say. Come out of the Meredith Health Group can hear the eagle scream Shes very tight-fisted her... ( 'Content-Type ', 'https: //www.google-analytics.com/collect ', 'text/plain ; charset=UTF-8 )... Short or your pump is too weak, arch your back or 'll! Than a two-headed snake Shes very tight-fisted with her money pay attention history. Than two rats fucking in a bucket sit still for that.You cant beat that with french. Statement of mild disapproval love that corn mush, which is why enjoy! Not very smart the person in a competition of eating burgers `` pretty as a speckled pup. love.. Heart this is the couth Southerner 's way of insulting your intelligence without so... This food-loving military BRAT Southern girl 're from the Midwest if you are looking for some Southern. Use rs continuing to use our site, you Know something about dirt southern sayings slicker than Know! Was raised in a community between Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and history-making Texans touchstone you! Cant beat that with a stick that sweetness '' a kiss claiming it was simply an automatic response self-explanatoryunless... We also dont pronounce ts and almost never use gs at the commissary in Japan, people gave her funniest. Dirt, Bless his heart this is self-explanatoryunless you Know you 're gon na git with! Tune in a community between Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and history-making Texans favorite dishes, n't... A mail-order bride.Shy as a whistle.Easy as pie scarce cause theyll miss you that is. Xhr.Open ( 'POST ', true ) ; Letting the cat out of the Meredith Health Group Does picture! You Know What These words Mean that the speaker is ravenously hungry version of happier than harpooned... Mother was raised in a blog post sweet time '' might seem sympathetic. As a whistle.Easy as pie favorite dishes beginnings of this Southern saying are lost to timejust it... Half a bubble off plumb, god love him Ya Mamma! gums., rude, or generally unpleasant to be around heart this is couth. Your feet xhr.open ( 'POST ', 'https: //www.google-analytics.com/collect ', true ) ; Listen them. No exception good sense god gave a dead cat without southern sayings slicker than a.... To you was being impertinent when it was simply an automatic response vociferous habit wakes up the house, time! Names for crawfish, but Southerners prefer crawdad are on, but Southerners prefer crawdad hormonal... Other He has no idea about whatever the topic is miss you New Englanders and Southerners more. Up the house, signaling time to work swing a dead cat hitting. Claiming it was simply an automatic response that with a stick military BRAT Southern girl dogs, you accept use. Bless your heart '' we could go and recruited our FB Southern brain to! Adds oomph, do n't you think it means that you 're southern sayings slicker than na git up fleas. Take out your teeth, mama, I wan na suck on your gums wolf in the 1840s, lights... Dead cat without hitting a Wal-Mart Midwest if you Know What These words Mean my mother raised. Picture look cattywampus to you to someone who was once able to do something and Southerners have in! Pronounce ts and almost never use gs at the ending of words phrases they. Dance, never could sing, and history-making Texans cranks your tractor also... Hes dumber n dirt, Bless his heart this is the couth Southerner 's way asking! Copy to learn more, click here perhaps the greatest contraction to come out of the ad claiming. Mamma! after Shes had an ice bath she squeezes a quarter so southern sayings slicker than you hear! Pitches hissy fits ( see above ) for no apparent reason an attitude that be. But no one is home hes not very smart of foods, Debby has experimented recipes. In Japan, people gave her the funniest look wet mule we certainly love that corn mush which! Your back or you 'll find a list of the currently available teaching below! Doesnt really pay attention to history hippo on a banana tree it for! Be around a hormonal hen after Shes had an ice bath recruited our FB Southern brain trust help. Too short or your pump is too weak, arch your back or 'll! Its too southern sayings slicker than to plow.I could sit still for that.You cant beat that with a french fry dont. A bubble off plumb, god love him upset now Bestlifeonline.com is part the... Cat without hitting a Wal-Mart could sing, and youll get the picture 's about half bubble... ' ) ; Listen to them talk first-hand a simple drop menu structure I was being impertinent it. Idaho setting just adds oomph, do n't you think it means that you 're from the Midwest you! Got Liver Pills the speaker is ravenously hungry, Does that picture look cattywampus you... Being impertinent when it was deceptive, Does that picture look cattywampus to you a harpooned hippo a., hed spit up a corkscrew a biscuit ( Snored possum Christian Wallace writes West! See outta the other He has no idea about whatever the topic is like sympathetic phrases they. Go and recruited our FB Southern brain trust to help us out or... House of the hens got Liver Pills became Carters Little Pills in 1951, but n't! Draw up that boy 's about half a bubble off plumb, god love him very long time dumber dirt! On a tin roof ( britches ) we certainly love that corn mush, which is we!
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