Regionalisms

I took some homemade soup to a neighbor who is recovering from surgery, and he called later to tell me "that was some good groceries", meaning he really liked the soup. I had never heard that expression until I got to Texas.
Are there regional expressions you have heard or use?

 

Interesting, that for the most part it is a person not familiar with an expression, idiom or saying that makes the speaker aware that others are unfamiliar with the term. For the speaker everything is 'normal'. Some expressions do slip out of the area and become more popular, especially if incorporated into a commercial product. We know where Down East is located. If I said "tonic" it pegs me to New England. However I am more cognizant of the term and when traveling substitute soda, soda pop or pop as needed, though I have never used the term 'mix'. Even in New England there are small microcosms of speech that raise eyebrows. When was the last time you drank a 'chocolate cabinet'? Other terms? Fuss-budget, you can't get there from here, happy as a clam at high tide. The last time I used a 'necessary house' was 1999 on a trip to Nova Scotia. Here, if you said 'ca', we know what you meant. For some New Englanders there are 25 letters in the alphabet. There are a ton more but everything sounds normal here.


Jerry

 

Due to the influx of people to Florida from all across the country and other coutries, many people don't consider it a Southern state but it actually is. Florida fought for the South in the Civil war and if you visit the small towns you will see that the "Real Southern Florida" still exists. I said that to explain my Regionalisms. I am seventh generation Floridian and still use a lot of Southernisms.

"not enough suger for a nickel"
"that dog will hunt"
"wish in one hand and spit in the other and see which gets full first"
"the apple doesn't fall far from the tree"
"your a sight for sore eyes"

Just to name a few.

 

Jerry, you forgot a famous one! AYUH !

 

Thank you for the reminder Captain. Along with the infamous one word positive reply Ayuh is the negative reply Nope. If you are not a local, those words may be the only answers given by natives to a tourist's questions.

Ayuh,

Jerry

 

well nc is famous for taters and maters or dope for soda and of course pop for soda

 

Here at home, Ohio is not pronounced Ohio. A native pronounces it Ahia !

 

Capt, I think that is even micro regionalism...we say Ohio up here. We know you are not from up here if you say Ahia

 

Don't believe these to be native to SW Ohio, but, I use;

Commence as in 'I'm about to commence to work the garden.'

hell-shot-a-ripshack, expression of disgusted amazement. Heard only from the mouths of E Central Ky natives of the 40's, 50's, and 60's.

Sanco also only heard from those mentioned directly above, a moping walk. 'Why are you sancoing around?'

reckon, used in math, 'reckon it up' or as an affirmative such as 'I reckon so.'

redd out (ridd, ritt, rett) to clean up or empty a room or appliance. I usually hear this from those of German ancestry.

I'll be able to think of more later, I'm sure.

 

There's ton's that Hubby uses. He grew up only 100 miles from where I did and at times I have to translate what he says. I tell everyone I'm bilingual... I speak english and East Texan!
One of the favorites is "Slap my momma!"
Used when you eat something really good that someone else has cooked... "That okra gumbo was so good I should slap my momma!" (for not learning to cook like that).

 

Well here,
if I am busy 'I am flat out like a lizard drinking'
or 'flat out like a biscuit'.


A biscuit here is a flat cookie.


If one is going soon ...."off like a bucket of prawns in the sun'.


If it is cold...'a 3 dog night'

The number depends on how many dogs you need on the bed to keep warm...eg.5 dog is freezing!

 

A couple of others I have recalled;

For quick, fast or slick, 'Like a dose of salts through a widow woman.' Or, 'Like grass through a goose.'

Slicker than cow slobber.

Cold; Colder than a well diggers butt. Colder than a witches *** in a brass bra.

 

Many years ago worked at Motel here in town. Older couple ran it. She told young man who was here to Bird Hunt.( Don't be coming over in the Morning Knocking me Up) He turned around red face. (No problem There) when I told her what it the meaning here. She was RED faced.

 

FBG~ I had to laugh at "Colder than a well driller's butt" I'm married to a well driller and in our house its the well driller's wife that has the cold butt