Your Favorite Southern Sayings
I just love all of our SouthernSayings and talking about them never seems to get old. A few times now I’ve asked people to tell me their favorites on our Facebook page and that page lights up with hundreds of contributions, everyone tickled to get to talk about them and see what quirky sayings others have to contribute as we all walk down memory lane. So today I want to start that conversation on this post as a fun way of celebrating our silly Southern sayings and learning a few new ones we might want to work into our vocabulary.
Katy Rose’s shirt in that photo is from Sweet Tea T Shirts and demonstrates wearing one of their shirts, that demonstrates the Southern pronunciation of “Cat”. Isn’t it precious? ~giggles~
They’ve got a whole passel of t shirts with different sayings such as “Ah’m bout to burn up!” or another one of my favorites “Who’s pluckin’ this chicken, you or me?”.
So I’m gonna step aside here and let y’all have at it. Leave your favorite Southern Saying below and if’n ya see one that don’t make no sense feel fre to ask what it means by replying to it. This hyar is gonna end up being a Southernisms 101 of sorts and we’re all gonna have fun with it! I can’t wait to see what you have to offer!
I want to start by saying YES, Bless your heart CAN be a good thing. In fact, I’ve heard it used more often than not in situations where it really is a good thing. If someone is going through a rough time or suffers a loss, you’d hug them and say “Bless your heart” as a show of compassion.
“You think I don’t have culture just because I’m from down in Georgia. Believe me, we’ve got culture there. We’ve always had sushi. We just called it bait.”
~Ben “Cooter” Jones
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Posted by Christy Jordan
on May 10 2010. Filed under Misc, Southern Classics.
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“Boy don’t be runnin your mouth without your brain in gear” Great advice from my Daddy that I probably should have used. Lol
i would ask my grandmaw if I was pretty and she would say “pretty is as pretty does”
When i wore lipstick as a teenager she would tell me my mouth looked like a fox’s ass at poke berry time.
About the weather: “Good Lord it’s as hot as a June bride on a feather mattress!”
About the economy: ” Up and down, up and down…like a new bride’s nightgown.”
I’m so hungry, I could eat the ass end of a ragdoll.
I am so hungry I could eat the crotch out of a skunk!
If you want a helping hand, look down at the end of your arm.
In Loving Memory of My Great Granddaddy
You’re gooder than ary an angel!
Yep,yep…heared that-un alot in my life!
My Mamau and Papau used to always say if I was being a pill, “You want to get on my list.” I would stop immediately!
We gone have supper with Mama ‘n em.
Jeet Yet?
Not jet.. Ju?
Well, liviing in the North, I am always getting laughed at for my southern sayings. The most laughs come from me saying, “I’m fixin’ to.”
I say “Fixin’ ready” all the time! “I’m fixin’ ready to leave” or “I’m fixing ready to do ____” etc ….I’m a Kentucky girl and I LOVE IT!
“I suwannee”
“Fit to be tied”
“Hear tell”
“Hankerin’”
My mom used to say, “That’s cute as a rubber-tailed mule!” “Getting all fla-tissied up” meant taking off the apron and putting on a pretty dress, and maybe even some makeup. On the menu we’ve got poke sallit, roas’nears, and ‘lasses (My grandfather used to tell us about when he asked someone to “pass the ‘lasses”. Another said, it’s called MOlasses. He responded, how can I ask for MOlasses when I ain’t had any lasses yet?)
She plumb fell off! Knee-high to a grasshopper. Having a hissy fit. Cold as all get-out. Cut off the lights. Lookin’ kindly sick. Id’nit? I’m full as a tick. Flat as a flitter. Better’n snuff and not near as dusty. I’m about to burn up, or about to roast. Ain’t got no call for that. I used to could . . .
Gotta love the south!
Didn’t know anyone said “…rubber-tailed mule” except my sweet Granny! Love it!
My husband, from NY state, is still trying to figure out what a “flitter” is LOL..He’s heard me say “flat as a flitter” many, many times! Love all these! And have used them all my life.
I’m a fixin to…
I was working a huge corporation in DC, one where all the road paving and bridges were done. I worked in the office across from one of the owners, an attorney from New York. There was a new young attorney from North Carolina who had recently arrived in DC. One morning the owner asked the associate if he had completed a task to which he replied in his thick southern drawl “I’m a fixin to do that right now”. He might as well replied in a foreign language. The owner said “you’re what?” and they went back and forth and back and forth until the associate finally was able to communicate that the project was the next thing on his agenda. When I think about that, it makes me grin from ear to ear. I’m a fixin to do that right now!
I’m born and raised in North Carolina..
Slightly over 50 now, but I remember mama sayin’ when she was reeeal mad at me…”go cut me a hik’ry…and it better be a nice-un!”
In more prosperous times she’d announce “we’s having poke chops,colla greens an’ cat head biskits fer supper!”
To anybody or any critter “in a bad way” she’d say “poor ole thang”.
“Tarnation” meant something wasn’t working right, or she was just “aggervated”.
This one I heard often “I’ll pop yer jaws iffin you sass me again!”
Daddy was more quiet… but I recall him sayin’ “That ain’t wurf a crock of s##t!” if he didn’t agree with something.
Love this!!! Keep em coming!!!
I am from the north. Michigan to be exact and this region, outside Detroit, is heavily southern transplants. So I have heard almost all of these. And many of us slip right into the southern drawl when exposed to it for even a couple hours. But, what is a cats head bisket?
Here is a link to them. I call them drop biscuits but most people call em cathead biscuits coz that’s about how big they are.
http://www.southernplate.com/2009/08/drop-biscuits-and-how-your-mama-did-it-just-right.html
Thanks Christy…yep that’s all they are..big, fluffy buttermilk biscuits about the size of a large Tom cats head.
‘cept mama didn’t ” drop” em, she hand patted em and used real lard and buttermilk…
.I sure do miss em!
Oh, here’s a few more I recollect…..
“Iller’n a hornet”
“I’ll jerk a knot in yer tail”
“Dig in! Yer arms is longer than yer tongues”
“Here, have yens a dip” ( mama offering her snuff can)
“He took off like Blalocks bull!”
“Iffin’ you’a waiting fer me..you is backin’ up”
“You go warsh dem pits…theys’a reekin’”
“He ain’t nothin but an old pet tailed cat”- spoiled cat
“The hit dog hollers”
“I am going to beat the pie out of you!”
Grandma Lolo Mae from Low Country SC
How about ” I’m gonna beat the daylights out of you”
When asked an obvious “yes ‘ question: Does 10 pounds of flour make a big biscuit?
“A hard row to hoe.” As in “She has a hard row to hoe.”
“Crazier than a Bessie bug.”
A mess. As in “I picked us a mess of peas for supper.”
My Dad was a ‘shade-tree’ mechanic, who turned this skill into his career. Of the many sayings of his that still echo in my mind, the one that comes the most often is–”Sis, you gotta be smarter than what your tryin’ to use!” This applies to many of life’s situations! Dad was Arkansas born and bred, as was my mother. She had a saying or superstition for every occasion! The older I get, the more her bits of wisdom come flyin’ out of my mouth!
‘Gimme some sugar’
‘Hit don’t make no never mind’
‘Pretty Mama’ (woman who was a grandmother but was young and didn’t want to be called that.)
‘If you don’t sit still I’m gonna jerk a knot in your tail’ (often heard in church)
‘Ugly as a mud dobbed fence’
‘Cute as a speckled pup’
My mother used to tell me ” I’ll knock a knot on your head and dare it to rise” when I had done wrong.
Or
I’m gonna kick yore butt til ye nose bleeds!
My Ma used to say “I’m so hungry, I could eat the south end of a north bound skunk” ISH…..but funny
Oh, Diana! When I read this I could hear my Daddy saying “I’m so hungry I could eat the south end of a north bound pole cat!” Thank you for bringing a sweet memory to mind!
Granddaddy would say,” Man dun’t wanna’ work, dunt hinder those who do”.
Growing up in Southeastern Oklahoma, I remember these:
Said about someone who was a tightwad or stingy -Tighter than a young bull’s butt goin’ uphill.
Commenting on an unattractive girl – Looks like she was beat with an ugly stick or I wouldn’t touch her with a ten-foot pole.
Raining hard – Toad strangler or like a cow pi**ing on a flat rock.
When my Dad wanted to know what someone had said he would ask me, “What did he allow?”
A comment on someone with not much sense – Crazier than a bessie bug, He ain’t got the sense God gave a goose, and If youput his brain in a gnat’s butt, it would fly backwards.
Fast in tha tail – woman with loose morals
Triflin – vulgar, unsanitary
“Sh*t fire and save matches”
“I’m about to jerk a knot in your tail”
” Would you carry me to the store” ( catch a ride)
“Purttier than a 40lb catfish”
I grew up all over SC
P.S. If I had a very vivid nightmare one of my elders would say.
“you coulda had a haint/hag on ya”
I was scared to death that one day I’d wake up with
A crazy old lady trying to smother me! Lol
I’m a North Carolinian. I have been told by some folks in other areas that they could tell I was from NC because I say : “I might would, or might could”. Or in the past tense, “I might would’ve”, etc. I also say You might not ought to’ve ” done something or other.
I’ve also heard and said most of the above. Proud to be Southern.
If brains was gunpowder, he wouldn’t have enough to blow his hat off.
Lol. Here outside Detroit it is enough to blow his nose.
My husband says when I question him on something he always tells me,”if I say a hen dips snuff you better look under it’s wing” or asked how are you doing his reply”any day above ground is a good day”
I’m fixina knock your teeth down your throat.
Boy I’m gonna slap you clean into next week.
Whooo she’s so ugly she shoulda stayed at home!
Don’t make me smack you!!!
That was fanger lickin good.
Son of a gun!
Man please.
Ahhhhh Bull crap.
If you watitin’ on me you’re backin up!
Sure nuff, dip snuff.
It’s rainin’ cats and dogs out there.
I’m gonna beat the tar outta you.
Don’t make me come after you.
Pull my fanger!
SON (said with authority)
I am fixing to begin to commence to start means you are about to begin.
I ain’t never made but dramatical error in my life and when I seen I done that, I taken it back.
Heard most of these all my life. Southern by the Grace of God! Luvin’ it all! I live in KY and still have people ask me what part of the south I’m from. Of all my kin folk, I have the most draw. My young’uns even make fun of the way I talk. Go figure.
I swanee, I use a lot. and most of the above even.
Winder
zink
pert nert, others I’m sure I can’t remember. Love seein this. Ya’ll have a Blessed Day now, ya here. Bless yer hearts.
He’s crazier than a sprayed roach!
This place is so small, you cain’t cuss a cat, ‘thout gettin’ fur in your mouth.
The tide was so high, the sharks come up and et the collards.
I love me a mess of cornbread. Or, I love pot liquor..(juice from cooked collards.)
Or how about the family who had their Christmas decorations up, and thre manger scene had 3 Wise Men, dressed as firemen. When questioned by a sight seer , They replied, “well doncha know that the 3 wise men came from a far?” Too funny
“I’m as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rockin’ chairs”
“My tongue got in front of my eye teeth and I couldn’t see what I was sayin”
“As slow as molassas in January”
“I’ma fixin ta go over yonder”
“Y’all come back when ya can stay longer, ya hear?”
“You younguns go up yonder to the store and git me a pop and some Prince Albert in a can” Ya hear?” Git a pop fer yurselves, too”
A “Sunday goin to meetin dress”
“Pert near”
“Yung-uns”
One of my daddy’s responses to something REALLY unattractive was “ugly as a mud fence dobbed with ‘possum tails!”
Drunk as a boiled owl
Crazy as a stripe-ed ass ape
Now you tell me just how drunk is a boiled owl or how crazy is a stripe-ed ass ape??
LOL…granny’s favorite sayings when talking about someone!!
Doesn’t have enough sense to pour piss out of his boots!
Knee-walkin’ drunk
“Your people” means your family
Paper sacks were known as “pokes” and Cokes as “dopes” to my Granny
Growing up in the Mississpi Delta-I have heard almost all these saying. The one my mama probaly said daily was “i’m going to pinch you head off and feed it to the buzzards”. Thanks for the memories!
Stool-uh do nothin’ —- as in “Girl, you better get up off your stool-uh do nothin’ and get in yunner an’ wash them dishes!”
My Maw Maw’s name for poop was “hockey.” Which always made me wonder if that’s where they got the name for hockey pucks. There is something of a resemblance, after all. ;o)
LOLOLOL! My mama said hockey for poop too! That tickled me to read that. How many times did you hear…”. Ahhhh horse hocke!!”?… ( snicker)
More times than I can count, Debbie. ;o) My brother seems to be the only one of us to have picked up that habit from her…thankfully! Although, there are lots worse things he could say.
Ahhh Jackie, I am afraid that lovely say’in stayed with me as well…”them cats have hockeyed all over my porch” or, ” that baby’s diaper is slap full of hockey”…LOL!… Sigh…( your brother has company)…:D
and some of my relatives called it ‘dookie’
Ev’ry tub’s gotta sit on it’s own bottom.
Doing something “evr’y little whipstitch.”
“The first one to cackle is the one who laid the egg” – usually when someone was blaming or complaining..
“Busier than a long tailed cat in a room full of rockers!’
I heard busier than a long tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs or
Busier than a dog at a flea circus.
P.S. Correction: busier than a three legged dog at a flea circus
Or for someone extremely stressed out or very excitable: “He’s wound up like an 8 day clock!”
About someone with buck teeth: He could knaw the guts outta punkin thru a picket fence.
Get me a yeller dope. (orange soda)
I’m full as a tick on a free bleeder. (a hemaphiliac)
Stop standin’ there starin’ like a flat-footed hound, getta move on.
She’s meanern cat shit n twice as stinky.
Hell’s bells and little fishes.
It’s a three dog night. (So cold you take 3 dogs to bed with you for warmth) Yes that’s how the band got their name.
It’s a 3 kever frost. (You’re going to need 3 blankets tonight)
That was interesting to learn…about “three dog night”…I used to love that band …back in tha day…how did you come to learn this??:)
My beloved Granny Baker always said, “You’re like a worm in hot ashes!” when we were too fidgety!
My mother used to say something was “tighter than Dicks hatband”. Also, “crazier than a bedbug ” and something crooked was ” leanin’ toward Aunt Rachel’s.”
After the buffet was loaded down, the table loaded, and the farm table full of desserts, the meal blessed, and Big Mama would say “you see the chance”!
And food would begin to be passed like crazy!!
He’s got ants in his pants (fidgety)
S**t or get off the pot [when someone needs to make up their mind or needs to get moving (started)]
she’s butt ugly
Cat head biscuits were make entirely by hand. Make a valley in the middle of your flour and lard mixture and put in your buttermilk. Knead, punch down, then grab a hunk about the size of a cat’s head between your thumb and forefinger and squeeze it off. Put in on the pan, pat it down with your the front part of your fingers and put a little bacon grease on top with a spoon. I’ve watched my mom do this many mornings.
“Don’t measure my bushel of corn by your bushel of corn.”
One of my favorites from my mother when she did something she”d regret, “If I had three legs I’d kick my own ass” Lol!!!