The South is known for its rich heritage of traditions,
customs, music and cuisine. What is often overlooked is the language that is
unique to the area.
Below are a few terms and sayings with a brief explanation.
Bless your heart ~ this can have a positive and negative
meaning. It can be used to confer a blessing on or sympathy for someone going
through a hard time, or it can have a sarcastic meaning and precede an insult.
Bubba ~ was slang for brother, but became a derogatory term
for one that is not very bright.
Buggy ~ people in the rest of the country have shopping
carts when they go to the grocery or discount store. In the South, you have a
buggy.
That dog don’t hunt in these woods ~ that is not acceptable
behavior here.
Put me wise to ~ informed me, gave me the inside scoop, or
alerted me to something.
Honey please ~ in the rest of the country this would be
expressed as give me break.
You’re crawfishing ~ means your backing up, being wishy
washy, and going back on your word.
I got dirt to scratch and eggs to lay ~ not now I have
things to do.
The boy ain’t right ~ person referred to is goofy.
Light bread ~ this refers to loaf bread as opposed to corn
bread.
Over yonder ~ can refer to the other side of the room or a
mile down the road.
Either fish or cut bait ~ get serious or keep playing
around.
In a coon’s age ~ been a long time.
Grinnin like a possum ~ a smug expression or smirk.
Playing possum ~ playing dead, faking it.
Walkin in high cotton ~ being prosperous and happy.
Layin there like a bump on a log ~ being lazy.
Fixin to ~ about to do something.
Aim to ~ planning to do something.
Dinner ~ is the noon meal or lunch.
Supper ~ is the evening meal.
Lunch ~ is a meal you carry in a paper bag to work or
school.
Who’s his people ~ means who is his family.
In the country ~ means in a rural area.
So and So passed ~ usually said with head down and quiet
voice meaning someone has died.
Older than dirt ~ refers to a very old person.
Cookin with grease ~ making progress.
Sunday go to meetin clothes ~ church or dress clothes.
Go cut me a switch ~ get a small and thin limb from bush or
tree, to be used for punishment.
Cold enough to hang meat ~ in the summer it means that a/c
is set to high, in the winter it means the heat is set to low.
If you can’t run with the big dogs, stay on the porch ~ if
you can’t keep up get out of the race or activity.
Nekkid ~ refers to
being unclothed and up to something mischievous.