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Monday, October 16, 2017

15 colorful Southern phrases and their origins

 
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Have you ever heard your grandmother say, “Well, I Swan” and wondered why she was talking about aquatic fowl? Or described someone as living “high on the hog” but have no idea how the phrase came to mean “living well?”

We southerners are known for our funny turns of phrase. People of all cultures enjoy trying to figure out where we get our colorful phrases. We researched the origins of 15 popular southern phrases so that the next time someone asks, you can tell them the back story.

What’s your favorite southern phrase? If we missed it this time, we’ll try to get it on the next list.
 
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And just how many of these did you know?  

How many of you used? 😀

20 comments:

  1. Great sayings Cat, thanks for sharing. I only know three....Have a hissy fit, He's too big for his britches and Scarce as hen's teeth. Love reading the origins of them all.
    Hugs Lindy xx

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    1. Happy you enjoyed them, Lindy...fun learning new things isn't it. :)

      Hugs and blessings...Cat

      Delete
  2. Love these Cat, knew and use a number of these but didn't know the cotton ones or, "well I swan". Thank you for sharing :)

    Hugs
    Roz

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    1. You're welcome, Roz...happy to help you learn something new. :)

      Hugs and blessings...Cat

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  3. Have been having conflicting views with my boss at work. Tomorrow, when I get madder n a wet hen, I'll give myself a spit medal and simply say, "Well, I swan"!
    Amy

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    1. Sorry you're having issues with your boss, Amy. Happy to give you a few phrases to help cope. Hope things get better soon.

      Hugs and blessings...Cat

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  4. These are all familiar to us as we grew up and live in the Deep South. On returning to the US, customs asked Bacall if she had anything to declare. She said "Well, I declare I am glad to be back in the states".

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    1. LOL Bogie...I do love Bacall's answer to the customs agent. True Southern smart ass. :)

      Hugs and blessings...Cat

      Delete
  5. Fun to read the origins, and I knew most of these except well I swan... thanks..
    bottoms up
    Red

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    1. Happy you enjoyed them, Red and you did learn one new one. :)

      Hugs and blessings...Cat

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  6. Love these sayings. I have only used a couple of them, like hussy fit and preaching to the choir. I like well bless your heart too. A friend of mine use to say that. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Happy you enjoyed them, Blondie. I use quite a few of them and "Bless your heart" can be used in several ways. LOL

      Hugs and blessings...Cat

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  7. Well, Cat, I did not grow up in the South, but was quite familiar with most of them. This was fun though! I love exploring idioms and old phrases.

    Hugs From Ella

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    1. Happy you found them fun, even if you did know most of them, Ella...always fun learning something new isn't it. :)

      Hugs and blessings...Cat

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  8. I knew a few and have used a few. Didn't know the cotton one or Well, I Swan. Interesting to read the origins. Thank you, Cat.

    Love,
    Ronnie
    xx

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    1. You're welcome, Ronnie...now you have a few new phrases to use on people. :)

      Hugs and blessings...Cat

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  9. I know six of these but don’t use them all. ‘Fair to middling’ is quite a common saying in England, as is ‘too big for his britches’. Over here we tend to say ‘Rare as hens’ teeth.’ Thanks for providing the origins, Cat.
    Rosie xx

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    1. You're welcome, Rosie...now you know a few more and can incorporate them into your everyday responses. :)

      Hugs and blessings...Cat

      Delete
  10. That was great Cat... Not long ago I had asked my father and auntie who were raised in the south, what did those saying mean because I heard those and others while I was growing up (in the north) by them. And when I said one of them in an outburst around my granddaughter, she asked me what was I saying... I just laugh because I grew up hearing it, but really didn't know the real meaning of it. So I asked when I had the relatives all together one day. The one I used that day was... dog-gone-it, said as if one word. It was usually used instead of a swear word... They didn't know how that one got started. But my father being a Preacher used it a lot. And so did his brothers who also were preachers. And when one would say it around the other, they would laugh than say, you better watch what you are saying brother. I only remember my mother saying it once. It was when she got her hand caught in the washing machine roller. She was a tough woman, because I would have said more that that if that had happen to me. My father and uncle had to dismantle the roller to get my mother hand out. Like I said, tough... Now the word Hissy fit.. They said and I remember it was used differently then what you posted. It was more aimed at a woman having a temper outburst while her body was shaking as in a fit. It was usually only used on a man if he mimic a woman while he was having a fit about something or someone. When myself and the guys were younger and someone would say stop having a Hissy fit- They better be able to kick your butt, because if not, theirs was going to be kicked right there on the spot. And when our parents would asked about the fight and you told them what was said, if that butt kicking wasn't a good one, they would finish it with giving out a good old southern spanking to the one that said it. And a look that said- Boy, the next time you better get it done right or you also will be across my knee. So that one just might have a double meaning to it....

    peace and love
    1ManView

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    1. Wow 1MV...your mamma was one tough woman! Have never heard your definition for 'hissy fit'...might be more of a regional thing. Anyway, thanks for sharing.

      Hugs and blessings...Cat

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