Southern Sayings
A whistling
woman and a crowing hen never comes to a very good end. (be who you are)
Ain't that the
berries! (that is great!)
As easy as
sliding off a greasy log backward. (very easy)
Barking up the
wrong tree. (you are wrong)
Be like the old
lady who fell out of the wagon. (you aren't involved, so stay out of it)
Busy as a
stump-tailed cow in fly time. (very busy)
Caught with
your pants down. (surprised and unprepared)
Chugged full.
(full and over-flowing)
Do go on. (you
must be joking)
Don't bite off
more than you can chew. (attempt what you can accomplish)
Don't count
your chickens until they hatch. (first know the results)
Don't let the
tail wag the dog. (the cheif is in charge, not the Indians)
Don't let your
mouth overload your tail. (talking too much)
Either fish or
cut bait. (work or make way for those who will)
Even a blind
hog finds an acorn now and then. (everyone is sometimes lucky)
Every dog
should have a few feas. (no one is perfect)
Fly off the
handle. (angry and lashing out)
Get the short
end of the stick. (not invited and treated wrong)
Give down the
country. (give someone a peice of your mind)
Go hog wild.
(have a good time)
Go off
half-cocked. (have only half the facts)
Go to bed with
the chickens. (in bed early)
Go whole hog.
(go for it all)
Gone back on
your raisin. (deny heritage)
Got your
feathers ruffled. (upset and pouting)
Happy as a dead
pig in the sunshine. (doesn't grasp or worry what's going on)
Have no axe to
grind. (no strong opinion)
Holler like a
stuck pig. (someone mislead you)
I do declare.
(usually means nothing)
In high cotton.
(rising up in society)
In a coon's
age. (been a long time)
Like a bump on
a log. (lazy and doing nothing)
Like two peas
in a pod. (act and think alike)
Mend fences.
(settle differences)
Scarce as hen's
teeth. (no such thing)
Sight for sore
eyes. (Nice to you!)
Stomping
grounds. (familiar territory)
Sun don't shine
on the same dog's tail all the time. (you'll get what you deserve)
That takes the
cake. (surprised)
Too big for
one's britches. (someone taking themself too seriously)
Two shakes of a
sheep's tail. (done quickly)
Well, shut my
mouth. (shocked and speechless)
AIM TO- plan to do
AIRISH- cold
BIGGITY- vain and overbearing
BITTY BIT- a small amount
CARRY ON- to carry on foolishness
CLODHOPPER- heavy work shoes or large shoes
CHUNK- throw, toss
'COON- Raccoon.
COW LICK- hair standing out on one's head.
DIRECTLY- in a little while, or a couple of weeks
DIXIE- Southern States of the U.S.A
DO-HICKY- substitute name. Like the terms whata-ma-call-it or thinga-ma-jig
FALLING OUT- disagreement
FEISTY- being frisky
FIXING TO- about to
HEY- hello
HOLD YOUR HORSES- (be patient)
HONEY- affectionate term
LAID UP- ill, hurt, unable to work
MESS-one who carries on, "He's a mess."
MUCH OBLIGED- thank you; hope to return the favor
PIDDLE- waste time, doing nothing
PLAYING POSSUM- playing dead
RECKON- think or supose so.
SHINDIG- dance or celebration
SMOKEHOUSE- Shed with a dirt floor where pork and other meats is cured, and then
smoked.
SORRY- inferior quality, worthless, and lazy
SOUTHERN BELLE- Southern lady
SPRING CHICKEN- young thing
SWEET TALKING THING- has a good line
TIGHT- stingy with money
WAIT ON- serve or assist
WART-TAKER-one who removes warts by charms or incantations
WHITE LIGHTNING- moonshine whiskey
WORRY-WART- one who is annoying
YA'LL- you all, two or more people