True Southerners dont like going North Just wash up, make your way to the table, undo a button or two, and try like heck to clean your plate. Updated on April 06, 2020. ), 42. Another common sight at Easter dinner? Still, it's hard to imagine going on an Easter egg hunt without first eating a hefty serving of some gooey mac and cheese goodness. Yep, that's right. After all, they're probably one of the most quintessential Southern dishes -- behind grits and mac and cheese, of course -- in existence so it's hard to hear the word "potluck" and not picture a plate of 'em, all bite-sized and sprinkled with paprika, waiting to be enjoyed. There's just something about green bean casserole, pineapple casserole might be the best casserole of 'em all, Potato salad is another one of those dishes, There's no food quite like Southern Fried Chicken, Subscribe to It's a Southern Thing's free newsletter, Its a Southern Thing wins 3 honors at the spring 2023 BookFest Awards, Southern states described in only two words, Oscar-winning director wears tux bought at Alabama's Unclaimed Baggage on big night, 16 children's Easter books to read this spring, 16 Southern sayings you'll hear in the school drop-off line, Olive Garden sends couple to Italy after photo shoot goes viral, HGTVs Ben and Erin Napier to appear in home improvement-themed Christmas movie, Nevermind sports, Kentucky senior signs letter of intent for future plumbing gig, 21 places in the South to visit this year, This small-town state park is the perfect weekend getaway, Dole Whips, a favorite treat at Disney parks, is coming to grocery stores, This Mississippi town is the ultimate food getaway, 20 Lewis Grizzard quotes on Southern food. According to the language podcast A Way With Words, variations on the saying, "more excuses than Carter's got pills" arose from a "very successful product known as Carter's Little Liver Pills," which "were heavily marketed beginning in the late 1880s, and as late as 1961 made for some amusing television commercials. You can vote once per day until April 26, and the winners will be announced on May 24. Touchstone Pictures If you've ever gone home to visit your parents after a long absence and your mother says, "You must have ridden with the windows down," you know how to recognize a southern insult. It sounds like an easy enough question until you start to consider your options -- and there are a lot of them. (Poor goat), 9. This question was maybe more ridiculous pre-2016 with the resurgence of neo-Nazis and an apparent spike in white nationalism, but thankfully the entirety of the South has not yet returned to the days of Dixie. You heard that right! You dont want to be around a hormonal hen after shes had an ice bath. Hes richern Croesus. Shes got more nerve than Carters got Liver Pills. "Crawdad" is mostly used in Louisiana, but is common across the South. "Friday Night Lights" has a lot of devoted fans, especially when you consider it was only on air for four seasons more than 15 years ago. . (A take on catching a cold, but with pneumonia. Got a minute to help us over at It's a Southern Thing win at the 2023 Shorty Awards? (which means Im exhausted). If he were an inch taller, hed be round. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Sign up for notifications from Insider! For instance, down south, "madder than a wet hen" means being angry, "over yonder" is a more poetic way of saying "over there," and "bless your heart" can be both an insult and a way to show empathy. 22. Considering no Southern Easter potluck would be complete without a least a couple of casseroles, it's likely you already knew you'd find green bean casserole on this list. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Content courtesy of Business Insider. The kind of show you could watch reruns of over and over again -- we're speaking from experience here -- without ever growing tired of it. Never wake up on the wrong side of the bed again. Photo by Fotos International/Getty Images, "In the Heat of the Night" has been off the air for more than 25 years, but it still has plenty of fans eager to name it as the best Southern television show, and we're not in any rush to disagree with 'em. That's why we've rounded up our 24 favorite Southern sayings, as well as what they mean and where they came from. ). What did you think of these quirky Southern sayings? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. A basket of yeast rolls. If a Southerner calls you "ugly," it's most likely not a knock at your physical appearanceit's a deeper criticism. breezy. A horse will look sick and tired if you forget this step, much like a person who misses sleep or drinks too much. "Yonder" actually comes from a Dutch word, "ginder," which means "over there." 44. But it might not mean what you think it means. (Poor sweaty sock), 10. The phrase reportedly originated in C. Davis Diary of 1865. In the past, our videos "If Genies Were Southern" and "If Mom Was a Marvel Superhero" were both nominated and awarded the "audience honor" thanks to y'all. The connotation depends on the person saying it, the situation, and the way it is said. My mother can't stand that. Find out more here.). You can vote once per day until April 26, and the winners will be announced on May 24. Shes as lost as last years Easter egg. Well, the ultimate origin of this exclamation isn't known, but Wikipedia has five possible options listed, including an Arizona general store owner and a foul-mouthed surveyor. Photo by Valentin Salja on Unsplash. 38. 45. There's just something about green bean casserole, pineapple casserole might be the best casserole of 'em all, Potato salad is another one of those dishes, There's no food quite like Southern Fried Chicken, Subscribe to It's a Southern Thing's free newsletter, Its a Southern Thing wins 3 honors at the spring 2023 BookFest Awards, Southern states described in only two words, Oscar-winning director wears tux bought at Alabama's Unclaimed Baggage on big night, 16 children's Easter books to read this spring, 16 Southern sayings you'll hear in the school drop-off line, Olive Garden sends couple to Italy after photo shoot goes viral, HGTVs Ben and Erin Napier to appear in home improvement-themed Christmas movie, Nevermind sports, Kentucky senior signs letter of intent for future plumbing gig, 21 places in the South to visit this year, This small-town state park is the perfect weekend getaway, Dole Whips, a favorite treat at Disney parks, is coming to grocery stores, This Mississippi town is the ultimate food getaway, 20 Lewis Grizzard quotes on Southern food. That's because some people prefer their potato salad to be mayonnaise-based while others like it to have a mustard kick. 6. The insinuation here is that everyone from the South sounds the same and that you are lucky to not be cursed with that awful regional drawl. Is this the thanks they get for being a friend? All Rights Reserved. It gets better with this one Hes about as useful as a steering wheel on a mule. 10. ), 5. "Might could" just refers to a possible willingness or ability to do something. We kin see clear to the promised land! We kin see clear to the Promised Land! On farms (not just in the South) roosters usually crow when the sun rises. Full stop. Photo: H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStoc/Getty Images, 20 Unspoken Rules of Etiquette That Every Southerner Follows, 110 Loving Messages for Mom that Go Beyond 'Happy Mother's Day', Matthew McConaughey Quotes That Show Why He's Our Favorite Southern Gent, A Passionate Community of Activists, Scientists, and Volunteers Are Devoted To Saving Florida's Sea Turtles, Dolly Parton: The Southern Living Interview, Things Mama Whispers During A Southern Funeral, Things Only Southern Moms Say To Their Daughters, 190 Happy Birthday Wishes for Friends, Family, and Everyone In Between, 115 Sympathy Messages for Friends and Family, 20 Things Southerners Love To Say About The Weather, Flower Names for Girls That are Totally Charming, "Cuss words unless they're turned into Southernisms, like 'hell's bells,' thereby neutralizing the profanity. Southerners have a way with the English languageespecially when they're insulting you. The phrase refers to a key step in horse grooming when a horse runs fast, it works up a sweat, especially under the saddle. Hes so ugly, he didnt get hit with the ugly stick, he got whopped with the whole forest! In the south, where people were raised to be polite, we don't come right out and say, "Your hair is a disaster." Regardless, we can guarantee you potato salad will be at the Easter potluck, but we can't tell you what will be in it. All rights reserved. When you think about what foods are standard fare at an Easter gathering, deviled eggs are the first thing that come to mind. These Patriotic Songs Are The Ultimate Ode to The U.S.A. Of course, the same could be said for macaroni and cheese. When you hear this phrase, you can interpret it as, "If I had my way" or "If I had my choice." Hens sometimes enter a phase of "broodiness," meaning that they'll do anything to incubate their eggs and will get agitated when farmers try to collect them. Somehow, despite the fact its simple ingredients seem to have no business being in a dish together, it just works, y'all. We doubt anyone is shocked to see "The Golden Girls" on a list of beloved classic Southern television shows, but some folks might be a little surprised to find out it's not at the top of it. Photo by Valentin Salja on Unsplash. As a public service to help us all, here are 11 things you should never say to someone from the South. You can check out the results below, and if you can go here to find our more about The Potluck. Sometimes, we meet people so rude that we just don't have the words to describe them. in a southern home is less of an interrogative and more of a declarative statement. 7. Jobby: Feces, also used to refer to something as trash or junk. If youre not from the Deep South, you might be about as confused as a fart in a fan factory when it comes to understanding the slang that comes out of a homegrown Southerners mouth. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. In its current meaning (for something to be askew or awry), cattywampus has been fully embraced by the culture it was once poking fun at. 21. The timeless show, which first aired in 1960, is both humorous and wholesome, a combination not easily found these days. Mosey on over here to vote for us! This Southern slang dictionary will help you avoid confusion if you are planning to visit the South. The adverb "catawampusly" used to be exchangeable for "avidly," while the noun meant a "fantastical creature." To the uninitiated Yankee who has yet to experience this unique foreign language, Southern sayings and expressions may sound like pure gobbledygook! If everything is coming your way, youre in the wrong lane! . Legend tells that he lived on the Mason-Dixon line the border between the North and South during the Civil War. Shes pitching a hissy fit. Lawd, pull that down! This expression refers to someone who may be blissfully ignorant of something. as well as other partner offers and accept our. She has written some 30 Southern Journal essays for the magazine and extensively covered the unique cultural pockets of the South, including Acadian Louisiana, the Mississippi Delta, South Florida, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. From "What in the Sam Hill" to "Heavens to Betsy," you probably won't hear these 25 words and expressions anywhere but the South. Somehow, everyone's favorite Miami ladies landed in third place in our Potluck ranking, and it wasn't even a close race with another group of ladies coming out ahead of 'em. 3. ", "'Shut up.' "Bless your heart" and "Take your sweet time" might seem like sympathetic phrases but they're not always. Youre in the wrong side of the bed again this the thanks they get for a. Used in Louisiana, but is common across the South creature. what are. 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