Going on a visit to the southern states of the US can put you in awkward situations and very puzzling conversations. Southerners have a whole host of seriously confusing phrases and idioms, so today, we’re sharing 18 of our favorites.
Too Big For His Britches
When a person is so proud that he gets on your nerves, you’ll probably say he feels too highly or thinks too much of himself. Not the Southerners, though. The statement “too big for his britches” is a perfect remark to subtly ridicule egoistic or self-important behaviors.
Bless Your Heart
“Bless your heart” usually shows sincere fondness or gratitude for someone or an act. In the South, though, it could mean something entirely different—like a way to insult someone or show condescension. To confuse you even further, CNN explains that a Southerner’s tone and eyes are essential when interpreting this statement.
The Porch Light’s On, But No One’s Home
This Southern statement is an extremely nice way of calling someone stupid. It’s typically used when a person seems friendly from first impressions but doesn’t provide anything of value on further inspection. It’s a sarcastic statement many wouldn’t quickly pick up on.
Cattywampus
Hearing a statement like “the decorations are cattywampus” will surely leave you scratching your head. Not to worry; “Cattywampus (also spelled catawampus)” is a colonial-era word that simply means tilted, skew whiff, or unaligned. Confusingly, it’s also used to describe an imaginary, destructive wild animal.
Hissy Fit
The term “hissy fits” can be decoded relatively easily. Do you remember how you hissed and cried uncontrollably when you figured out your ice cream wasn’t in the fridge anymore? Hissy fits are simply temper tantrums or fits of anger that are either uncontrolled or regarded as silly—especially if they’re childlike.
Worn Slap Out
When they’re tired from a long day of work or play, Northerners will say they’re dog-tired. Southerners, however, say they are “worn slap out.” This helps emphasize how tired you are, especially if you feel that regular words don’t do you justice.
He Thinks The Sun Comes Up Just To Hear Him Crow
This phrase is another way Southerners joke about someone who’s feeling too self-important, and it’s easy to draw correlations to why—roosters always crow when the sun rises. It’s an apt statement for someone who speaks too loudly, thinking everyone wants to hear him talk.
Coke Instead Of Soda
When you hear the word “coke” from a Southerner, it’s not always about Coca-Cola. The Washington Post points out that “coke” is the southern way of calling soda, so the next time you hear someone call a can of Mountain Dew “coke,” now you know why!
Hankering
Hankering is Southern slang for “yearning,” and it doesn’t stop at wanting an item you don’t have. When you hanker, you crave something you can’t or shouldn’t have. Hence, if you have a hankering for hamburgers, it means you really feel like eating some, even though you might be on a diet.
Preachin’ To The Choir
When you preach to the choir, you’re arguing with someone who already agrees with you. “Stop preaching to the choir” is the Southerners’ way of telling you to save your breath and focus your energy on something you’ll have a greater impact on.
Til The Cows Come Home
The statement “Til the Cows Come Home” is Southern slang used to emphasize how long a task or activity will take. For instance, having discussions till the cows come home means you can talk for as long as possible without worrying about running out of things to say.
Piddlin’
As a Southern slang, Brittanica defines “piddling” to mean two types of waste. On the one hand, it means to pee or urinate; on the other, it means to waste time. When someone’s been piddling all day, this person has either been peeing around or being lazy.
A Month Of Sundays
A month of Sundays means four weeks, ordinarily, although it’s also a hyperbolic phrase that Southerners use to describe a very long time. When someone says they haven’t seen you in a month of Sundays, it’s been too long since you saw each other, so you should probably catch up.
Tump
The word “tump” usually describes a small, rounded hill or a group of trees. However, in classic style, Southerners give it a whole new meaning. Fox says that this is a Texan slang term used “when something falls over, spills over, or is knocked over.”
You Can’t Make A Silk Purse Out Of A Sow’s Ear
The statement “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear” originates from a 1500s proverb, which means that no matter what you do, something will always remain of little value. It’s a way of saying that it’s impossible to make something of inherent low quality into a superior material.
Quit Being Ugly
Surprisingly, this phrase is not a poke at your physical appearance; instead, it just means that a Southerner is telling you to improve your attitude. It may be used as a lighthearted response to a mean joke, or in other cases, it could be used to put a stop to genuinely nasty behavior.
It’ll All Come Out In The Wash
When you’re having problems, Southerners show support by telling you it’ll all come out in the wash. It means that your worries aren’t as serious as you think, and they’ll easily go away when the time and circumstances are right. We think this one is particularly endearing!
Three Sheets To The Wind
Our final phrase only people from the South understand is “You’re three sheets to the wind.” Frankly, this means you’re embarrassingly drunk, referring to the rockiness that loose sails or ‘sheets’ would cause on a boat. Three sheets would be bad, but if someone uses “four sheets” or six, it’s really time you got home and sobered up.
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