Home » Discussion Forums » Talk » Local Phrases and Sayings
| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #3913 is a reply to message #3865 ] |
Fri, 07 November 2008 02:54   |
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 SoItGoes31
Messages: 34
Registered: October 2008
Location: Davis |
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| Charismitaine wrote on Thu, 06 November 2008 17:13 |
This isn't local, because I've never heard anyone but my mom say it and she got it from an MK college roommate, but the family phrase for "calm down and get a grip" is "don't have baby kittens!"
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My mom says "she just about had kittens" for flipping out or overreacting, but I think she got it from my grandmother, who comes from rural California.
My dad's family is from western pennsylvania, so they say "crick" instead of creek, and you plural (like y'all) is yunz or yoonz or yoinz. It's a hard word to write down. There's also a whole bunch of stuff I didn't realize was strange until we watched a video about western pennsylvania dialect in my anthropology class, like meer instead of mirror, and melk instead of milk, something my roommate will probably never stop making fun of me for. But most of that is just accent rather than actual different words. Then there's redlight instead of stoplight, gumband instead of rubber band, and the way inanimate objects need things, like the car needs "warshed" or the grass needs cut. Also lots of leftovers that need et up.
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #3914 is a reply to message #3913 ] |
Fri, 07 November 2008 03:08 |
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| SoItGoes31 wrote on Fri, 07 November 2008 02:54 |
and the way inanimate objects need things, like the car needs "warshed" or the grass needs cut. Also lots of leftovers that need et up.
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In the Shenandoah Valley, VA, people "warsh" things, too. Or things are "right pretty." I think that's particularly charming. (Shenandoah is also pronounced Shenandar quite often here. I have no idea how they do that, but whatever.) Jeff says "The grass needs mowed." 
I'm from Texas originally. I managed to avoid a lot of the accent and really country words, but I do say y'all. And for a long time, people were "fixin' to do this" or "fixin' to go somewhere." I've mostly overcome that. "Any" is still a filler word. "We don't have any peas" or "They didn't have any pasta." I've hard the hardest time getting rid of my anys.
Things are also "on accident" rather than "by accident." I think that's most of the South, actually.
Smooshes!
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #3952 is a reply to message #3932 ] |
Fri, 07 November 2008 11:08 |
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| Black Bear wrote on Fri, 07 November 2008 07:26 |
"The floor needs swept" was something my college housemate from PA once said and we never stopped teasing her about it. I've heard it since in other areas, but at the time it was like she'd suddenly slipped into space alien grammar. If I wanted to customize this for rural Indiana, I would make it "The car done needs warshin'."
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My boyfriend drops the infinitive like that ("Dishes need washed", etc), and I've been picking it up the more I've lived here. He was the first person I met that did it, but I've run across a few other her in the PacNW. It's a bit of dialect that bugs me when I say it, though. ><
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #3957 is a reply to message #3952 ] |
Fri, 07 November 2008 11:30 |
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shalea
Messages: 780
Registered: October 2008
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina, ... |
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| Mori-neko wrote on Fri, 07 November 2008 11:08 |
| Black Bear wrote on Fri, 07 November 2008 07:26 |
"The floor needs swept" was something my college housemate from PA once said and we never stopped teasing her about it. I've heard it since in other areas, but at the time it was like she'd suddenly slipped into space alien grammar. If I wanted to customize this for rural Indiana, I would make it "The car done needs warshin'."
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My boyfriend drops the infinitive like that ("Dishes need washed", etc), and I've been picking it up the more I've lived here. He was the first person I met that did it, but I've run across a few other her in the PacNW. It's a bit of dialect that bugs me when I say it, though. ><
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My parents are both from the Midwest (Indiana and Ohio), and so I've picked up on the "needs washed" construction myself ("the dog bed needs washed"). Drives my husband crazy. 
But I've also been in the south long enough that I use "y'all" as my preferred second person plural.
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #3964 is a reply to message #3367 ] |
Fri, 07 November 2008 12:36 |
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Myhusband laughs because I say TEEvee. Is there nothing on the TEEvee to watch? It just cracks him up.
And then (from Texas) there is "might could."
"If I keep on working on this story, it might could get published."
Have always liked that one.
[Updated on: Fri, 07 November 2008 12:37]
"And by the way you look fantastic in your boots of Chinese plastic."
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #3971 is a reply to message #3945 ] |
Fri, 07 November 2008 12:44 |
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Lianne
Messages: 144
Registered: October 2008
Location: San Diego, California USA |
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| blondviolinist wrote on Fri, 07 November 2008 07:05 |
Oh, I had a funny experience with the "coke" thing. I grew up in Oklahoma, where "coke" can be generic for any soft drink. When I moved to the Midwest, I went to a Superbowl party once, and a girl informed me that the Coke was on the back porch. Several people immediately said, "Oh, no! It's not just Coke... we've got lots of soft drinks out there. She's from the South." I was momentarily confused by the explanation. Of course she meant there were multiple soft drinks out there! What else would she mean?
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LOL. This makes so much sense to me. I also grew up in Oklahoma, so I'm familiar with the usage, but just from the context I would have assumed there'd be multiple drinks. Hee. That's funny.
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #3973 is a reply to message #3367 ] |
Fri, 07 November 2008 12:49 |
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We're the meth and cocaine capital of this part of the nation, so if you say there's coke on the back porch, you have to be a little more explainy. Most people around here call them "soft drinks," because just "drinks" means real booze.
"And by the way you look fantastic in your boots of Chinese plastic."
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #4027 is a reply to message #3367 ] |
Fri, 07 November 2008 20:10 |
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Where I come from "I'm gonna hit you upside the head" was always a threat. Or, "What's wrong with that boy, he been slapped upside his head?"
And you have to add the Texas accent. Which I could do if you could hear me, but you can't.
Another Texas thing (probably not just Texas: fixin. "School is fixin to start. We're just fixin to eat supper." Always loved that one.
[Updated on: Fri, 07 November 2008 20:11]
"And by the way you look fantastic in your boots of Chinese plastic."
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #4067 is a reply to message #3367 ] |
Sat, 08 November 2008 01:00 |
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I've settled on "soda" as my generic term for multiple soft drinks, though the Southerner in me occasionally comes out and says "coke". I always think it's funny when people complain about trying to order a coke around here and then being asked what kind they want.
One of my favourite phrases is the "<name> and them" to indicate a certain group. For instance, "It sounds like Robin and them really enjoyed the signing." I love it because the rest of the people in the group don't have to be identified. Does anyone else use this/hear it?
"The center of every man's existence is a dream. Death, disease, insanity, are merely material accidents, like a toothache or a twisted ankle. That these brutal forces always besiege and often capture the citadel does not prove that they are the citadel."
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #4070 is a reply to message #4067 ] |
Sat, 08 November 2008 01:34 |
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| Reading Angel wrote on Sat, 08 November 2008 01:00 |
One of my favourite phrases is the "<name> and them" to indicate a certain group. For instance, "It sounds like Robin and them really enjoyed the signing." I love it because the rest of the people in the group don't have to be identified. Does anyone else use this/hear it?
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I never thought of that as a regionalism, but yes, I do! It's one of the things I say aloud, rather than type. (I think. My typing voice and my speaking voice are different; speaking is more casual and things slip often.)
Smooshes!
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #4094 is a reply to message #4070 ] |
Sat, 08 November 2008 10:34 |
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I wasn't sure if it was regional or not... But yeah, I say it much more often than I type it.
I also like the Texan "might could" and "used ta could". The first one has a meaning of "Maybe, if you talk me into it, I'll do that thing for you" and the second means "at one time I was able to do <insert thing here> but I am no longer able to."
[Updated on: Sat, 08 November 2008 10:37]
"The center of every man's existence is a dream. Death, disease, insanity, are merely material accidents, like a toothache or a twisted ankle. That these brutal forces always besiege and often capture the citadel does not prove that they are the citadel."
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #4101 is a reply to message #3367 ] |
Sat, 08 November 2008 11:08 |
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Susan from Athens
Messages: 817
Registered: October 2008
Location: Athens, Greece |
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My mother is from Cumbria, where they have the disconcerting habit of addressive everyone as love, even complete strangers:
So in a shop you are asked:
"Are we doing all right there, love?" or "Will that be all, love?"
which I find most amusing, but not at all patronising, or even overly-familiar, which something similar in Greek, usually is, possibly because it is gender-specific. But Greek can't help being gender specific, it is hard-wired into the nouns, pronouns and adjectives (I was about to say epithets, as that is what an adjective is called in Greek grammar, but recalled in time that in English the meaning has slipped).
“I have always imagined heaven to be a kind of library.” –Jorge Luis Borges
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #4108 is a reply to message #3367 ] |
Sat, 08 November 2008 13:29 |
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Yay for might could! I just might could go out today.
"And by the way you look fantastic in your boots of Chinese plastic."
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #4131 is a reply to message #4101 ] |
Sat, 08 November 2008 15:23 |
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shalea
Messages: 780
Registered: October 2008
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina, ... |
Senior Member |
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| Susan from Athens wrote on Sat, 08 November 2008 11:08 |
My mother is from Cumbria, where they have the disconcerting habit of addressive everyone as love, even complete strangers:
So in a shop you are asked:
"Are we doing all right there, love?" or "Will that be all, love?"
which I find most amusing, but not at all patronising, or even overly-familiar, which something similar in Greek, usually is, possibly because it is gender-specific. But Greek can't help being gender specific, it is hard-wired into the nouns, pronouns and adjectives (I was about to say epithets, as that is what an adjective is called in Greek grammar, but recalled in time that in English the meaning has slipped).
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Southerners of a "certain age" will often address anyone younger as "hon" (or the full "honey"), "sweetie", "dear", etc. It's intended as courtesy, not familiarity. Similarly, one addresses anyone older or to whom one wishes to offer respect (teacher, helpful store clerk or waiter, etc.) as "ma'am" or "sir".
[Updated on: Sat, 08 November 2008 15:27]
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #4197 is a reply to message #3367 ] |
Sat, 08 November 2008 20:14 |
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When I was in retail I called women Ms and boy that either went over well or it DID NOT. Some women thought I was saying Miss, though.
"And by the way you look fantastic in your boots of Chinese plastic."
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #4229 is a reply to message #3367 ] |
Sat, 08 November 2008 23:19 |
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SoItGoes31
Messages: 34
Registered: October 2008
Location: Davis |
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My Mom is a veterinarian and I work/help out at the vet clinic sometimes. Coming from northern california, which sort of frowns on sir and ma'am but without offering any alternative, getting someone's attention is tough. The nice thing is that usually you're doing so something like getting them into an exam room, so you're focused on the animal and not the person and you get to say "Hazel? Lets get you into an exam room, cutie," instead of "Ms. Southdowner." That way not only do you avoid offense, but people think it's adorable.
On that note, I think it's less of a regional thing than a generational thing, but the phrase "no problem." I like to use "no problem" instead of "thank you" in certain situations, where you can't say "thank you" back, but I don't feel like I've done them any favor or something to warrant "you're welcome." For example, telling someone what our saturday vaccine clinic hours are. The problem is that some people, like my dad and my grandmother hate the phrase "no problem." So, I hate saying "you're welcome" because I feel like I'm implying that I've done them a big favor and they should be very thankful, but I can't say "no problem" because it might offend someone. Whenever I have to say anything along those lines now in a formal environment, I say "my pleasure," that way I don't feel awkward and I can't offend anyone.
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #4253 is a reply to message #3367 ] |
Sun, 09 November 2008 02:14 |
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Kathy_S
Messages: 313
Registered: October 2008
Location: Indiana |
Senior Member |
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This is such an interesting thread!
My own language is a bit mongrelized, between a mother from Virginia, a father from the "y'uns" part of Pennsylvania (short for "you ones" via "you'uns"), and enough time to pick up language in several states. I don't think I ever said "y'uns" except when freshly returned from visits to dad's family, though. Oddly, I think I may say "you lot" more than anything else for you-plural -- maybe because I never felt terribly at home with y'all, y'uns or you-guys, despite significant exposure to all three. At any rate, "having kittens" is a familiar phrase, Dad's family was startled when we used "Coke" instead of "pop" (PAW-up) or "soda pop" as the generic term, I seem to say "lawn more" for what you cut the grass with even though my accent isn't remotely southern, and "hun" (hon) is such a common form of address around Baltimore that it shows up on T-shirts. As for "ma'am," I wasn't sure whether to feel grown up or an old hag when people started addressing me that way.
Mostly I don't know where the language I use comes from, except for some that goes straight back to my mother. For example, I got some very strange looks recently when I said that something* was "a disgrace to snakes."
*epithets reportedly used at Palin rallies. This being Indiana, I suppose it's possible the strange looks were due to my reaction, but I don't think the listeners were the sort to condone the Obama bin Ladin mindset.
[Updated on: Sun, 09 November 2008 02:16]
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #4285 is a reply to message #3367 ] |
Sun, 09 November 2008 16:29 |
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I cannot say the word "flower" to save my life. I don't sound like I'm from Texas, because we spent our summers in Canada, I guess. I don't say "oot" for "out" either. But flower and me--that's when you can tell that I'm from Texas, way back there somewhere.
First spring here in Salt Lake there were so many flowers, mostly bulbs--we didn't get a lot of that in El Paso--And I said, "Oh, look at all the pretty flaurs." The people I was with had a fit and pulled the car over so they could laugh. But to this day I have to say it very deliberately, flow-er, to get it right. But I must say, I do like me some flaurs.
"And by the way you look fantastic in your boots of Chinese plastic."
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #4458 is a reply to message #3367 ] |
Mon, 10 November 2008 07:42 |
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we Canadians use different ones depending on the relationship and language like i call my mother mom and my mother-in-law was always ma. i called one of my grandmothers meme because she was french and my other one gramma,she was Scottish. i guess i really am a mixed bag.hehe.
Bonnie Holmes the faster ahead I go, the more behind I get
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #4506 is a reply to message #3367 ] |
Mon, 10 November 2008 16:53 |
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Erika in Colorado
Messages: 226
Registered: October 2008
Location: Colorado |
Senior Member |
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I can't say I've heard anyone here use "Mum", but there's Mom, Mama, and Mommy. As far as names for father, that seems to be a little broader. I call mine Pop and my half sisters call him Papa; my husband calls his Dad, and my mom called hers Daddy. Grandparents seem to be getting more names as they live longer and also as many divorcees remarry, thus the children have lots of grandparents. My son has for his grandparents: Nana and Grandpop, Papa and Grandma Dee, Grumpy and Grandma, Mamaw, and 4 other great grandmas. I don't think every family's grandparents are quite so creative/crazy as mine, but there is a lot of variation.
Erika in Colorado
"A person who's happy will make others happy; a person who has courage and faith will never die in misery!" -Anne Frank
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #4555 is a reply to message #4453 ] |
Mon, 10 November 2008 19:02 |
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| Susan in Melbourne wrote on Mon, 10 November 2008 07:31 |
Also, I see Charis referring to her father as Papa. Is that a southern states thing?
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I don't think so--it's not unheard of, but not exactly widespread, and there are also plenty of people who call their grandfathers Papa (or Papaw, or Pappy, or Pa, etc.). My parents are Mama/Mom and Papa. My mom always called her mom 'Mother', and we called her 'Grandmother', and Mama's stepdad was Grandpa Perry or sometimes Grandperry (Mama's real father died when she was young, and is Daddy or Granddaddy Edward). My dad's mom is Ma, to her children and grandchildren alike--I don't know what my dad called his father (who also died early).
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #4578 is a reply to message #3367 ] |
Mon, 10 November 2008 19:56 |
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My parents were Mommy and Daddy when I was little and Mom and Dad when I got older. But my grandfather was always Grandad. We were very close and I still miss him.
My paternal grandmother wanted us to call her Nana, but we always called her Grandmother. (She was a little tough and "Nana" just didn't cut it.) Ditto for my other grandmother, she was Grandmother.
Now to my grandkids I am Grandma, and I love it, doesn't make me feel old at all. And for a while there when he was young, my kid called me "Mombie." Like zombie with an "m"...
"And by the way you look fantastic in your boots of Chinese plastic."
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| Re: Local Phrases and Sayings [message #4599 is a reply to message #4578 ] |
Mon, 10 November 2008 20:19 |
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Lianne
Messages: 144
Registered: October 2008
Location: San Diego, California USA |
Senior Member |
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| ssshunt wrote on Mon, 10 November 2008 16:56 |
My paternal grandmother wanted us to call her Nana, but we always called her Grandmother. (She was a little tough and "Nana" just didn't cut it.)
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*grin* I remember my grandmother taking me aside one day to tell me that my grandfather would really like it if I called him Granddaddy. I flat out refused. He was Granddad and that was that. I couldn't make myself use the cutesy version, even when I was seven.
I think the familial references are pretty generic for me. Mom, dad, grandma, granddad, and that was it. I never even call my aunts and uncles anything but their first name. My grandmother, though, is still called Mud by all of her children, which somehow evolved from Mother-Mudder-Mud. Her name's Betty, but I didn't know that for a long time. :>
Getting back to phrases and such, I don't think I've picked up too much from the places I've lived (mainly Oklahoma and Maryland, but with Californian parents). If anything, I've got some random words that are more often used in the UK than the US. I do seem to be surrounded in southern California by a lot of "Dude!" usage.
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