Colloquialisms

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

Southern engineering, can mean hey I put that gas grill together and didn't need all the parts they sent for it. Still looks like the picture!

It can also mean you made something work with a design you hadn't heard or seen before with any supplies at hand.

Bless they's hearts are an open license to talk about someone, kinda makes it legal to make fun of them.

Had to laugh at the "Me again Margret " reference. I have used it anytime I talk to a Margret. Matter of fact if I come across anyone whose name is/has been in a song or movie I've seen I have to tell them. You know they wrote a song about YOU!... Always puts a smile on their faces.

Had to laugh about the rat killing phrase. For me it's usually squirrel/crow killing....

One I use often "more than one way to skin a rabbit"..

 

[EddieWalker]

I've lived here almost 22 years, and I never figured out what "out of pocket" meant!!!

It still doesn't make sense to me, but I didn't realize it had anything to do with not being available. I wonder how many times I've talked to somebody and thought they were broke when they said that?

 

[gstrom99]

When I moved to Texas from California in 2003, I heard "ya'll" for the first time. I think it means "you" or "everyone" or it just replaces "you know"

I'm not from the south, but I think "ya'll" is singular, "all ya'll" is for multiples.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I've lived here almost 22 years, and I never figured out what "out of pocket" meant!!!

It still doesn't make sense to me, but I didn't realize it had anything to do with not being available. I wonder how many times I've talked to somebody and thought they were broke when they said that?

Where would you expect the quarterback to be during a play? You would normally look for him in the pocket? Not sure if that's the origin or not but it makes the most sense.

 

[ponytug]

Where would you expect the quarterback to be during a play? You would normally look for him in the pocket? Not sure if that's the origin or not but it makes the most sense.

I've always thought it was the more literal version; "dang, where did I put my keys? They aren't in my pocket." So, he is out of pocket because he is not in his usual hangout (home/garage/barn/office). Same for money, I'm out of pocket another $20 because I needed a tire patch kit. (i.e. the cash isn't in my pocket any longer.)

I get lost in colloquialisms. I have always found them fascinating. The Dictionary of American Regional English keeps tabs on them.

https://dare.wisc.edu/

Here's some maps on how words changed between fifty years ago and the present, including the Pop vs Soda (but not "coke" or tonic for the same drink...)

https://dare.wisc.edu/maps/wisconsin-words-comparison-maps/

Having moved around a fair bit (there's one) over the years I've learned to reduce the number of colloquialisms in my speech rather than risk the blank looks or worse, but I still love them, and how they change with time and place. E.g. a "sweet tooth" used to be "sweet mouth" in the mid 1800s, but was a "sweet head" in Shakespearean times.

How about going "down east" to get to coastal New England, which only makes sense if you are a sailor sailing downwind with the prevailing winds and east to get there. For anyone else, it always seems to be a head scratcher.

All the best,

Peter

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Crazy as a road lizard
Hard as a brick bat

 

[Dftodd]

When I moved to Texas from California in 2003, I heard "ya'll" for the first time. I think it means "you" or "everyone" or it just replaces "you know"

"Bless her heart" is pretty common. I think it means that she's an idiot, but I'm not positive.

"Out of Pocket" seems to mean you're broke, or you are paying cash, but you don't have any cash. I'm not sure on that one either.

"Southern Engineering" seems to mean somebody didn't have a clue what they were doing when they built it.

So, for I've never used any of those terms, and when I meet somebody for the first time, they ask where I'm from because I don't speak like they do.

This pretty much sums up y'all

 

[Dftodd]

Always called soft drinks Pop here in Michigan. Other areas call it Soda or Coke.

I about got into a fist fight with a waiter when I visited Kansas City MO the first time.

He asked me what I wanted to drink.

I replied Coke.

He asked what kind???

I replied a coke!!!

He asked what kind again????

I replied "Coke!!!!"

This went back and forth for 5 minutes until I finally lost my cool and said

Coke!!!! The competitor to Pepsi!!! A frickin cola!!!! Not diet!!!!

An old lady sitting at the next table was dying laughing. After the waiter left, she mentioned to me that "They call all sodas Coke here!!!!"

I replied "Where I'm from, if someone asks you what you want to drink at a restaraunt, you reply with exactly what you want!!!"

 

[Dftodd]

I've lived here almost 22 years, and I never figured out what "out of pocket" meant!!!

It still doesn't make sense to me, but I didn't realize it had anything to do with not being available. I wonder how many times I've talked to somebody and thought they were broke when they said that?

On my expense report, in means I purchased the item with my own money for work, and need to get reimbursed

 

[Jstpssng]

Out of Pocket" seems to mean you're broke, or you are paying cash, but you don't have any cash. I'm not sure on that one either

With health insurance, "Out of Pocket" means the portion of your bill which you have to cover.