11 Phrases People From The South Say That Make No Sense To The Rest Of The Country
Southern talk is full of idioms and sayings that are clever, fun, and colorful.
Maridav | Shutterstock We've all heard the phrase "bless your heart," usually as a way to either offer sympathy or subtly condescending. But aside from that well-known phrase, there are plenty of other phrases people from the South say that make no sense to the rest of the country. And while Southerners have gotten a bad rap aligned with awful stereotypes, most people would be shocked at just how clever Southern talk can be.
It can be an adjustment to move to the South and pick up on the lingo and what it actually means. But with some time and immersion into the culture, these colorful phrases become second nature. Southern language can be confusing at first, of course, but it's incredibly fun and clever once a person understands what they're really saying.
Here are 11 phrases people from the South say that make no sense to the rest of the country
1. 'Them kids are raising Cain'
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If a person had the honor of growing up in the South as a child, they might have heard this phrase. From their mom shaking her head in disapproval to their grandma rolling her eyes, this phrase was used to show their dissatisfaction with their children's behavior.
It wasn't enough to say, "These kids are being bad." In typical Southern fashion, people said, "Them kids are raising Cain" as another way of saying, "Those kids are causing a lot of trouble and being disruptive." If someone were to utter this phrase to anyone not from the South, they might receive raised eyebrows in return.
As most Southerners know, a lot of phrases are based on the Bible since many Southerners would consider themselves religious. As a result, it's not all that shocking that they would use the figure of Cain to describe being disruptive or full of trouble.
According to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Cain was the firstborn of Adam and Eve and, out of anger and jealousy, killed his brother Abel because he presented a better offering to God. As the story goes, when questioned by God, Cain lied and was punished by God for his betrayal and dishonesty.
In good Southern fashion, using Cain to say "These kids aren't being good" is just one of the many clever phrases people from the South say that make no sense to the rest of the country.
2. 'We're in the short rows now'
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Everyone has been in a situation in which they were eager to be done. Maybe their mom dragged them to the supermarket and they're so close to checking out. Or maybe they had to do yard work, and after hours of sweating under the sun, they are nearly there. If someone is from the South, it would only be right to say, "We're in the short rows now." And if they were born on a farm, this phrase is common knowledge.
According to the Southern Standard, growing up tending to crops, most people know there were long rows that stretched for eternity. On those summer days when it was particularly hot, all people wanted to do was go inside. However, as they got closer to the end of the field, that's when most would breathe a sigh of relief as the rows were much shorter, meaning they were almost done.
As time continued, this term only got more popular as Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers came out with a song titled "In The Short Rows Now" based on this popular saying. If someone truly grew up in the South, especially on a farm, unlike the rest of America they know exactly what this saying means.
3. 'Stop hee-hawing around'
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Children, teens, and even adults can become a little mischievous at times. From skipping out on homework assignments in favor of playing outside to playing harmless pranks on unsuspecting spouses, there will always be a moment in which someone who's supposed to be working is spending too much time messing around and wasting time.
During these moments, most people will roll their eyes and yell at others to stop messing around and get to it. But for Southerners, they say, "Stop hee-hawing around." If someone were to say this in New Jersey, they'd most certainly get a side eye.
For people from the South, they probably heard this a lot growing up or even as adults. Whether it means to stop fooling around and wasting time, or to stop being indecisive and make up your mind, this phrase is a call to action.
It might sound random, but the origins of this phrase are pretty simple. The donkey makes the hee-haw sound, which, as most people can guess, donkeys are associated with silliness, foolishness, stubbornness, or even hesitation. In essence, similar to a donkey, people are making a lot of noise, but there's no purpose to it.
4. 'That dog won't hunt'
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There's no worse feeling than a person at a meeting or family reunion coming up with an idea or excuse that is so ridiculous, it's actually laughable. But this is bound to happen, as life is full of questionable people doing questionable things. Still, just because it's normal doesn't mean Southern people won't call it out.
"That dog won't hunt" is a simple phrase, but in typical Southern fashion, it's a clever way of expressing themselves. According to "The Facts on File Dictionary of Clichés" by Christine Ammer, "that dog won't hunt" is another way to say "that plan won't work." Ammer said that this phrase stems from the fact that dogs were used to hunt raccoons and other wild animals, but it wasn't really popularized until the late 1800s.
Ammer added that this phrase originates in the South, where people, even to this day, use this phrase when giving a side-eye to their cousin or reckless co-worker. Now, could Southern people be more upfront? Sure, but where's the fun in that?
5. 'You're too big for your britches'
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For those born in the South, they already know reputation means everything. For better or worse, they've had it ingrained in them that they better "act right" or they'll be closer to meeting Jesus, as they say. Yet, this sentiment isn't all that shocking when considering how small most towns tend to be.
With only a few thousand people living in their town, word got around fast. This means that if someone made a bad first impression because they were rude or overly cocky, their image was destroyed before it even began. So, one of the phrases people from the South say that make no sense to the rest of the country was born: "You're too big for your own britches."
Said to be coined by Davy Crockett, this phrase is just another way to tell someone they're being overly arrogant and should know their place. It should also be noted that "britches" or "breeches" are pants. And for young kids or adults who hear this from a parent, they know to get it together and start acting right, since their family's reputation is too important. After all, according to a study published in Social Cognition, it can be very difficult to reverse a bad first impression.
6. 'They were madder than an old wet hen'
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If there's one thing about Southern people, it's that they love to make things interesting. As a result, they use the phrase "They were madder than an old wet hen" to describe someone who is angry or upset. Understandably, this wouldn't make much sense if someone wasn't born in the South. To some, it's a bit confusing, but it isn't all that difficult to understand once we know the origin.
Originating back in the early 1820s, this phrase was found in the book by Joseph Doddridge; however, it's believed to have originated from the Appalachian farming communities, as most people assume. According to Southern writer Katie Shands, "Hens often go through a broody phase when they'll do anything to incubate their eggs, including pecking and attacking the poor person who tries to collect said eggs."
As a result, Southern farmers came up with the idea of dunking their heads in water to break through that grumpy mood. Naturally, this never worked out well, as hens would fight them anyway.
7. 'Tump it over'
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Similar to "press the button," Southerners have a way of talking in their own unique way, regardless if others understand it. While it might be easier to be more concise and to the point with their phrases, since Southerners understand one another, they know that when someone says "Tump it over," they really mean "Tip or turn, especially accidentally."
According to journalist John Nova Lomax, while many Texans use this phrase, there are two places this word might have originated from. Columnist Gary Borders wrote that it could have come from the British English word "tumpoke," a word that means to fall head over heels.
The second theory is that it may have come from Algonquin Indians of the Northeastern states, who invented a thing called a "mattump," or a strap worn around the forehead to facilitate carrying large bundles on the back.
8. 'I gotta go make groceries'
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In any other part of the country, people who need to go grocery shopping will simply say "I need to go to the store" or "I have to pick something up at the grocery store." But those born in the South tend to say "I gotta go make groceries."
This phrase doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but it's heavily ingrained in places such as New Orleans. According to the Dartmouth Folklore Archive, this phrase is a slang word that older generations tend to use.
This phrase is used because it's a French translation. And since younger people are less likely to know French, they're probably not going to use or even understand where this phrase comes from. If someone in the family utters this phrase and is from New Orleans, it all checks out.
9. 'It's a real gully washer out there'
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Many people have heard the phrase "pouring buckets," but in the South, they may say "It's a real gully washer out there." Unless someone was born or raised mostly in the South, they'd have zero idea of what this even means. After all, what's a gully washer anyway?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the "earliest evidence for gully washer is from 1903, in the writing of J. Fox." A gully is a large ditch or small valley that runs along a hillside, typically formed when running water erodes the soil. The more it rains, the more it moves soils out of the gully, which further deepens it. Simply put, a gully washer is a short burst of heavy rainfall.
10. 'It's like showing a dog a card trick'
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If there's one thing to know about Southern people, it's that their quickwitted nature and comebacks are unbeatable. Instead of using this phrase, most people will say "This person is clearly confused and doesn't know anything," but where's the fun in that? After all, is someone truly Southern if they don't make an animal reference every so often?
This idiom is actually pretty straightforward. It's used to describe moments when someone is confused, lost, or doesn't comprehend what's in front of them. The image of dogs understanding a card trick is pretty absurd, after all.
11. 'I ain't never seen the beat'
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"I ain't never seen the beat" is one of the fun phrases people from the South say that make no sense to the rest of the country. According to journalist Steve Waid, "This means that a person has seen or experienced something entirely new or completely different."
Of course, Southerners aren't just going to say flat-out that they've "never seen something like that before." They're indicating that someone is either acting crazy, or they're at a loss for words from what they're witnessing right in front of them.
Is this phrase a bit dramatic? Sure, but when a dramatic occasion arrives, it's only natural that Southerners will use this fun language to match that energy, even if the rest of the country doesn't quite understand them.
Marielisa Reyes is a writer with a bachelor's degree in psychology who covers self-help, relationships, career, family, and astrology topics.
