http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloquialism
I love them. What sort of phrases are unique to your area? Please, share them with everyone. Seriously, they fascinate me.
I've lived in Alabama for most of my life, and moved to Kentucky a few years ago. Most of the colloquialisms I've encountered/ used are similar, with a few exceptions. My favourites:
Yay big/small--describes the approximate size of something; this phrase is usually accompanied by a hand gesture of some short.
"Well, we're gonna need that box to be about yay big."
yonder--a general location that is not where you or your group are presently.
"Go over yonder."
don't know him/her from Adam--my grandma says this one a lot. this phrase is used when referring to a stranger or a friend with whom you are not familiar.
"I would invite her to the barbeque, but I don't know her from Adam."
I'll think of more later.
having grown up in PA, and then spent almost twenty years here in Kentucky, I can tell you there are some dramatic differences.
To wit:
PA Colloquialisms
1. Red Up-to organize, classify, or otherwise clean up a particular area
2. Youn's-the southwest PA equivalent of Y'all
3. Gumband-rubberband
4. Hoagie-a sub sandwich
5. Pikksburgh-Pittsburgh
6. Warshington-Washington
7. Red Dog-a coal mining byproduct used as a road surface
8. Slate Dump-another coal mining byproduct, a giant, mountain like pile of slate. Usually catches on fire after a few decades.
9. Crick-creek
10. Pop-soda, Coke, soft drink
11. Kicked-empty, used. "The keg is kicked. Man, this bowl is kicked"
12. Djeetyet?-Did you eat yet?
13. Birch Beer-a beloved soft drink or "pop"
14. Green Dragon-not a Chinese restaurant, but an Amish country fair
That just scratches the surface, there are countless others...True, help me out here... ;)
Quotehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloquialism
I love them. What sort of phrases are unique to your area? Please, share them with everyone. Seriously, they fascinate me.
I've lived in Alabama for most of my life, and moved to Kentucky a few years ago. Most of the colloquialisms I've encountered/ used are similar, with a few exceptions. My favourites:
Yay big/small--describes the approximate size of something; this phrase is usually accompanied by a hand gesture of some short.
"Well, we're gonna need that box to be about yay big."
yonder--a general location that is not where you or your group are presently.
"Go over yonder."
don't know him/her from Adam--my grandma says this one a lot. this phrase is used when referring to a stranger or a friend with whom you are not familiar.
"I would invite her to the barbeque, but I don't know her from Adam."
I'll think of more later.
I've heard all those! My grandma says don't know him/her from Adam all the time!
Out here in Wisconsin.....
some parts of the state call a drinking fountain a bubbler.
some people say pop instead of soda.
my grandma says she's going to warsh her hands rather than wash. she also says zink instead of sink. it might be old german.
borrow - used in place of lend, as in "Could youse borrow me a couple two-three bucks, yahhey - but you only say that in south milwaukee or up nort
BELIEVE-YOU-ME:attached to the beginning or end of a statement and makes it more credible, as in "really!"
M'WAHKEE: Wisconsin's largest city; located just down the lake from T'Rivers and Man'twoc. If you are from Milwaukee - like me - you don't pronounce the il.
Hey Dere! C'meer once - you gots to read dis a couple-two-tree words on how ta talk like yer from Scansin, hey. Hit's a humdinger! Sit down witch'er brat an' brewski in yer blaze-orange and, cripes sake, in the spirit of Bart and Vince, take a gander, yahhey? I gotsta say, doh, dat I got dis from a fren' of mine so I don't know where it came from. - people only talk like this in small towns, but I can and will bust it out if I go up north or am out with some good ole boys.
oh, good ole 'scanie. just wait til i am at the dive bars up up in Portage tomorrow having a miller high life, you betcha, it'll be great!
Check this out, but turn your sound on so you can hear the roll out the barrel!
http://www.homestead.com/cameronwis/WisDictionary.html
also, where i am from, all carbonated soda beverages are coke.
like, if you came to my house and said, "can i have a coke?" i would then ask you what kind you wanted. i might tell you that there are cokes in the fridge, and you would open up my lovely green refrigerator to see that i have pepsi and mountain dew.
Quotehaving grown up in PA, and then spent almost twenty years here in Kentucky, I can tell you there are some dramatic differences.
To wit:
PA Colloquialisms
9. Crick-creek
Growing up in Nebraksa, it was ALWAYS Crick and it was Pop, never ever Soda. When I moved to St Louis, I got such strange looks. It's taken 10 years to get rid of both.
St Louis ones (Dave, I'll need you help here since your native to the area)
Hoosier = white trash (no offense to any Indianans)
Furty/Furty Four = 40/44 as in Highway Furty
Warsh = Wash ugh
Missoura = Missouri <---this annoys me to no end
Fair To Midland- I still have no f'n clue what this means
Soda = Pop, Soda Pop, Cola, Coke, etc.
Chicken & Beer Wedddin = Wedding reception held at a VFW usually, were Fried Chicken & beer are served and if they are fancy, Mosticolli is also served.
A couple from the top of me head:
Bunnyhug - a hooded sweatshirt
Wicked - excellent, awesome, etc.
Quotehaving grown up in PA, and then spent almost twenty years here in Kentucky, I can tell you there are some dramatic differences.
To wit:
PA Colloquialisms
1. Red Up-to organize, classify, or otherwise clean up a particular area
2. Youn's-the southwest PA equivalent of Y'all
3. Gumband-rubberband
4. Hoagie-a sub sandwich
5. Pikksburgh-Pittsburgh
6. Warshington-Washington
7. Red Dog-a coal mining byproduct used as a road surface
8. Slate Dump-another coal mining byproduct, a giant, mountain like pile of slate. Usually catches on fire after a few decades.
9. Crick-creek
10. Pop-soda, Coke, soft drink
11. Kicked-empty, used. "The keg is kicked. Man, this bowl is kicked"
12. Djeetyet?-Did you eat yet?
13. Birch Beer-a beloved soft drink or "pop"
14. Green Dragon-not a Chinese restaurant, but an Amish country fair
That just scratches the surface, there are countless others...True, help me out here... ;)
Most of them are covered above-pop, crick etc.....
We say yins more than youn's
When referring to the Pittsburgh Steelers, its 'the stillers'
Here's a couple good ones from this "you know you're from Pittsburgh when..." list
You've told someone to "quit jaggin around"
You've called someone a 'jaggoff'.
You drink "pop", eat "hoagies", pierogies, and gyros(jy-rows)
Chipped ham was always in your refrigerator when you were growing up.
You walk carefully when it is "slippy" outside.
QuoteA couple from the top of me head:
Bunnyhug - a hooded sweatshirt
Wicked - excellent, awesome, etc.
You need to start the 'hoodie' trend, just sart calling them that, it'll catch on.
My mom has some real winners. Can't say I've heard other people use these much:
"His mouth runs like a whippoorwill's ass."
"I'm bouncing around like a fart in a mitten."
A few that make me wince:
Around here people sometimes say "yous guyses." "Youns" would really irritate me too.
I often hear people in this area say "cousint" instead of cousin.
Or "I seen her" instead of I saw her.
"Onnaconna" which I guess means on account of.
"Sanguich or Samwhich" instead of sandwich
"Hamburg" instead of hamburger
We call jimmies sprinkles (like what you put on ice cream).
QuoteSt Louis ones (Dave, I'll need you help here since your native to the area)
QuoteFurty/Furty Four = 40/44 as in Highway Furty
Actually, it's more like farty far
QuoteMissoura = Missouri <---this annoys me to no end
Don't even get me started. This a rural Missouri thing, not generaly used by people in the St. Louis area. Our politicians love to say Missoura and it just eats me up.
Missouri is the capital of colloquialisms. Just read Mark Twain for a million examples.
Here's one in reference to Mike's list. "You done good"
In Minnesota its pop
People say, yah sure yah betcha - means ok
if you really wanna know how Minnesotans talk, watch Fargo. its true, maybe not that bad, but people do talk like that here.
When i go to Milwaukee, they say bubbler for drinking fountain. My mom has a shirt that reads, "wheres the bubbler?". she's from milwaukee, so she knows there the bubbler is.
Pluff mud- Deep, thick mud filled with oysters found in most salt marshes
Gapers- People who stare at car crashes and hold up traffic
this is another good one. when i used to teach summer school, some of the parents said this about their kids. it would make me mad, but whatever.
s/he "ain't no account" -- someone with a bleak future; one of undesirable character or repute
here's one my mom and grandma say:
high hat--of elevated socioeconomic status.
Her mamma acts like she's high hat, but she ain't no account.
Quote,
Gapers- People who stare at car crashes and hold up traffic
good one! We call 'em rubber-neckers!
Lowcountry- Charleston area
Palmetto Bug- Cockroaches that get into your house
Also...
Coke= Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, whatever soda you happen to have at the time.
Quote
Palmetto Bug- Cockroaches that get into your house
I don't get that one. Last summer when I was in Savannah on vacation some people told me that the cockroaches were palmetto bugs. To me, a cockroach is a cockroach. Nasty!
I hear that they don't sell Brady all over the country. It's big in WI. Every Friday it's Brandy Old fashions and a fish fry. well, not for me, but I've had it and it's GOOD.
OK - I got a few more....
FIBS (Fibber)
FIBS is an acronym for F**king Illinois Bast**ds - those people "south of the border" who drive like wild maniacs (toll-free) all the way to the Dells.
IMPORTED BEER
This is any variety of brewski that is not produced in Milwaukee. When you ask for an imported beer in a Milwaukee tavern, you'll probably get a Coors.
I found a website that says...you know you're from WI if....(too funny. hope you guys don't mind me posting it here).
You know you are from Wisconsin if....
You think George Webb's is a four star restaurant (which it totally is)
You ever ended a relationship because you found out she/he was a Vikings fan.
You end every sentence with the word "hey?" regardless if you are asking a question or answering one.
You order a brandy and your bartender actually knows what it is!
You spent more on beer than you did on food at your wedding.
Your grandmother made you eat lutefisk.
You know how to polka. (i can polka. i learned at the VFW for a wedding. nice!)
You were baptized with Blatz beer.
You know where to look for a bubbler.
You know that "Mawaukee" has no "L." (Milwaukee)
Your definition of a small town is one that only has one bar.
You were unaware that there is a legal drinking age.
You consider Madison "exotic." (cause most of WI does, but it's the best city in the state!)
Your best shirt has a big letter G on it. (i actually own a brett favre jersey. i know. it rocks.)
funny enough, i got kicked outta a geogre webbs (which is awesome), for making fun of brett farve. i'd also say that wisconsin has the most personalized license plates. most involve something about the packers.
i also believe that minnesota is the only state to say this:
Hot Dish = casserole
Minnesota Nice. if you do something so simple as to open a door for someone outside the state. they always give you a weird look and say "you're not from here, are you?"
Quote
QuoteFurty/Furty Four = 40/44 as in Highway Furty
Actually, it's more like farty far
That does sound better.
We in Michigan say Geezopetes! Well, I don't very much, but I think it is unique to us?
QuoteWe in Michigan say Geezopetes! Well, I don't very much, but I think it is unique to us?
what does it mean dio??
we have about a billion colloquialisms in australia... a lot are fairly dated (you wouldn't really come across anyone saying "don't come the raw prawn with me" that much anymore)
bogan - look at www.bogan.com.au... this should give you a fair idea what a bogan is
shazza/dazza/bevan - other words for bogan
sanga / sarnie - sandwich
arvo - afternoon (you can pretty much shorten any word & stick an -o on the end... that's very oz)
g'day - hi - you'd only find people saying this in country areas
she'll be right (personal favourite) - it'll be fine
cactus - (the toaster's cactus) - broken
cozzie/trunks/togs/budgie smugglers - speedos (men's swimmers)
feral - generally a hippy but it can also be something really cool (totally feral!)
grouse - really cool
give it a burl - have a go at something
two pot screamer - someone who gets drunk easily (the smallest size beer you can buy in a glass is called a pot in some states)
there are a lot of fairly typical aussie words that aren't so common anymore (at least in the bigger cities)
bonza / bonzer - great
strewth - a bit like crikey
sheila - a woman
you beaut
bluey - someone with red hair or a blue-heeler dog
there are also things like the way people put sentences together in the different states which is kinda weird...
tasmanians tend to say "yeah, no... " at the start of sentences (i do this)
queenslanders tend to say "but" at the end of sentences (you'd still have to go into the city but)
"Geez-o-pete!": Related: "Geez-Louise!" A Michigan expletive for polite company, having something to do with Jesus and St. Peter. The funny thing about this one is that in Cincinnati, they say "GEE-zle." In Ireland: "JAYsus."
thought of another: in minnesota we call it "tap" beer. not "draft" beer, like in the MO i know calls it draft
Quotethought of another: in minnesota we call it "tap" beer. not "draft" beer, like in the MO i know calls it draft
Both terms are acceptible and used in PA.
Quotehaving grown up in PA, and then spent almost twenty years here in Kentucky, I can tell you there are some dramatic differences.
14. Green Dragon-not a Chinese restaurant, but an Amish country fair
Not sure what part of PA your from but Green Dragon is the name of a farmers market outside of Ephrata. It's not a colloquialism, it's the actual name of the place. I've never heard it used the way you describe.
I can't believe I forgot this one....
Tyme machine - as in - "dude, can we stop buy the tyme machine on the way to the show." or "does anyone know where I can find a tyme machine"
Anyone know what I am talking about? I always forget when I leave WI and I ask where the tyme machine is when I am on a road trip. ya. people have definitely thought i was crazy. anyone know?
tyme machine - atm machine. i love the guessing games
QuoteQuotehaving grown up in PA, and then spent almost twenty years here in Kentucky, I can tell you there are some dramatic differences.
14. Green Dragon-not a Chinese restaurant, but an Amish country fair
Not sure what part of PA your from but Green Dragon is the name of a farmers market outside of Ephrata. It's not a colloquialism, it's the actual name of the place. I've never heard it used the way you describe.
How nice. I've never heard it used the way you describe, so who's right?
KY has many of these too...so fellow Kentuckians help me out!
"livin' high on the hog" - living well or above your means
"you born in a barn?" - asked to someone who doesn't close doors
"Fair to midlin'" - meaning all right, no better no worse.
"holler" - a valley or low-lying land
"y'all" - used all the time
"yonder" - somewhere, but not here
"coke" - any kind of soda
"tobogan" - beanie, skull cap
"necks" - rednecks
"red" - way to describe a redneck..."man, that guys is red"
these are more of my personal ones:
"dump" - someone's home, nice or crappy
"daddy" - way to refer to yourself in the third person if you are a guy
"piece" - can be any inanimate object..."bring that piece over here!"
i know there are many more but just can't think..
QuoteKY has many of these too...so fellow Kentuckians help me out!
"you born in a barn?" - asked to someone who doesn't close doors
i believe that one is pretty widely used, we use it in PA.
Here's one from Oklahoma for ya'll
Spewin' Big Sixty= "I had a blowout on my tar today, boy she's spewin' big sixty"
or maybe "Ya know the reverb on the new MMJ record'll be spewin' big sixty"
QuoteQuotehaving grown up in PA, and then spent almost twenty years here in Kentucky, I can tell you there are some dramatic differences.
To wit:
PA Colloquialisms
1. Red Up-to organize, classify, or otherwise clean up a particular area
2. Youn's-the southwest PA equivalent of Y'all
3. Gumband-rubberband
4. Hoagie-a sub sandwich
5. Pikksburgh-Pittsburgh
6. Warshington-Washington
7. Red Dog-a coal mining byproduct used as a road surface
8. Slate Dump-another coal mining byproduct, a giant, mountain like pile of slate. Usually catches on fire after a few decades.
9. Crick-creek
10. Pop-soda, Coke, soft drink
11. Kicked-empty, used. "The keg is kicked. Man, this bowl is kicked"
12. Djeetyet?-Did you eat yet?
13. Birch Beer-a beloved soft drink or "pop"
14. Green Dragon-not a Chinese restaurant, but an Amish country fair
That just scratches the surface, there are countless others...True, help me out here... ;)
Most of them are covered above-pop, crick etc.....
We say yins more than youn's
When referring to the Pittsburgh Steelers, its 'the stillers'
Here's a couple good ones from this "you know you're from Pittsburgh when..." list
You've told someone to "quit jaggin around"
You've called someone a 'jaggoff'.
You drink "pop", eat "hoagies", pierogies, and gyros(jy-rows)
Chipped ham was always in your refrigerator when you were growing up.
You walk carefully when it is "slippy" outside.
The biggest one in Northeast PA is "Henna", which pretty much means "Ya know?"
i think minnesota is the only state that you can get away with wearing a sweatshirt with shorts...i'm doing that right now 8-)
Quotei think minnesota is the only state that you can get away with wearing a sweatshirt with shorts...i'm doing that right now 8-)
i've found that the mmj hoodie and cargo shorts is a good look
Quotei think minnesota is the only state that you can get away with wearing a sweatshirt with shorts...i'm doing that right now 8-)
i believe it can be pulled off anywhere it's slightly cold and slightly warm at the same time. at least, I do it all the time. in the morning, in the evening. it's very nice, but then again, we are in neighboring states (not mental states, although that may be as well) - which are very similar in landscape and dialog.
;)