Weird phrases from where you live (or have lived) - AKA "colloquialisms!"

[4consideration]

OK, what is the correct way to eat grits?

My husband, a native Texan, HATES grits - and so do lots of other Texans. Proof that they are not really Southerners, even though they think they are, and would tell you proudly that they are.

The way a true southerner eats grits is with butter and salt and pepper. Maybe some cheese. MAYBE baked. A trendy way to eat grits now is with shrimp and cheese - for dinner. (Not supper - you wouldn't eat SUPPER in a restaurant, you would eat DINNER. You only eat SUPPER at home.)

No true southerner would dream of putting milk and sugar in grits. That's what you do with cream of wheat - which is a damn Yankee meal, but actually not so bad if you can eat it without thinking of where it comes from.

I can't believe you didn't PM me for the official way to eat grits, but I will let it slide this time. You are correct. Buter, salt and pepper are about it. Cheese is acceptable, but not necessary. The occasional sprinkling of bacon bits is OK (only real ones -- none of that artificial crappola is allowed.)

It is also just fine to bake grits, then slice it and use it as a base for Grillades. Although my great-aunt always served it over rice, I have found that grits do work well for that dish...and now that I am talking about it, I think I will be making it soon. Beef works fine...it does not need to be veal.

 

[Kathryn]

I don't think you were the slow one in those instances.

Here in Virginia, there are nearby cities called Norfolk and Suffolk, but apparently pronounced Norfick and Suffick.

By the way, wow the area you live in has some CRAZY **** names of cities and towns - all those Native American names! Whew!

I mean, I can't say too much, living as I do in such close proximity to both Nacogdoches, TX and Natchidoches, Louisiana - which are not pronounced the same AT ALL.

Also, Possum Kingdom and Cut N Shoot are also pretty close by.

 

[Kathryn]

I can't believe you didn't PM me for the official way to eat grits, but I will let it slide this time. You are correct. Buter, salt and pepper are about it. Cheese is acceptable, but not necessary. The occasional sprinkling of bacon bits is OK (only real ones -- none of that artificial crappola is allowed.)

It is also just fine to bake grits, then slice it and use it as a base for Grillades. Although my great-aunt always served it over rice, I have found that grits do work well for that dish...and now that I am talking about it, I think I will be making it soon. Beef works fine...it does not need to be veal.

Thank you, 4Consideration, for expounding on the baking of the grits to be used in other main courses. You are absolutely correct. And in Grillades, I much prefer grits - with beef. Please let me know when you will be cooking this so I can show up on your doorstep.

You can also bake grits pretty firm, then slice the grits and saute the slices in butter and shallots. Some ham on the side would be larrupin'!

 

[Father Heathen]

I"m not sure what grits are, but I would eat them in any way that I find pleases me, region and culture be damned.

 

[Kathryn]

I"m not sure what grits are, but I would eat them in any way that I find pleases me, region and culture be damned.

Here are grits:

These have little pieces of bacon in them. This is acceptable.

Grits are made from corn. Not really sure how though - or what part of the corn. But that's not the same as saying you don't know what part of the cow went into something!

Look, if you want to put cream and sugar in a hot cereal, eat cream of wheat - that's what it's for. Please, please, please do not put cream and sugar in grits!!!

Hey, speaking of grits - they are great alongside a big piece of ham and some red eye gravy!

 

[4consideration]

Thank you, 4Consideration, for expounding on the baking of the grits to be used in other main courses. You are absolutely correct. And in Grillades, I much prefer grits - with beef. Please let me know when you will be cooking this so I can show up on your doorstep.

No problem. I will leave a detailed description of time and place on the thread entitled, "I am not coming back to this thread" which neither of us intend to re-visit ever again. Or, you can pick up the details on the air waves -- take your pick.

We'll be waiting for you. Don't be late.

Oh, and would you mind picking up OJ and sparkling wine for Mamosa's? You're a dear! Thanks, darlin'.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

By the way, wow the area you live in has some CRAZY **** names of cities and towns - all those Native American names! Whew!

I mean, I can't say too much, living as I do in such close proximity to both Nacogdoches, TX and Natchidoches, Louisiana - which are not pronounced the same AT ALL.

Also, Possum Kingdom and Cut N Shoot are also pretty close by.

I live not too far from both Wasaga and Nottawasaga.

 

[Kathryn]

Thank you, 4Consideration, for expounding on the baking of the grits to be used in other main courses. You are absolutely correct. And in Grillades, I much prefer grits - with beef. Please let me know when you will be cooking this so I can show up on your doorstep.

No problem. I will leave a detailed description of time and place on the thread entitled, "I am not coming back to this thread" which neither of us intend to re-visit ever again. Or, you can pick up the details on the air waves -- take your pick.

We'll be waiting for you. Don't be late.

Oh, and would you mind picking up OJ and sparkling wine for Mamosa's? You're a dear! Thanks, darlin'.

MMMMMM, Mimosas and grits - you are a girl after my own heart! I'll be there - because of course I will know when and where, in spite of the fact that neither of us will ever post on that other thread again.

 

[DreadFish]

This is a fun thread to read. Let's see if I can recap everything from a NC perspective.

"Y'all" is "you all." Used to refer to two people or more. Y'all isn't used to refer to one person, unlike some places in the south

"Ain't" means "is not." Im pretty sure it was once official proper queen's English.

Grits are usually with butter and/or salt and pepper. I have had grits with shrimp, its great. My immediate family came up with putting cream cheese in grits, which I do because im used to it.

Certain counties in NC have different ways of saying things. Water is pronounced "warter" by some people around here.

Supper and dinner are interchangeable as far as anyone I know is concerned, but it used to be that dinner was lunch and supper was dinner back when my parents were younger.

Soft drinks are called "soda" here, no one uses "pop," and "coke" refers to Coca-cola or any type of cola.

Sweet tea means sweet iced tea (and they'll ask you if you want a lemon in it) . I remember once going to California and asking for sweet tea at a restaurant. The waitress said they had ice tea. Later when she brought the tea to the table, she said "so, is that like, tea with sugar in it?" It was priceless

"Bury" (like at the end of a town name) is sometimes pronounced "berry" and sometimes the library is called the "liberry" (lie-berry), but that's usually by those less versed in English. A lot of people around here are not well versed in the pronunciation of English.

Gotta go for now, i'll see if I can think of anything else.

 

[Kathryn]

I live not too far from both Wasaga and Nottawasaga.

Wow, that's some crazy stuff!

 

[Kathryn]

This is a fun thread to read. Let's see if I can recap everything from a NC perspective.

"Y'all" is "you all." Used to refer to two people or more. Y'all isn't used to refer to one person, unlike some places in the south

"Ain't" means "is not." Im pretty sure it was once official proper queen's English.

Grits are usually with butter and/or salt and pepper. I have had grits with shrimp, its great. My immediate family came up with putting cream cheese in grits, which I do because im used to it.

Certain counties in NC have different ways of saying things. Water is pronounced "warter" by some people around here.

Supper and dinner are interchangeable as far as anyone I know is concerned, but it used to be that dinner was lunch and supper was dinner back when my parents were younger.

Soft drinks are called "soda" here, no one uses "pop," and "coke" refers to Coca-cola or any type of cola.

Sweet tea means sweet iced tea (and they'll ask you if you want a lemon in it) . I remember once going to California and asking for sweet tea at a restaurant. The waitress said they had ice tea. Later when she brought the tea to the table, she said "so, is that like, tea with sugar in it?" It was priceless

"Bury" (like at the end of a town name) is sometimes pronounced "berry" and sometimes the library is called the "liberry" (lie-berry), but that's usually by those less versed in English. A lot of people around here are not well versed in the pronunciation of English.

Gotta go for now, i'll see if I can think of anything else.

This post makes me feel right at home.

 

[Kathryn]

Also, did you know that in the UK, "fanny" refers to the vagina rather than to the posterior? Zany!

Note to self - avoid using the word "fanny" when I go to England later this year.

 

[4consideration]

This is a fun thread to read. Let's see if I can recap everything from a NC perspective.

"Y'all" is "you all." Used to refer to two people or more. Y'all isn't used to refer to one person, unlike some places in the south

Yes, that's how it is where I am from, except that if you wish to refer to EVERYONE it becomes "all y'all."

"Ain't" means "is not." Im pretty sure it was once official proper queen's English.

Grits are usually with butter and/or salt and pepper. I have had grits with shrimp, its great. My immediate family came up with putting cream cheese in grits, which I do because im used to it.

Certain counties in NC have different ways of saying things. Water is pronounced "warter" by some people around here.

Even though the dialects in some areas, especially around the N.O. area can change within the matter of a few blocks, it is commonly accepted that water is pronounced: wawter.

God is "Gawd."

And, you can refer to someone as "Hawt" (It's really "Heart," which is an endearing term. But you do not say they have a Heart. You are calling them "Heart.")

You can also "axe" someone, unless you lived in my house -- then you had to frequently repeat, "I will not ever axe anyone anything, I will aaaasssskkkk them a question.

"Supper and dinner are interchangeable as far as anyone I know is concerned, but it used to be that dinner was lunch and supper was dinner back when my parents were younger.

Soft drinks are called "soda" here, no one uses "pop," and "coke" refers to Coca-cola or any type of cola.

Sweet tea means sweet iced tea (and they'll ask you if you want a lemon in it) . I remember once going to California and asking for sweet tea at a restaurant. The waitress said they had ice tea. Later when she brought the tea to the table, she said "so, is that like, tea with sugar in it?" It was priceless

If you are in an area of the country that does not serve sweet tea with lemon in most restaurants -- get out of there fast. (Just kidding.)

"Bury" (like at the end of a town name) is sometimes pronounced "berry" and sometimes the library is called the "liberry" (lie-berry), but that's usually by those less versed in English. A lot of people around here are not well versed in the pronunciation of English.

Gotta go for now, i'll see if I can think of anything else.

When I was kid, I remember I kept asking my cousins that were visiting us from Michigan to repeat the word "car." We thought it was so funny to hear the "r" at the end of the word. We said, "caw."

 

[DreadFish]

Yes, that's how it is where I am from, except that if you wish to refer to EVERYONE it becomes "all y'all."

Yeah, same here.

God is "Gawd."

And, you can refer to someone as "Hawt" (It's really "Heart," which is an endearing term. But you do not say they have a Heart. You are calling them "Heart.")

Lots of people around here would say "oh lord" instead of "God."

You can also "axe" someone, unless you lived in my house -- then you had to frequently repeat, "I will not ever axe anyone anything, I will aaaasssskkkk them a question.

Yeah, people here do that too . Especially when I was a kid, I knew a lot of people who axed a lot of questions.

If you are in an area of the country that does not serve sweet tea with lemon in most restaurants -- get out of there fast. (Just kidding.)

Around here, you will also usually be asked if you want a lemon in your water.

When I was kid, I remember I kept asking my cousins that were visiting us from Michigan to repeat the word "car." We thought it was so funny to hear the "r" at the end of the word. We said, "caw."

People around here usually pronounce Rs.

Oh, I know a phrase that my step-dad and his dad say, it's unique to their area, "Gosh-a-monkey." They use it where otherwise I guess you might say "God-a-mighty" (which is another southern phrase).

Some people around here do say "as all get-out."

 

[Kathryn]

Speaking of tea, for the longest time you could only get free refills of iced tea in the South. Not sure if this is still true.

Iced tea is THE drink of the American South. We drink it all day, every day. My husband and I don't even have any kids living at home anymore. I make a gallon of tea every other day - sometimes every day, especially in the summer - just for the two of us.

(We don't put sugar in ours at home -otherwise we'd be as big as barns!)

As for "y'all" and "all y'all" - 4consideration has it about right. Here in Texas - "y'all" can actually mean only one person in some cases but it usually means more than one. Here's how you use it:

"Who wants a snow cone?"

(Every kid in the room goes crazy.)

"OK - y'all come on an' git in the truck."

(Couple of parents say, "Hell, let's git one too.")

"OK - all y'all come on then. Kids - some of y'all git in Aint Bitsy's car - I cain't fit everbuddy in mah truck."

(Later, at the snow cone stand...)

"Did y'all lit the dawgs out before we came uptown? Oh lord, Ah shore hope so."

 

[DreadFish]

We get free refills of water, tea, coffee, and soda in NC. Orange juice, and milk, on the other hand, are pay per serving.

One thing I notice about Vuhginians (my grandmother is from Virginia, mom too, but she doesnt have the accent any more) is that they pronounce some things like Canadians. Mainly the "oo" like "aboot." And "out" is like Oh-oo-t.

 

[Kathryn]

We get free refills of water, tea, coffee, and soda in NC. Orange juice, and milk, on the other hand, are pay per serving.

One thing I notice about Vuhginians (my grandmother is from Virginia, mom too, but she doesnt have the accent any more) is that they pronounce some things like Canadians. Mainly the "oo" like "aboot." And "out" is like Oh-oo-t.

They also say "crik" for "creek" and "ruff" for "roof" and "root" for "route."

I really like the NC and Virginia accents, as well as Georgia and SC. They are more gentle and genteel than Texas accents.

Texas accents have a lot more twang to them. I kinda hate that I've lost my deep South accent and picked up this Texas thing instead, but I've lived here twenty years so I guess it can't be helped at this point.

I used to be a corporate trainer and traveled all over the US speaking and teaching. I always interacted a lot with the audience. In many places, but especially the Northwest, people would tell me, "I don't even really care what you're saying - I just get a kick out of hearing you talk."

That's what being a Nawlins girl, transplanted to TN, then AR, then VA, then NC, then AL, then GA, then MD, then SC, and then whisked away to Texas will do to you. There simply ARE no one syllable words in my world!

 

[DreadFish]

They also say "crik" for "creek" and "ruff" for "roof" and "root" for "route."

I really like the NC and Virginia accents, as well as Georgia and SC. They are more gentle and genteel than Texas accents.

Texas accents have a lot more twang to them. I kinda hate that I've lost my deep South accent and picked up this Texas thing instead, but I've lived here twenty years so I guess it can't be helped at this point.

I used to be a corporate trainer and traveled all over the US speaking and teaching. I always interacted a lot with the audience. In many places, but especially the Northwest, people would tell me, "I don't even really care what you're saying - I just get a kick out of hearing you talk."

That's what being a Nawlins girl, transplanted to TN, then AR, then VA, then NC, then AL, then GA, then MD, then SC, and then whisked away to Texas will do to you. There simply ARE no one syllable words in my world!

I remember my mom telling me that when we moved to Indiana when I was just a wee lad of 2 years, all the adults found it so cute when I talked because I had a strong southern accent. I ended up losing it in the 2 years we lived there by the time we moved back to NC. Now I sometimes slip into a southern draw when I get sloppy with my pronunciations

I also know a couple people who have moderate controlled southern accents normally, then they start drinking and the deep south comes right out, haha.


EDIT: Ah, I know another one. I say "figure" a lot. Like, "I figure we ought'a call them and see where they're at." Some people around here "figure" things instead of "think"-ing them

 

[Draka]

I'm not having much come to mind right now except that which has already been mentioned about sodas. I, personally, say "soda", but practically everyone else in my area says "pop". I was raised to say "pop" too, but while in the military and having to move to different areas around the US I took up saying "soda" as "pop" did tend to get strange looks. Not quite as strange as the looks I think I gave when I encountered the "coke" thing in TN though.

"And what would you like to drink?"

"I'll have a Coke"

"What kind of Coke?"

"A medium Coke"

"No, what kind of Coke? Do you want a Sprite or Dr Pepper or root beer...?"

*crazed look upon my face as I slow down my words and speak to them as if they are a complete and utter idiot*

"A Co-ca Co-la"

 

[GabrielWithoutWings]

Ok when I moved to Columbus, Georgia, the locals kept saying two things that totally confused me.

First of all, they kept talking about this road - apparently a major thoroughfare - and they kept calling it "Byuner Vister Road." I would say, "What?" and they'd say, " You know - Byuner Vister." No, I did not know - I did not know they would call "Buena Vista Road" "Byuner Vister." I was calling it "Bwayna Veesta" and I kept getting a blank look and then they'd say, "Where is that?"

They also kept referring to a school that they called Jerden High School. It literally took me about a year to realize they were really talking about JORDAN High School.

Sometimes I can be slow on the uptake, I guess.

You too huh? When I lived in Troup County and started working at their 911 center, I was told that the locals pronounce Roanoke Road as Ruh-NO-kee Road.