Local/Regional Sayings

**kuhio98** · 07-18-2006, 01:17 PM

I thought it might be interesting to learn about local and regional sayings and phrases. You know? Things they say in your area that might be different elsewhere. For example:

From here to Timbuktu: This saying is usually means someplace far away or a long way to go. I think I heard it started in the Western World when Timbuktu (in Africa) was about the farthest place that had been explored by Europeans. I have a friend from Rumania who told me that their saying for this sort of things is ~ From here to Honolulu. Because to them (at least at one time), Honolulu was the farthest, most exotic, place they had heard of.

So here are some that we say in Alaska. They may also be used elsewhere, but I had never heard of them until I moved up here.

Lower 48: The 48 Contiguous United States. Hawaii doesn't count because it's not contiguous. We say, "Oh, he's from someplace in the Lower 48".

Outside: Any other place other than Alaska. See Alaska is the end all, be all.

Any other place is "Outside". You might say, "We're planning a trip Outside." Which means you are leaving Alaska. Doesn't matter if you're going to "The Lower 48" or the Moon. You're going Outside.

So, how about your area?

**JenBKR** · 07-18-2006, 01:21 PM

hmm we have several here in western PA. One that comes to mind is 'yuns,' kind of our version of y'all. "Are yuns going to the party?"

Also chipped ham. I just recently learned that you can't go into a store and order chipped ham just anywhere, it's a western PA thing. It's ham lunch meat, chipped up

"Pop" is another, I know most places it's called "soda" but not here!

**Miss Z** · 07-18-2006, 01:39 PM

Oh my gosh, there are loads! And you need to hear how they're pronounced to get the full effect, but here are some...

eighup! (hi!)
trouble a'mill (there'll be trouble)
Ah y'reet? (you OK?)
Ah'm reet jiggered (I'm worn out)
On yer bike! (go away!)
A shut meawth keeps flies awt (keep your mouth shut and you'll stay out of trouble)

And one of my all time personal favourites (this is even in a book it's so good)

Tha go'a face lak a constipated blud'ownd!
(For God's sake, smile and cheer up!)

**Laura's Babies** · 07-18-2006, 01:54 PM

Here is Louisiana..."AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" It is just something you yell when you are having a wonderful time! The "AAAA's" are a lower note, the "EEEEEE's" is done in a higher note.

I know you all know the differance between a Yankee and a Da**** Yankee?
A Yankee is the one who comes to visit, the da****Yankee stays!

My sisters husband is a da*****Yankee but we made a true grit out of him! Yessirrie, he even likes da grits.... and it is true what dae say about de south, you order breakfast and dae really do put da grits on da plate.

**Maresche** · 07-18-2006, 02:06 PM

That State up North..Most Ohioans are rabid OSU fans and OSU's primary rival (footballwise) is Michigan. So we don't refer to Michigan by it's name. It is just that state up north.

**Lizzie** · 07-18-2006, 02:15 PM

I'm from Derbyshire but we moved to Leicestershire when I was ten, and that's when I first heard "eyup" for hello. I never liked it and never used it, but my brothers loved using it all the time.

"Nesh" is a word I haven't heard used anywhere else. It means someone who feels chilled very easily. So, if someone slips on a cardie when it drops from 75F to 73F, they are nesh.

"You daft 'apporth" is an expression I got from my step-mother, and I still use it. Since a halfpenny isn't worth much, it's a double insult.

**kuhio98** · 07-18-2006, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by Laura's Babies

Here is Louisiana..."AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" It is just something you yell when you are having a wonderful time! The "AAAA's" are a lower note, the "EEEEEE's" is done in a higher note.

I know you all know the differance between a Yankee and a Da**** Yankee?
A Yankee is the one who comes to visit, the da****Yankee stays!

My sisters husband is a da*****Yankee but we made a true grit out of him! Yessirrie, he even likes da grits.... and it is true what dae say about de south, you order breakfast and dae really do put da grits on da plate.

Too funny! I guess it's all a matter of perspective. I met a lady in Galveston, Texas who refered to the American Civil War as "The War of Northern Aggression". She pronounced war as 'wa-wa".

**sirrahbed** · 07-19-2006, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by kuhio98

Too funny! I guess it's all a matter of perspective. I met a lady in Galveston, Texas who refered to the American Civil War as "The War of Northern Aggression". She pronounced war as 'wa-wa".

YUP! "The War of Northern Aggression" is what hubby calls it too. But then, the matter of perspective is that hubby is from South Carolina.....he says that is the commonly used name.

**Cinder & Smoke** · 07-18-2006, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by JenBKR

... here in western PA ...

Ya mean Picksburgh, don'cha?

We moved to Pittsburgh, PA, when I was about 5 years old ...
and I learned Pittsburgese as my Native Language!

Wherever I go, people say "You talk funny - are you from Pittsburgh?"

How funny?
Check out this web site >>> http://www.pittsburghese.com/

I've prolly used most of the Phrases, Nouns, Verbs, and Places listed in the
Glossary - and STILL use some of em!

**JenBKR** · 07-18-2006, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by Cinder & Smoke

Ya mean Picksburgh, don'cha?

We moved to Pittsburgh, PA, when I was about 5 years old ...
and I learned Pittsburgese as my Native Language!

Wherever I go, people say "You talk funny - are you from Pittsburgh?"

How funny?
Check out this web site >>> http://www.pittsburghese.com/

I've prolly used most of the Phrases, Nouns, Verbs, and Places listed in the
Glossary - and STILL use some of em!

Oh yes, Picksburgh indeed! I'll have to check out that site, as I am sure there are many I know. We certainly have our own language, don't we

**elizabethann** · 07-18-2006, 03:17 PM

All I can think of is:

Ya can't get there from here.

**JenBKR** · 07-18-2006, 03:37 PM

Does anyone else "read up" their room? Cheer for the "Stillers" football team? "Buy Sam a drink and get his dog one too!" No? It's a 'Burgh thang!

haha forgot one more: "Kennywood's open!" Don't ask me where it came from, but it means that your pants are unzipped (Kennywood is an amusement park 'round here)

**slick** · 07-18-2006, 03:56 PM

This is a way cool thread, eh?
I'm trying to think of some Canadian sayings, eh?

**Dorothy39** · 07-18-2006, 04:14 PM

Yes, this is indeed a good idea for a thread.

I've lived in Michigan all my life.

Pop--- was Coca Cola or Pepsi, Orange Crush or Vernor's Gingerale.

People who live in the Upper Peninsula are Yoopers, while , those of us who reside under the bridge are referred to as " trolls"

, Geez, I am a troll folks!!!!!

The town , Charlotte, is pronounced Char-LOTT----since people living here in the early 1800's had a hard time pronouncing "french" names

"The Union" means UAW, since, Unions originated in this State.

Anyone who travels past St. John's is going "UP NORTH"---

and, if you move from lower Michigan to the Upper Penisula, you have become a "TROOPER".

**king2005** · 07-19-2006, 08:25 AM

I say "eh" a lot & it means more then 1 thing..
-Nice weather eh? meaning "right", or "correct"
-What ya doin eh? damned if I know, but I say it a lot

-eh? meaning, "pardon me" or "what" or "what the hell are you talking about?" or are you crazy?"

Honestly I have no idea what "eh" means 1/2 the time, but its forever trapped in my vocab