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The old phrase goes ‘American by birth, Southern by the grace of God.’ And according to Google, the exact origins of that phrase are not known but it’s believed to be an amalgam of previously existing phrases and cultural ideas that shaped the Southern Identity… All of that is to say the South and Southerners love the turn of a phrase and have a way with words that isn’t seen many places on earth.
Moving on, we can argue until the cows home home on what constitutes ‘The South’ so I say we skip all that today. I’m a born and raised Floridian and whether or not you consider Florida as part of ‘The South’ boils down to how far you grew up from the beach, or if you have ever spent time in the center of the state outside of Orlando. And while I’ll agree that much of Florida isn’t what would be traditionally considered ‘The South’ I also learned many of these classic Southern phrases right here in the Sunshine State.
20 Greatest Southern Phrases Everyone Should Be Using More Often
- ‘Crazy as a sprayed roach’ or ‘Crazier than a sprayed roach’ which translates to ‘unhinged person who is manic and has no wits about them, like a cockroach that has just been sprayed with Raid and is in survival mode.
- ‘Happy as a pig in mud’ is pretty self-explanatory. Pigs live in muddy sties. It is where they are happiest. If a Southerner is ‘happy as a pig in mud’ they are living their best life.
- ‘He’s fit to be tied’ is an old phrase used to describe someone who is furious/angry/agitated. It is believed to take back to a time when mental institutions were more common across America (and state owned/ran) and would describe a patient in an insane asylum that would need to be tied down with straps.
- ‘Full as a tick’ is one I don’t hear too often but it’s used to describe when you’ve eaten so much you are about to burst. It conjures up images of a deer tick that is engorged with blood and about to burst.
- ‘That dog won’t hunt’ is an all-timer that dates back to the late 1800s. This phrase is used to describe something that simply will not work. It is believed this phrase is pulled from the 17/18th century phrase ‘that cock won’t fight.’
- ‘Nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs’ is an all-timer. This one requires you’ve done a little living. In order to fully understand this Southern phrase you must have at least seen a cat around rocking chairs before and how uneasy they are. That, or you trust the phrase and take it at face value.
My favorite elements of Southern phrases are when they conjure up outrageous images to describe something quaint, or when the phrase sounds sweet when said aloud but is actually intended to mean the exact opposite.
There are plenty of instances or phrases like those in the Southern lexicon. Far too many to get in to here today. But here are some of my favorites in this style.
- ‘Bless your heart’ or ‘Bless his/her heart’ might be the single most devastating phrase a Southerner can hear or use. It cuts straight to the soul of anyone. At some point it was probably used in earnest but in the South if you hear this phrase it means you are a lost cause.
- ‘That boy’s cornbread ain’t done in the middle’ is a great one that conjures up a very clear image of undercooked bread. It is used to describe someone who is ‘off’ in some way or another.
- ‘Cuter than a speckled pup under a cabbage leaf’ might as well be words thrown at the wall in hopes that something sticks because there is so much going on but as far as Southern phrases go, I love this one. It is used to describe something or someone that could not possibly be any cuter.
- ‘Fair is a place where pigs get judged’ is used at moments when you have to tell someone that life isn’t always fair. 4H competitions at County and State Fairs are common throughout the South. This phrase doesn’t have too many layers but it is a nice play on ‘fair.’
- ‘If the good Lord’s willing and the Creek don’t rise’ is an often misunderstood phrase. Many assume it refers to an actual creek rising with water. In fact, it refers to the native American Creek Nation tribe(s). This phrase is used when talking about doing something or going somewhere, and originally referred to it being possible if the Creek Nation didn’t rise up in opposition.
By now, I hope you are getting the gist of these Southern phrases and what makes them so spectacular. There could be volumes of books published with phrases.
They might bet tweaked slightly from one town to the next. And I certainly do not have enough time to list out all of my favorites here today so I figured we’d forge along with some of the best Southern phrases around and not focus too much on my favorites.
- ‘The backdoor trots’ is a special phrase used to describe when one’s stomach just isn’t cooperating. With heavy buttery Southern cuisine this one happens all too often.
- ‘Cant’ carry a tune in a bucket with a lid on it’ is typically reserved to describe someone that sounds like scratching nails on a chalkboard while singing at Church.
- ‘Couldn’t shoot the broadside of a barn’ is a phrase to describe a horrible hunter, or someone who cannot aim to save their lives. I suppose there are plenty of instances this one could be used outside of shooting as well.
- ‘Up s— creek without a paddle’ is an all-timer. I use this one almost daily. It describes a miserable situation with no easy way out, no lifeline. It dates back to the 1860s.
- ‘Nuttier than a porta potty at a peanut festival’ is, unsurprisingly, not used to describe actual nuts but the case in which ‘nutty’ is akin to ‘crazy.’ You have to know your company in order to use this one effectively.
- ‘Hotter than a two dollar pistol’ is a Southern phrase used on sweltering hot days. There are a few more raunchy Southern phrases out there to describe the heat but this one will suffice for now.
- ‘Don’t let the screen door hit ya where the good Lord split ya’ is Southern speak for ‘don’t let the door hit you on the way out.’
- ‘A rolling stone gathers no moss’ isn’t strictly a Southern phrase as it has been around since the days of the Romans but it is commonly used in pockets throughout the South.
- ‘An empty wagon makes a lot of noise’ is another one that dates back to the ancient days. This one can be traced all the way to Plato. Essentially, it means an empty-headed simpleton talks a LOT more than an intelligent person.
Did we miss your favorite? Be sure to let us know in the Facebook comments. Or you can email me anytime at cass@brobible.com with feedback!