It’s no secret that Alabamians have their own special dialect. As a matter of fact, that’s one of the main reasons why people from Alabama, or the South in general, stand out among people from other parts of the country. Listed below are 10 silly sayings that’ll only make sense if you’re from Alabama. How many of them do you use?
- Bless your heart!
flickr/Capture The Uncapturable “Bless your heart” might sound like a compliment, especially since the person doing the talking is smiling, but it’s actually an expression of sympathy. Example: “Bless your heart! You’re doing it all wrong.”
- Hey y’all!
flickr/Gregory Morris “Hey y’all” is simply “hey” and “you all” combined.Example: “Hey y’all! Come over here and check this out.”
- You’re preachin’ to the choir.
flickr/Williams Partnership: Architecture, Inc. When “you’re preachin’ to the choir,” you’re trying to convince people of something they already know.Example: “There’s no need to say more. You’re preachin’ to the choir.”
- Hold your horses!
flickr/faungg’s photos “Hold your horses” doesn’t actually mean to hold live horses. It means to have some patience.Example: “Hold your horses! I’m on my way!”
- Fixin’ to.
flickr/formulanone “Fixin’ to” means you’re about to do something.Example: “I’m fixin’ to drive into town. Do you need anything?”
- As slow as molasses.
pxhere When something is “as slow as molasses,” it’s usually very slow. Example: “He used to be a fast runner, but now he’s as slow as molasses.”
- Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.
flickr/Dave Edens “Lord willing and the creek don’t rise” means that anything can be accomplished as long as nothing stands in the way.Example: “We should be able to make it to the reunion, Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.”
- Knee-high to a grasshopper.
flickr/G Bassett If someone is “knee-high to a grasshopper,” they’re usually very young.Example: “Back when I was knee-high to a grasshopper, things were much different than they are today.”
- Living in high cotton.
flickr/Larry Miller When someone is “living in high cotton,” they’re usually successful or wealthy.Example: “Ever since the neighbors relocated to the big city, they’ve been living in high cotton.”
- Till’ the cows come home.
flickr/Fred Davis “Till’ the cows come home” is when something takes a really long time.Example: “I’ll be on vacation till’ the cows come home.”
What other silly sayings would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments!
flickr/Capture The Uncapturable
“Bless your heart” might sound like a compliment, especially since the person doing the talking is smiling, but it’s actually an expression of sympathy. Example: “Bless your heart! You’re doing it all wrong.”
flickr/Gregory Morris
“Hey y’all” is simply “hey” and “you all” combined.Example: “Hey y’all! Come over here and check this out.”
flickr/Williams Partnership: Architecture, Inc.
When “you’re preachin’ to the choir,” you’re trying to convince people of something they already know.Example: “There’s no need to say more. You’re preachin’ to the choir.”
flickr/faungg’s photos
“Hold your horses” doesn’t actually mean to hold live horses. It means to have some patience.Example: “Hold your horses! I’m on my way!”
flickr/formulanone
“Fixin’ to” means you’re about to do something.Example: “I’m fixin’ to drive into town. Do you need anything?”
pxhere
When something is “as slow as molasses,” it’s usually very slow. Example: “He used to be a fast runner, but now he’s as slow as molasses.”
flickr/Dave Edens
“Lord willing and the creek don’t rise” means that anything can be accomplished as long as nothing stands in the way.Example: “We should be able to make it to the reunion, Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.”
flickr/G Bassett
If someone is “knee-high to a grasshopper,” they’re usually very young.Example: “Back when I was knee-high to a grasshopper, things were much different than they are today.”
flickr/Larry Miller
When someone is “living in high cotton,” they’re usually successful or wealthy.Example: “Ever since the neighbors relocated to the big city, they’ve been living in high cotton.”
flickr/Fred Davis
“Till’ the cows come home” is when something takes a really long time.Example: “I’ll be on vacation till’ the cows come home.”
For a list of 11 words and phrases people in Alabama just don’t understand, click here.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
