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(That smell could) “ knock a buzzard off a shit-wagon “

sparky wrote:"Get your arse in gear."

i got this one alot after "slow as molasses" lol and if something was ruined beyond repair it was "cashed"

Kniferide wrote: Tue Jun 22, 2021 3:02 pm My grandpa used to call me " Half a bubble off" which I like.

Just parenthetically, did you know he was referring to a builders' level with this phrase?

Totally stealing half a bubble off. Hadn’t heard that before.

There are a bunch of colloquialisms that are just part of how I talk. By some people's estimation, I'm definitely Olde.

"You could fuck up an iron ball with a rubber mallet" for someone sufficiently incompetent to warrant comment.

"Sweating like a TV preacher in a deposition."

"Fifty cents away from a quarter."

"Mean as a snake" is something I've heard my whole life, but less so these past few years.

"Mad" for angry, not crazy. "I'm not mad about it" meaning I unexpectedly like something. It's subtle- "I'm not mad about that Publix fried chicken," means that it was better than I expected. "I wouldn't be mad if you brought me one of those tamales," is a cheeky way of suggesting someone grab an extra tamale on their way over. It's almost a 1:1 substitution for "I wouldn't mind if...."

People who aren't used to Southern American English get frustrated by how it's based on suggestion rather than command. I try to adapt when I'm in the midwest, but sometimes I forget to be more direct. Like "I'm not sure how I feel about..." just means "I fucking hate this."

And, as always, when someone is leaving, I can't help but say "If you can't be good, be careful."

jason from volo wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 10:53 am

dontfeartheringo wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 10:35 am People who aren't used to Southern American English get frustrated by how it's based on suggestion rather than command. I try to adapt when I'm in the midwest, but sometimes I forget to be more direct. Like "I'm not sure how I feel about..." just means "I fucking hate this."

Interesting observations.

I think there is actually similar nuance with Midwestern & Southern expressions. They are more similar than, say, expressions used by folks from the mid-Atlantic or New England states. Particularly with respect to directness, it takes a bit longer for me to adapt when traveling from Chicagoland to the Northeast than from Chicagoland to the South.

I’ve dated people in the past who are driven crazy by my suggestive replies.

Her: “Are you hungry?”
Me: “I could eat.”

I’ve been with a Mississippi gal for the last three years, and she seems to handle it ok.

Dave N. wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 11:04 am

jason from volo wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 10:53 am

dontfeartheringo wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 10:35 am People who aren't used to Southern American English get frustrated by how it's based on suggestion rather than command. I try to adapt when I'm in the midwest, but sometimes I forget to be more direct. Like "I'm not sure how I feel about..." just means "I fucking hate this."

Interesting observations.

I think there is actually similar nuance with Midwestern & Southern expressions. They are more similar than, say, expressions used by folks from the mid-Atlantic or New England states. Particularly with respect to directness, it takes a bit longer for me to adapt when traveling from Chicagoland to the Northeast than from Chicagoland to the South.

I’ve dated people in the past who are driven crazy by my suggestive replies.

Her: “Are you hungry?”
Me: “I could eat.”

I’ve been with a Mississippi gal for the last three years, and she seems to handle it ok.

This.

dontfeartheringo wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 10:09 am

Kniferide wrote: Tue Jun 22, 2021 3:02 pm My grandpa used to call me " Half a bubble off" which I like.

Just parenthetically, did you know he was referring to a builders' level with this phrase?

Yep. It's a great one.

"You look like a goddamn monkey fucking a football!"

"rode hard and put away wet."