Appalachian terms and phrases

It’s raining cats and dogs. – This simply means, it’s raining hard!

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It’s raining cats and dogs!

Knee high to a grasshopper. – This is used when someone or something is short. “That baby is knee high to a grasshopper.”

A penny saved is a penny earned. – This is to encourage folks to be frugal. Keep the money you have instead of spending it, and then you win.

Ain’t no hill for a climber – This just means it’s not a big deal for someone with experience.

No need to buy the cow when you can get your milk for free. – This one doesn’t need much of an explanation. I’ll let you form your own conclusions. (Dad said I shouldn’t include this one. I’m doing it anyway.)

Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. – Don’t count something as a sure thing until you are certain of it.

There’s a fox in the hen house. – Someone is somewhere they don’t need to be.

Don’t do in the dark what you don’t want brought out in the light. – If you don’t want people to know of the things you do, then you better not do them.

Pretty is as pretty does. – Beauty comes from within.

Slap both eyes into one. – This is a threat one would use when they are seriously angry. “I’m gonna slap both your eyes into one.”

I’ll give you what for. – To give someone “what for” means that you’re going to tell them just what you think.

Why would he want satin when he’s got lace at home. – Again, this one speaks for itself. Why would a man want a cheap woman when he’s got a classy one at home?

Gittin’ too big for your britches. – This means that you’re starting to think too highly of yourself.

I don’t care if it hair lips granny. – I don’t care who it offends.

Rode hard and put up wet. – This simply means you’re as exhausted and uncomfortable as a horse that’s been rode all day and put in the stall wet.

Fit to be tied. – This means you are angry. “She came in past curfew and Mama was fit to be tied.”

A little birdie told me. – This is the phrase one uses when they’ve been told some juicy gossip but don’t want to say who told them.

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A little birdie told me….

You can’t help a bird from flying over your head but you can keep it from building a nest in your hair. – This means, you can’t keep problems from happening, but you can help how you react to them.

Ain’t got a pot to pee in. – This is a phrase used when you’re describing how poor someone is. “They’re so poor they ain’t got a pot to pee in.”

The pot calling the kettle black. – Accusing someone of something you’re also guilty of.

Jumped out of the frying pan into the fire. – Someone went from one bad situation right into another.

Thick as fleas on a dog’s back. – This is used when there is a lot of something. “The crowd in the supermarket was thick as fleas on a dog’s back.”

Better laugh to keep from crying. – This means it’s best to find the bright side of a bad situation.

Weak as a kitten. – This is a phrase people sometimes use when they’re sick and have no energy. “The flu has left me weak as a kitten.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. – It’s better to have the certainty of what you do have than the possibility of what you might have.

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A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

All is well that ends well. – A good outcome is all that matters.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. – This means it’s easier to keep something from happening in the first place than to fix it after it’s already happened.

As the twig is bent so shall the tree grow. – The direction you point something /someone in is the direction it will go.

Beggars can’t be choosers. – If you’re in need, you must take what you can get.

Charity begins at home. – One must first take care of everything at home before he can help others.

Everything that glitters is not gold. – This means that just because something looks good doesn’t necessarily mean it is.

Every tub must stand on its own bottom. – This means that every person is their own independent being.

Haste makes waste. – Slow down and do it right the first time.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. – You don’t want to make a good woman angry.

Honesty is the best policy. – This one speaks for itself. It simply means it’s always best to tell the truth.

Let your conscious be your guide. – This means to follow your heart and do what you believe is best.

Rob Peter to pay Paul. – This just means you’re taking away from one pot to fill another.

Speech is silver, silence is gold. – It’s better to keep quiet sometimes.

To the victor belongs the spoils. – When you’re on top, you have the responsibility of all that is below you.

-A-

A bird in hand is worth 2 in the bush -- Keep what's a sure thing.

a good spell atterward -- a long time afterwards

a lick -- a bit a little

a whack of jacks 2 tall men coudn't shake hands over - plate full of flapjacks

acrost -- across

acrost the waters -- from overseas

afeard -- afraid

afixin' about to -- getting ready to

afore -- before, or "for"

aggin -- against

aggravatinists -- most aggravating

ahainna -- I haint a going

ahead of hand – before time

ahind -- behind

aiight -- alright, another slur

aimin' -- have been going to

ain't -- is not

ain't got nary none -- do not have any

ain't heerd tell -- haven't heard of

ain't much common -- unusual

ain't much of a fool -- do not like

Ain't never could do nothin'. -- Don't give up before you get started.

ain't never seed no kind of -- have never seen any

airy -- any

allovers -- nervous

allus -- always

a'purpose -- on purpose

argy -- argue

arter -- ought to

akseert -- scared

arnin -- ironing

askes -- asks

aspell -- a while, as in a length of time

atwixt -- between

- B -

baccer -- tobacco - pronounced "backer"

back in the day -- years ago

back this letter -- address it

backards -- backwards

baggin -- begging

bar -- bear

beats the heck outta me -- I don't know

bed it -- lay around

be'ens -- since or because

benastied himself -- hurt himself

better git on -- need to leave

bettern' we -- hadn't we

biggest through -- loud shouting, usually at a funeral or church

biled -- boiled

birds of a feather flock together -- stay with your own kind

bite yor tongue -- be quiet, don't say it

blackards -- foul mouthed person

Bleedin' like a stuck hog -- bleeding a lot

blinked milk -- sour milk

bloomers -- ladies underwear

bodaciously -- bodily or all the way, entirely

bob'd war -- barbed wire

born in a barn -- means you don't have manners, left the door open

born on the wrong side of the blanket -- out of wedlock, or unknown father

borry -- borrow

brang -- brought

britches -- pants

brickle -- brittle

broke forth -- sprang

brought on -- store bought

brought up -- raised or reared

brow -- the end of the cliff

brung -- brought

bub -- light bulb

bubba or bub -- common nickname for brother

bunch of hogs runnin' round with stick in ther mouths -- gonna be cold

- C -

caint -- can not

cairn -- heap of stones used as a marker

caint see strait -- dizzy or tired

cantankerous - hateful

carry me to the doctor -- take me to the doctor

catty corner -- across the corner

Cattywompas -- a real mean critter, a crook

caviled -- quibbled or quarrel

chamber pot -- slop jar

cheap as dirt -- stingy

chimley -- chimney

chanct -- chance

cheak skate -- someone who is stingy

cheer -- chair

churched -- thrown out of church, taken off the

membership list for indiscretion

churn -- a special piece of crockery used to make butter from milk

churning -- the act of making butter from milk

clatterment -- loud noises, ruckus

clean fergot -- I forgot

clearto -- all the way

clean yer clock -- fight, do bodily harm

clumbed -- climbed

cock of the walk - strutting around, important

cold feet warm heart, dirty feet no sweetheart – phrase similar to a nursery rhyme

come along and go -- come with me

comes by it honest -- you are like your family

commotion -- loud noises

Confound it -- an epitaph

contrary her -- make her mad

corruption -- sickness

cotton pickin' minute - hold on a minute

coudnt hit the broadside of a barn -- have no aim

countryfied -- raised in the country, citified - raised in the city

court -- to date romantically

coveralls - overalls

crick -- creek

critter -- animal

cumear -- come here

cuss -- to curse

cut on the light -- turn on the light

Cute as a punkin' -- Pretty as a pumpkin

cuttin' stills -- tearing down and destroying moonshine stills

cuz-- because or cousin

- D -

dad blame it! -- an epitaph

dad burn -- an epitaph

dag nab it -- an epitaph

dasn't -- dare not, do not

dat -- that

dauncy -- picky eater

dawg -- dog

day late and a dollar short -- never on time and always broke, your "ship" hasn't come in

deef-- deaf

defiles - defining part between two clifs - in between

devil it -- aggravate, antimidate, make fun of

diddly squat -- not much or nothign

didn't doner -- did not do it

dingy -- very dirtydiffer -- difference or matter

dinner -- mid day or late meal..depending on where you live

dipper - was used in a water bucket -- a communal drinking cup

disablest -- sickest

discern when -- know when

do hit if hit harlipped the gov'ner -- would do it anyway

dog gone it -- an epitaph

doin' -- doing

done did -- already did

done done -- finished

don't get next to our business -- don't be nosy

Don't put all yer eggs in one basket -- spread around your wealth, or possessions, or don't bank on just one thing and chance losing it all

don't reckon -- do not believe or surely not

dose of your own medicine -- get back what you've done

down-go -- sick and dying, on the way down

d'reckley -- directly or soon

dreen -- to drain

druthers -- things one would rather do over anything else

dudn't -- does not

Dumber than a coal bucket. -- A really, really , really , really stupid person.

during the while -- in this day and time

durn'd -- darned, another euphanism for damned

Dutton that tear you fer a duster? -- amaze you

- E -

early bird gets the worm - get up early and you'll succeed

eat a bait -- more than a bite, hearty meal

edzact -- understand

eetch -- itch

em -- them

enough food for Cock's army -- a lot of food

errol -- antenna aerial

et -- ate

every tub has to sit on it's own bottom -- you have to live with your mistakes and choices in life

-F -

far -- fire

fard -- fired

fair to midlin' -- i'm ok

farn -- unusual or foreign

faultin' -- finding fault or quarreling with

feathered into -- charged at to fight

fer -- animal hides, or for

fer piece -- long way

fer why -- how come?

ferro or Pharoah -- locust

fetch -- bring

fiddlesticks -- an epitaph

fillin station -- gas station

fistes -- fists

fit as a fiddle -- fine

fit to be tied - very upset

fix or afixin' -- plan or planning to

fixin' -- to prepare, to get ready

flar -- flour

fling -- throw, or to have a romantic relationship

flustrated -- frustrated

foddershock - cut cork stalks tied into tall bunches in the fall

foiled - stopped

foller -- follow

Foller yer own lights. -- Do what you know is right.

foot warshins' -- a religious event where members of a

church would actually wash each other's feet with a washpan and a towel, just as Jesus Christ did with the disciples at the Lord's Supper

forever and a day -- more than eternity

fork or forks -- branches or branches of a river or a creek

fotch'd - fetch or bring

fotch on -- store bought

fraidy cat -- easily scared

fraidy hole -- a cave, or cellar or dairy

fray or fraction -- fight to the death

free-for-all -- a ruckus to be had by all - ruckus being fight

fret -- to worry

freezy-fied - cold natured

futher -- further

fuss -- worry over, or quarrel

- G -

Gallowses -- taken from the word gallows any structure used for supporting, used to hold up up pants, another word for suspenders

gaumed up -- to make a mess

gave it out -- told

Gawd -- God

geewhiz -- gosh

get or be shed -- to dispose of or to do away with

Get your dander up -- to get angry, mad

getting above your raisin -- acting stuck up

getting' hitched -- Getting married.

gineraly -- generally

gittin -- leaving

give out -- announcement

gizzywhiz -- a thing (like a thing-a-ma-bob)

God willin' and the creeks don't rise. -- You can count on it unless….

God works in mysterious ways - something you can't explain

goober pea -- peanut

good book -- The Bible

google -- to stare at

goodin -- good one

gormed up -- to make a mess

got a face that would stop an 8 day clock -- very ugly

grabble taters -- to open a hill of potatoes, get out the new

ones and cover back up the small

grandfathered in -- accepted as is without further ado

Grandsir -- elder gentleman

Great day in the morning! - An exclamation of surprise

grine -- groun

gripe -- loose bowels

growd -- grew

gum'd it -- chew it (for those without teeth)

gussied up -- getting ready for a party

- H -

haar -- hair

ham, jam, beef, bull and bear -- take your pick, or all inclusive

hanker -- want or craving

Happier than a dead pig in the sunshine -- a phrase used for happiness

happy-go-lucky – not a care in the world

hardness between -- dislike

Have a little guide of yerself. -- Have some self-control.

heap o' -- a lot of

heck, heck fire! - epitaph for hell

heerd -- heard

hepin' -- helping - a portion

hep -- help

her'n -- hers

hey! -- Hello

hidee -- Hi

hide nor har -- have not seen

high-falutin or hoity-toity -- acting stuck up or better than someone else, important

High-water britches pants -- that are too short

hippins -- diapers

his'n -- his

hit -- a form of it

hoecake - a corn cake bakes over open fire, was originally cooked on a hoe

holla or holler -- hollow

hot diggity dog – an exclamation of joy

horse or cow hockey -- their droppings

horsefeathers -- an epitaph

horsepital -- hospital

hoss -- horse

hottern blueblazzes -- very hot

house raisin' -- neighbors all gather to build a house

hunert -- hundred

- I -

I declare! -- an exclamation

I seed -- I saw

I Swan! Well, Swanee! -- derived from the word swear

idear -- idea

if that don't take the cake -- surprised

if'n -- If

ignert -- ignorant

ill -- bad tempered

Irahland -- Ireland

It's hotter than the gates of hell today! -- It's hot out. Very colorful expressions…

it'l -- it will

- J -

jawin' -- talkin

jeat -- did you eat?

Jeepers Creepers! -- another slang term for Jesus Christ

jest -- just

jine -- join

joshin' -- jokin'

Jumpin' the broom -- Getting married.

just a cotton pickin' minute -- hold on a second

- K -

karn -- dead animal buzzards pick at

keer -- care

ketch -- catch

ketch your death of cold -- will catch a cold if you don't cover up

kilt -- killed

kin -- know

kit and kaboodle -- bundle or package

kitt'l -- kettle

kivers -- quilts or blankets to "cover" up

knowin' to the sarcumstance -- advised of the situation

- L -

landogoshen -- an exclamation

landsakes -- an exclamation

larnt -- learned

lassy/lasses -- molasses

Laws A Mercy! -- Lord Have Mercy!

learn -- I'll learn you to do that - teach

leather britches -- dried beans, boiled hull and all

left off -- dropped off, delivered

let it fly – fly off the handle - let ‘er rip - lose your temper

li'bery -- library

liddy biddy -- same as little bitty

lift a rag for home -- headed for home in a hurry

light bread -- white store bought bread

Like a bull in a china shop! -- a clumsy person

Like a button on a barn door – comes and goes all the time

like it or lump it -- deal with it

like to have died -- too much of somethin'

like as not, I'll be goin -- more than likely

likken -- whoopin or spankin

likness -- photograph or tintype

lit into -- charged at to fight

litt'l uns -- little ones

little bitty -- tiny

live so fer back in the woods you havta pipe sunshine in -- live back in a holler

lizzard out -- to run, be cowardly

lock, stock and barrel -- everything

lollygag -- to loaf, relax, to be lazy

lolling about -- laying around

looks like death eatin' a cracker -- very white or pale

looks like death warmed over – looks sickly

looky yonder – look over there

'low or allow -- will go, want to go, plan to go

- M -

mad as a hornet -- very angry

made your bed now lay in it -- live with the consequences of your life decisions

makin' a mountain outta molehill - over tell or exaggerate something

mash the button -- push the button

maters -- tomatoes

mayhap -- perhaps and maybe

meaner than a striped snake -- very mean indeed

mess of -- an amount to cook

might could -- maybe, possible

might nigh -- almost

minners -- minnows

mommick -- to make a mess

moon-calf -- a child who is simple or daydreams

much that dog -- pet that dog, make much over him

mully-grubs -- belly rattles or belly aches

muscle -- wrestle something in place,

or use your muscles to move something

my goodness gracious -- an exclamation

- N -

nable -- navel

nar -- narrow

nary -- not any

nary bit -- not any

naw -- no

neckin' -- making out, kissing

needcessity -- neccessity

Never amount to a hill of beans! -- Never will be a success

nex -- next

nigh -- near

nigh onta– close to

nighway -- closest path

no sweat -- don't worry, no problem

nose out of joint -- upset, or hurt feelings

not the sharpest knife in the drawer – not too smart

nuss -- to nurse, to care for, to pet

nuttin' -- nothing

- O-

obliged to ya -- owe you, thank you

of all things -- an exclamation

oft times -- often

old as the hills -- ancient

one card shy of a full deck - not all there

ornery - hateful, hard to get along with, stubborn

orter -- ought to

out of whack -- out of order, out of alignment, disjointed

Out Spreeing -- out drinking, or also a female cow in heat looking for a bull

ovair -- over there

- P -

painter -- panther

pallet -- bed on the floor

peaked -- pale

peart -- appeared

peckerwood -- wood pecker

penny pincher -- a stingy person

perpendclar -- straight up

pert nigh -- almost

petticoat -- full slip -- undergarment

petticoat government -- woman wears the pants

picture show -- talking pictures -- a movie

piece of work -- not a good sort

pieded -- spotted

piles -- hemorrhoids

piller -- pillow

piller slip -- pillow case

play parties -- dances called play parties because the churches

didn't approve of dances

play perty -- a toy

pline blank or pint blank -- used as an epitaph or swear word

plum -- very

plumb berift -- daft or crazy

plumb fool -- a person in love, or you love it

poke -- sack

pokesalat -- wild greens

polecat -- skink

pot likker -- liquid left in pot after cooking, such as stock

powerful long -- is or isn't a long time

Praise the Lord and pass the ‘taters! - a blessing at the table

proud flesh -- unhealed part of a wound

purtnigh -- almost

purty -- pretty

purty close -- real near

put that in your pipe and smoke it -- like it or lump it, deal with it

put your hand to the plow - get started

putting on airs -- acting stuck up

- Q -

quair -- acting funny, not common

- R -

rack and ruin -- turn into shambles or ruin ones life

rag – old worn out clothes, an old timey song, cloth to warsh with

rarin' -- ready to go

rat -- right

reap what you sow -- you will get back what you give

rekollect -- remember or recall

reckon to -- guess, to suppose, to think

reckon -- suppose

retarred -- retired

rernt -- ruined

right smart -- pretty good amount

rightly -- correct

riled -- to get angry, mad

rimptions -- a lot

rinch -- rinse or wrench

riteder -- right there

roast'nears -- ears of boiled corn

rotten to the core -- very mean all the way inside

Rough as a corncob -- Corn cobs were often used in the outhouses for wiping oneself after using the toilet. Also referred to

as a rough person.

ruckus -- fight

ruction --quarrel

ruther -- would rather

- S -

salary -- celery

salat --salad

sang/sangin' -- ginsing/ginsing hunting

sarvis huntin' -- service berry hunting

sass -- applesauce

sassified – satisfied

schoolin' or book learnin' -- education

set along -- sit on the floor

set my heart a'quiverin' – fallin in love, nervous

sharp as an axe – cutting wit

sharp as a tack – very smart

shet -- shut

shindig -- party

shine -- moonshine, homemade liquor

Shoot! -- an epitaph

shor'nuf - surely

shuck -- to peel

shut eye -- sleep

shut of -- rid of

si-goggle – look sideways, or something not straight

sick -- bad health

sight for sore eyes -- longed for, or beautiful

sissy or sis -- common nickname for sister

sissified -- feminine or cityfied - from the city

six of one, one-half dozen of another -- doesn't matter

skedaddle -- to get away, to run when threatened

skeer the livin' daylights outta me -- scare or surprise someone skeer'd - scared, afraid

slap dab -- I did

slow as molasses -- very slow

smidgen -- little bit

snakeses -- snakes

snatch baldheaded -- a punishment term

sneakin' wolf -- false person

snort -- a drink of likker (likker or liquor most likely moonshine)

so and so -- a certain person

some cause or other -- reason

sorry good for nothings -- a bad sort

sparkin' -- dating

spenders -- suspenders or gallowses (galluses)

squarsh -- squash

Stick it where the sun don't shine. -- To hide….nicely put

still waters run deep - watch out for the quiet ones

stir-off -- cooking sugar cane juice until it turns to molasses

stob -- stub

stove-up -- stiff or hurt

Straighten up an fly right! -- Quit messing around and do what is right.

Stubborn as an old mule - Won't give in at all - very stubborn

sumers -- somewheres

supper -- mid day or late meal -- depending on where you live

surely undoubtedly -- most certainly

sweetheartin' -- courting

- T -

taint -- isn't

take to your bed go -- to bed and stay there

talking machine -- a Victrola - the first long play record player

tamar -- tomorrow

taking the stubbs – being stubborn

Tan Your Hide -- I'll whoop you - spank you, - most likely derived

from the strop used to tan hides with, or belt

tard as far and twic'd as hot -- very tired

taters -- potatoes

teched -- crazy in the head

thang -- thing

thank -- think

thing-a-ma-bob -- a thing

thing-a-ma-jig -- a thing

this-n-ere -- this one

thisn' -- this one

thar -- there

that'n -- that one

thow -- throw

thrash -- spank or whoop

three dog night - so cold you need 3 dogs to keep you warm

Tighter than Dick's hatband -- to be stingy

time flies when you're havin' fun – time passes swiftly

to beat the devil -- to beat it all

toddick -- a small measure, also hot toddy

tolable -- friendly

tom-foolery -- to joke around, mischievousness

tommy toes – cherry ‘maters

too big for your britches -- smart alec

took my foot in my hand and lit out -- started on a journey

torndownest place -- a place in ruin or disrepair

tother -- the other one

travellinist -- travel a lot

truth will stand when the world's on fire - truth always comes out on top

tucker -- tire

tuk -- took

turkey-tails -- branches out like a fork in the river

turn of meal -- you wait your turn at the mill for your grain to be ground

tutor it -- just right do it just right

- U -

upsot – upset

up in the papers -- being pregnant

up and done it -- did, or you've done it now

upscuddle -- quarrel

ust -- used

- V -

varmitated - act like a varmint

varmints -- small creates who will eat your food, or critters who will eat you

vittles -- human food

- W -

wadn't -- wasn't

waller -- wallow

waylay -- surprise or set a trap

weary -- worry

whar -- where

warsh -- wash

warshbord -- used before wringer washers to scrub clothes

warter -- water

wasper -- wasp

weuns -- us or we

whallopers -- real big

whar in the round brown world -- where is it

what in the sam hill? -- questions

When hell freezes over -- Never

white as a sheet – very pale

whole endurin' day -- all day long

whopper -- big

whopperjawed -- big mouth

whupped -- whipped

widder -- widow

winder -- window

window light -- window

woods colt -- unknown father

work brickle -- lazy

workinest -- hard worker

would witch me -- cast a spell on me

woudna miss a hog killin' -- be in on everything

writ -- warrant

wrought -- brought it on yourself

wrung out -- squeezed the water out of or tired

- Y -

y'all -- you all

yers -- ears

ye -- you

yep -- yes

yestede - yesterday

yo -- hello

yonder -- over there

yore -- your

you'ns -- you all

youn'to? -- do you want to - a slur

youn'ses -- you all

youngun -- a small child

you ain't jest whistlin' dixie -- agreeing

Yurp -- Old Country - Europe

You've been sucking on the old sow -- A dirty faced person

zamine -- examine

Airish – chilly outside (adjective)

Cathead – a large southern biscuit (noun)

Gaum – to clutter, make a mess (noun)

Liketa – almost, nearly (adverb, sometimes)

Poke – a bag (noun)

Scald – a dead thing (noun)

Sigogglin – unusually crooked. (adjective)

Skift – light covering, usually referring to snow

Whimmy-diddle – a contraption, object or toy. (noun)

Work-brittle– in some Southern regions this can mean eager to work or energetic, while in other parts of Appalachia, this term can mean quite the opposite, synonymous with laziness. (adjective)

sangin' - hunting ginseng

Catheads are the best homemade biscuits ever.

A fairy diddle is a chipmunk and

a dry land fish is some of the best mushrooms you will ever eat.

Names

Vernon

Virgil

Sadie

Effie

Lundy

Trilby

Patty (not a nn)

Minnie

Leland

Cotton

Esta

Sadie

Ruby

Garnett

Garland

There was an uncle Shirley and an aunt Bobbie

Wise

Ledi

Dreama

Lottie

Neicy

Junie

Nita

Josie May

Marydella

Floyd

Otey

Otis

Minnie

Clyde

Heath

Alma

Rosie Belle

Linnie (girl)

Arcansas

Zeno

Celia

Polly

Dale

Roby

Etter (girl)

Jory (girl)

Serfina

Whyle

Pricilla

Lum (short for Columbus, his MN)

Elisha

Euphamey

Lurana

Bedy

Beulah

Mamie

Wilmer

Elmer

Lulu

Enoch

Sudie

A LOT of names are mispronounced here. I know an Eloise who pronounce her name E-low-is and my husband has an uncle Hiram and they pronounce it Horm. Also some of his family pronounces my soon-to-be daughter's name HannER instead of Hanna.

There are also a lot of double first names, my father is Larry Joe, my great uncle was Paul David (I know several Paul David's actually) I know a few Bobby Joe's (both male and female)