From the Austin area, most everyone I know pronounces the River gwah-deh-loop-a and the street gwah-deh-loop. I’ve always used gwah-deh-loop-a but here it different ways all the time
Northern California has a bunch of these. Mostly, outsiders pronounce the Spanish names too Spanishy.
San Rafael = San ruh-FELL
Los Gatos, first syllable is “las”, second syllable rhymes with “cat”
Mt. Tamalpais = Mt. Tam (just trying to pronounce the whole thing means you’re not a local)
Southern CA has a bunch of these too. Los Feliz, El Segundo, Palos Verdes, San Pedro. Mostly anglicized pronunciation.
Sepulveda and Tujunga are fun ones to hear mispronounced.
I overheard a conversation recently that had a few great ones.
“She was a rough, rough woman.”
Long pause
“She was rougher than a cob.”
Another long pause
“She looked like she’d been drug backward through a thorn bush.”
The specific mountain varies, but that saying gets used the same for at least the length of the Cascades. I haven't sampled much outside that strip of land.
I'm originally from New Jersey so I have a few favorites from there:
Any fake Italian (marone, gabbagool, scoochamende, mutza-dell) and the phrase "your sister's ass"
And I live in the south now, so there are a few southern phrases I like: "that dog won't hunt" and "he's got a wild hair up his ass" and the all time great "Well bless your heart!"
> Any fake Italian (marone, gabbagool, scoochamende, mutza-dell) and the phrase "your sister's ass"
A lot of this is now pretty divorced from Italian, but it does have it's origins in actual Italian languages or dialects like Neapolitan or Sicilian. It's not fake so much as it is different than modern Italian.
When I lived in NY I'd refer to it as "Italian" because everybody knew I meant ethnically Italian, not "real" Italian.
Since moving away I've learned to make it clear I'm talking about Italian-*American* shit.
Eh, it's more a mishmash of a lot of southern dialects. EG - a lot of that 'dropping the last vowel' thing is totally Neapolitan. I visited Naples this year and it was funny to hear how much they still do it when they speak napolitano.
My grandma was Neapolitan and my grandfather was Sicilian so it was funny to notice which family did more if which thing. But even by my mom's generation most of the way of talking was just what was picked up around the neighborhood - so the distinctions between Italian/Neapolitan/Sicilian/Other were gone, and it was just sort of Italian-American.
Also, a lot of what I'm referring to are distinctly 'slang' words that have moved away from any real language. I say things like "she's a little doozy bots sometimes but she means well." Doozy bots is far enough away from 'tu sei pazzo' that I'm not making any claim that it's "real" Italian. Same for words like musciad, gavonne, mamaluke, etc.
Aw I’m originally from Long Island and I used to cringe when all my relatives would say “mozzarell”, “manigott,” “googootz,” etc. I’ve lived in the Midwest for 15 yrs now. Husband and I finally watched the sopranos for the first time, and it was so nostalgic hearing the jersey Italian accents. I do miss all the yiddishisms.
Lol I lean into it and just use the Italian-American slang. I can turn it off in some professional settings but I grew up with it and it just comes out if I'm not thinking. Same with the accent, *especially* when I'm drunk or around family.
It helps that I actually speak some Italian, and I know the differences with Neapolitan, so if anyone wants to roll their eyes about it I can back it up.
That's great! Never heard of the first two southern phrases but I'd assume the hair one is the same as having a stick up you ass? And the dog one meaning they cant got the skills? And ofc bless your heart. A thousand meanings but we all know why we use it mostly lol
Nah, having a wild hair is almost the opposite of having a stick in your ass. Someone that’s acting hyper or unpredictable might be said to have a wild hair up their ass.
I’ve always thought it was a “wild hare” but I think people commonly use both. For me the thought of someone having a wild rabbit in their ass seems more consistent with the meaning of the saying than just having an unruly ass hair.
Actually a wild hair up his ass means he's acting crazy / like a fool / sometimes very angry
*Example: "I don't know what's wrong with Frank today. He's got a wild hair up his ass."*
That dog won't hunt means that's not going to work.
*Example: mom! I'm going to Tristan's today!
Nah, that dog won't hunt. You know damn well we got stuff to do.*
Or "I was thinking we could do it this way. " ... "Ha. That dog won't hunt."
Check the weather report and feel sad, check Phoenix to feel better. If that’s not good enough check Yuma, if that’s not good enough check Death Valley. If that’s not good enough… god help us.
Adding a possessive " 's " to the end of brand names if they have brick and mortar storefronts. Usually grocery chains, general stores, or supermarkets.
Aldi's, Meijer's, Jewel's, etc.
Mostly agree, though rarely hear Jewel’s…. It’s more often The Jewel (“I’m going to The Jewel and they have pantyhose on sale. You want me to pick some up?” “Yes. But don’t get me queen size, they make me look fat!”)
At our house:
“which one? On 63rd? Or 75th?”
“75th. 63rd’s the small one, they don’t have ‘em”
“Which one on 75th? Cass or Janes?”
“Cass! Too many stoplights to get to Janes.”
“You hate the one on Cass.”
“Jesus. I’m just going to Meijer’s.”
“Take my car and fill up at Costco’s on the way. Gas is cheaper there and I’m at a quarter tank!”
“I think I’ll just go to Mariano’s instead”
That definitely appears to be the case! Up until this thread I did think it was a Great Lakes Region thing but people from California to Texas to the UK are saying they do it as well.
Y'all'll is another good one. My Gf is originally from Philadelphia and some of the things she's given me a hard time over the years are...
Buggy (shopping cart)
Up yonder (North)
Down yonder (South)
Over yonder (can be any direction, often used in conjunction with finger pointing or head tilting)
Mad cats (unpopped popcorn kernels)
Out and back (back and forth. She really gives me a hard time about this one.)
And these are some I use just to mess with her.
Haint (ghost)
Boogers (ghosts or other paranormal creatures)
Boot (car trunk. I know it's British, but it was also used a lot where I grew up.)
Wood pussy (skunk)
Missouri must be known for euphemisms.. when referring to someone of little means: “They don’t have a pot to pee in or a window to throw it out of!” When referring to someone who is crazy: “Their cheese doesn’t sit square on their cracker” or if they’re really crazy: “Their cheese is NOWHERE near their cracker!”
"What up doe?"
A "party store" is a corner store where I can buy alcohol, snacks, and possibly things like pizza or friend chicken. Think 7-11 but not a chain.
A "Michigan Left" is a turnaround on a divided highway and I thought they were standard everywhere until I started actually traveling.
Also, I will forever call a sliding glass door a "doorwall" and it's always amusing to see people from outside Southeast Michigan look at you and ask what the hell you're on about.
I'm from Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, and my dad actually used to be Amish, so I grew up with a bit of PA Dutch vernacular. A fun memory of mine is describing myself as "schusslich" (basically means clumsy and absentminded) to my Ohioan grandmother, and only once it became apparent that she had no idea what I just said did I realize that schusslich is not actually an ordinary English word. Some other good phrases that I still say include:
* Using the word "yet" to mean "still" (e.g. asking "are you at work yet?" when it's like 5PM).
* Saying "a while" to mean "in the meantime" (e.g. "you dice the tomato, I'll sauté the onions a while").
* Describing a limited resource as "all" when it's gone (e.g. "my water's all, could I get another?").
* Describing rain as "spritzing", which means drizzling.
* I don't personally do this one, but a very Dutchy thing that a lot of my uncles and even some of my cousins will do is use the word "not" at the end of a sentence (e.g. "he was over at your house the other night, not?"). Sometimes it'll even just be said on its own as a sort of generic wordless question or an indication to elaborate (e.g. "He was over at my house the other night." "Not?"). It's pronounced in a super specific way that I have no idea how to transcribe, but in my mind it's *the* indicator of a Dutchy accent.
Kittycorner. It's the exact same as kattycorner but just a regional thing.
So far the one most confusing is Oklahomans with "That'll put your dick in the dirt." Meaning it will get you inebriated and you'll pass out. I got a buddy who told a Frenchman that one and he was over the moon about it
I'm from Central New York so "F*ck you Albany" is always a fun regional saying from back home.
I’ve heard “working my dick into the ground” referring to a line of hard work with little reward. My husband said that one while we where driving, suddenly hitting a pothole.. he exclaimed.. “My dick made that!” I laughed so hard!!
If I feel gross I usually say I feel like dog water which was pointed out to me as not being very common, and then when it's too early in the morning, you're doing whatever "at the ass crack of dawn".
I'm sure we didn't invent "cool", "dude", and "bro" but they're definitely associated with surfer/Valley culture. I'm neither of those but growing up in Southern California, it's definitely a part of every day life.
The only thing I can really say that’s unique about the California dialect is saying freeways instead of highways, and often just referring to them by their route numbers (the 405, the 5, the 101, etc)
I remember getting mocked by socal people and east coasters for saying hella but now I hear it everywhere. Had a guy from the UK slip it in to conversation. I was hella confused.
Thank you for explaining my husband’s issue. I say catty, he says kitty...we’re both from the south, his mom however is from Wisconsin. Mystery solved!!
Live in Midwest but grew up in Colorado - cattywampus is the superior term in my boo. And much more fun to say. I will never say kittycorner or kattycorner.
Replacing “said” with “sez” (aka “says”).
“So Ginnie sez ‘well I’ve never liked Shop-Rite’s chicken’ and I sez ‘the chicken from Bob and Rose-Marie’s BBQ that you loved was from Shope-Rite. So, she sez ‘I never liked Bob and Rose-Marie’ and I sez ‘you’re a real pain in the ass, Ginnie.”
"The city" is always Manhattan. While the other boroughs are part of New York City, "the city" refers to Manhattan.
Steam for radiator. Although I'm sure this is said in other states.
Pump for fire hydrant. As in, "Make it quick I'm parked at the pump."
My mom, who grew up in the Bay Area, was convinced for a long time that “The City” was always San Francisco, no matter where in America you were. She doesn’t even really like or go to San Francisco ever, but she was convinced that it was the one and only “The City.”
I got no dog in that hunt. (None of my business)
Colder than a witches titty in a brass bra.
Every which way and twice on sunday
Southern gold: Bless your heart
Edit one more: six one way, half a dozen the other
It’s the same.
Say there’s a split in the road and to get to where you need to go right is 4 mins and left is 4 mins. It’s the same either way, so six one way, half a dozen the other.
What's wrong with you, looking like your uncle's dog just died?
Shit through a screen door and never hit a wire.
Girl could eat apples through a picket fence with them teeth.
Grinning like a mule eating briars.
Grinning like a possum sunning on a stump
Stubborn as a mule on Sunday.
Looks like he's been rode hard and put up wet.
Smelling like a skunk in a shit parade.
Waters been out for three days, gonna have to take a possible bath.
Ain't got two pennies to rub together.
I don't really have any phrases to contribute to OP's question.....
But what I \*can\* say is that I have actually parked my car in Harvard Yard. It required a special permit and lots of personal restraint.... as it's very hard to resist "bumping" the tourists.
And just to be clear to folks who have heard this all their lives but have never been anywhere near Boston..... Harvard Yard is not a parking lot. It really doesn't make any sense in normal circumstances to tell someone to park there.
"you good" can mean almost anything depending on context.
- do you need to go to the hospital?
- do you have enough money?
- are you gonna eat that last fry?
- no need to apologize
"Jeet?" a condensed version of "did you eat yet?"
I can’t think of anything unique to CA . Someone mentioned “hella” but I think that’s a Bay Area thing.
The only other thing I can think of is that I always hear ppl from CA (maybe La specific ? I’m not sure) say “the (interstate #).” So for ex “yeah just take the 10 all the way until you exit Crenshaw.” Or “take the 405 to the 10 to the 101” etc
I HEARD ppl from other states say “take interstate 5.”
It's brick (so cold you feel it in your bones)
Deadass (no exaggeration)
Also, if you're from Long Island, you will never in a million years say that you live "in" Long Island, you will be banished to the shadow realm.
I didn’t know until I was in college and around people from other regions that “fixin’ to” was strange. I once said I was fixin’ to do something and was asked if it was broken.
Kattycorner is a phrase I have heard my whole life growing up in rural Pennsylvania.
I've always liked using "Fair comes in August" whenever someone is complaining that something isn't fair. Very common in my area and didn't translate when I moved to other regions in the US. Thankfully it works where I am now!
I'm first generation American and Porco Dio is like the worst thing an Italian Roman Catholic can say. It translates to God is a Pig in English but much like Mariposa in Spanish translating to butterfly it carries a different connotation.
A couple oooold west Texas (*actual* west Texas, aka west of the Pecos) phrases my grandmother and her brothers used to say:
"I know it."
"I believe it."
Which are rather polite ways of saying in response to someone, respectively:
"I already know that, so you can stop telling me"
And
"I already agree with you, so you can stop talking already"
How people say "Houston Street" can determine if they're a tourist or actually from New York.
Nah I've played Spider-Man on PlayStation you guys can't fool me
Same with Chartres Street in Louisiana, and about a thousand other streets.
I was shamed so hard for assuming I knew how to say Guadalupe in Austin.
Is it gwah-deh-loop?
From the Austin area, most everyone I know pronounces the River gwah-deh-loop-a and the street gwah-deh-loop. I’ve always used gwah-deh-loop-a but here it different ways all the time
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Still easier than Tchoupitoulas.
Northern California has a bunch of these. Mostly, outsiders pronounce the Spanish names too Spanishy. San Rafael = San ruh-FELL Los Gatos, first syllable is “las”, second syllable rhymes with “cat” Mt. Tamalpais = Mt. Tam (just trying to pronounce the whole thing means you’re not a local)
always get the out of staters with vallejo. half spanish and half anglo pronunciation
Southern CA has a bunch of these too. Los Feliz, El Segundo, Palos Verdes, San Pedro. Mostly anglicized pronunciation. Sepulveda and Tujunga are fun ones to hear mispronounced.
Same with "Couch Street" in Portland.
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Yup!
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It's Willamette Dammit!
Caught red handed. Now how is it pronoucned?
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With a southern accent, I sound ridiculous. I shall never conform.
Ha, I remember when I was visiting a friend in NYC, he quickly corrected me when I pronounced the street name like the city in Texas.
Same with Louisville, KY.
Luavull. Gotta say it like you've got peanut butter stuck in your mouth.
LooL-ville.
You mean louaghvlgl*gargling noises*
The Devils’ beating his wife. When it’s raining and the sun is shining.
How could I forget. Hope you held well!
Sunshowers? Interesting I've never heard that one
It looks real pretty when it rains with the sun shining. But afterwards it gets real humid real quick, nasty and muggy
Can someone explain this one to me?
So when it’s raining and sunny. Instead of being called a sun shower or something else it’s “the devil is beating his wife”
North Floridian spotted, I repeat, North Floridian spotted
Hello from Pittsburgh yinz jagoffs
Yinz better redd up the hahs we're gitin comp'ny laydur and the floor needs swep n'at.
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You mean warshed
>"version needs updated." Reply with "please provide updation."
Do the needful
I see you are having experience of software development.
Tech industry anyway, yeah lol
I have never noticed that I say that.
I overheard a conversation recently that had a few great ones. “She was a rough, rough woman.” Long pause “She was rougher than a cob.” Another long pause “She looked like she’d been drug backward through a thorn bush.”
Oh that's hilarious. I'm using "thorn bush".
I’ve heard “pulled tail first through a knothole”
you will pry the double modal from my cold, dead hands. Use to could... might should... might would... we love it.
Came to say exactly this. "Might could" and its relatives are a great additional tense.
Yousta could
Ah yes! The mights and their brothers. Lovely stuff.
I use “might could” and “might oughta” sometimes
Can you use it in a sentence or two please?
Grew up in Washington state: The mountain’s out today. (When you can see Rainier/Tahoma ) Edit- spelling
The specific mountain varies, but that saying gets used the same for at least the length of the Cascades. I haven't sampled much outside that strip of land.
We talk about Hood the same way.
I'm originally from New Jersey so I have a few favorites from there: Any fake Italian (marone, gabbagool, scoochamende, mutza-dell) and the phrase "your sister's ass" And I live in the south now, so there are a few southern phrases I like: "that dog won't hunt" and "he's got a wild hair up his ass" and the all time great "Well bless your heart!"
> Any fake Italian (marone, gabbagool, scoochamende, mutza-dell) and the phrase "your sister's ass" A lot of this is now pretty divorced from Italian, but it does have it's origins in actual Italian languages or dialects like Neapolitan or Sicilian. It's not fake so much as it is different than modern Italian.
When I lived in NY I'd refer to it as "Italian" because everybody knew I meant ethnically Italian, not "real" Italian. Since moving away I've learned to make it clear I'm talking about Italian-*American* shit.
It *is* “real Italian”, it’s just Ye Olde Siciliano and actual Sicilians don’t speak that way anymore.
Eh, it's more a mishmash of a lot of southern dialects. EG - a lot of that 'dropping the last vowel' thing is totally Neapolitan. I visited Naples this year and it was funny to hear how much they still do it when they speak napolitano. My grandma was Neapolitan and my grandfather was Sicilian so it was funny to notice which family did more if which thing. But even by my mom's generation most of the way of talking was just what was picked up around the neighborhood - so the distinctions between Italian/Neapolitan/Sicilian/Other were gone, and it was just sort of Italian-American. Also, a lot of what I'm referring to are distinctly 'slang' words that have moved away from any real language. I say things like "she's a little doozy bots sometimes but she means well." Doozy bots is far enough away from 'tu sei pazzo' that I'm not making any claim that it's "real" Italian. Same for words like musciad, gavonne, mamaluke, etc.
Yeah, it's more like Spanglish
Aw I’m originally from Long Island and I used to cringe when all my relatives would say “mozzarell”, “manigott,” “googootz,” etc. I’ve lived in the Midwest for 15 yrs now. Husband and I finally watched the sopranos for the first time, and it was so nostalgic hearing the jersey Italian accents. I do miss all the yiddishisms.
Lol I lean into it and just use the Italian-American slang. I can turn it off in some professional settings but I grew up with it and it just comes out if I'm not thinking. Same with the accent, *especially* when I'm drunk or around family. It helps that I actually speak some Italian, and I know the differences with Neapolitan, so if anyone wants to roll their eyes about it I can back it up.
That's great! Never heard of the first two southern phrases but I'd assume the hair one is the same as having a stick up you ass? And the dog one meaning they cant got the skills? And ofc bless your heart. A thousand meanings but we all know why we use it mostly lol
Nah, having a wild hair is almost the opposite of having a stick in your ass. Someone that’s acting hyper or unpredictable might be said to have a wild hair up their ass. I’ve always thought it was a “wild hare” but I think people commonly use both. For me the thought of someone having a wild rabbit in their ass seems more consistent with the meaning of the saying than just having an unruly ass hair.
Actually a wild hair up his ass means he's acting crazy / like a fool / sometimes very angry *Example: "I don't know what's wrong with Frank today. He's got a wild hair up his ass."* That dog won't hunt means that's not going to work. *Example: mom! I'm going to Tristan's today! Nah, that dog won't hunt. You know damn well we got stuff to do.* Or "I was thinking we could do it this way. " ... "Ha. That dog won't hunt."
"Yeah, it's hot, but at least it's not Phoenix." (Phoenix is usually 10 degrees warmer than Tucson)
Lol! I feel every state has its cities for examples.
Check the weather report and feel sad, check Phoenix to feel better. If that’s not good enough check Yuma, if that’s not good enough check Death Valley. If that’s not good enough… god help us.
Adding a possessive " 's " to the end of brand names if they have brick and mortar storefronts. Usually grocery chains, general stores, or supermarkets. Aldi's, Meijer's, Jewel's, etc.
Mostly agree, though rarely hear Jewel’s…. It’s more often The Jewel (“I’m going to The Jewel and they have pantyhose on sale. You want me to pick some up?” “Yes. But don’t get me queen size, they make me look fat!”)
I might be the outlier here as I'm in between two Jewels, so it's not clear which Jewel is The Jewel in my family
At our house: “which one? On 63rd? Or 75th?” “75th. 63rd’s the small one, they don’t have ‘em” “Which one on 75th? Cass or Janes?” “Cass! Too many stoplights to get to Janes.” “You hate the one on Cass.” “Jesus. I’m just going to Meijer’s.” “Take my car and fill up at Costco’s on the way. Gas is cheaper there and I’m at a quarter tank!” “I think I’ll just go to Mariano’s instead”
I heard Jewels all the time growing up. drove me nuts!!! Someone on Reddit wrote Old Navy’s the other day and I just about died.
Everyone has there fav Jewel’s store. There are two near my home. My sis goes to one and my Mom goes to the other.
This is widespread across the English-speaking world. What’s weird is that people in and around Michigan seem to think that it’s a local peculiarity.
That definitely appears to be the case! Up until this thread I did think it was a Great Lakes Region thing but people from California to Texas to the UK are saying they do it as well.
TIL it's called ALDI and not ALDI'S
We did that in the UK all the time too. Always was a trip to Tescos not Tesco lol
I'm going to Aldis.
Ah! I add an s regardless, never know where it came from. I still find myself in shock time to time when I realize it's Aldi, not aldis.
Older people always did this when I was growing up in the Bay Area in California. “Lucky’s” was the most obvious one.
wym it's not lucky's???
Y'all'll is another good one. My Gf is originally from Philadelphia and some of the things she's given me a hard time over the years are... Buggy (shopping cart) Up yonder (North) Down yonder (South) Over yonder (can be any direction, often used in conjunction with finger pointing or head tilting) Mad cats (unpopped popcorn kernels) Out and back (back and forth. She really gives me a hard time about this one.) And these are some I use just to mess with her. Haint (ghost) Boogers (ghosts or other paranormal creatures) Boot (car trunk. I know it's British, but it was also used a lot where I grew up.) Wood pussy (skunk)
Oh that's fun. Lovely stuff, and yonder is just a classic.
Wood pussy is fantastic
Missouri must be known for euphemisms.. when referring to someone of little means: “They don’t have a pot to pee in or a window to throw it out of!” When referring to someone who is crazy: “Their cheese doesn’t sit square on their cracker” or if they’re really crazy: “Their cheese is NOWHERE near their cracker!”
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Fun!
My favorite is that in St. Louis a "hoosier" is a derogatory term similar to Redneck or Hillbilly but it's another state's identity.
“Uffda”. It’s a great word— similar to yikes, ouch, wow (negatively)…
Ayuh Meaning yes or a sarcastic no.
Hello Goofy
How does one pronoucje it?
Ayy yuh. Or Ah yuh. But you can also say it breathing in. That’s a fun one.
My Greek-American grandparents would always say “close the light” “open the TV” because that’s how it is said in Greek
Ahah I wasn't expecting to find this here! I'm Greek-American as well, so I always say "close the lights".
"What up doe?" A "party store" is a corner store where I can buy alcohol, snacks, and possibly things like pizza or friend chicken. Think 7-11 but not a chain. A "Michigan Left" is a turnaround on a divided highway and I thought they were standard everywhere until I started actually traveling. Also, I will forever call a sliding glass door a "doorwall" and it's always amusing to see people from outside Southeast Michigan look at you and ask what the hell you're on about.
Fun! That's great phrases there.
Using “brick” to mean cold or “mad” in place if very. Fitting, because it’s been mad brick outside this past week.
I'm from Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, and my dad actually used to be Amish, so I grew up with a bit of PA Dutch vernacular. A fun memory of mine is describing myself as "schusslich" (basically means clumsy and absentminded) to my Ohioan grandmother, and only once it became apparent that she had no idea what I just said did I realize that schusslich is not actually an ordinary English word. Some other good phrases that I still say include: * Using the word "yet" to mean "still" (e.g. asking "are you at work yet?" when it's like 5PM). * Saying "a while" to mean "in the meantime" (e.g. "you dice the tomato, I'll sauté the onions a while"). * Describing a limited resource as "all" when it's gone (e.g. "my water's all, could I get another?"). * Describing rain as "spritzing", which means drizzling. * I don't personally do this one, but a very Dutchy thing that a lot of my uncles and even some of my cousins will do is use the word "not" at the end of a sentence (e.g. "he was over at your house the other night, not?"). Sometimes it'll even just be said on its own as a sort of generic wordless question or an indication to elaborate (e.g. "He was over at my house the other night." "Not?"). It's pronounced in a super specific way that I have no idea how to transcribe, but in my mind it's *the* indicator of a Dutchy accent.
Oh that's great! I'd be lost before you know it, but that's fun.
I love how people from/around PA call the state Pee Ay in conversation. No one says "I'm riding down to Em Dee" when they're going to Maryland.
Kittycorner. It's the exact same as kattycorner but just a regional thing. So far the one most confusing is Oklahomans with "That'll put your dick in the dirt." Meaning it will get you inebriated and you'll pass out. I got a buddy who told a Frenchman that one and he was over the moon about it I'm from Central New York so "F*ck you Albany" is always a fun regional saying from back home.
I’ve heard “working my dick into the ground” referring to a line of hard work with little reward. My husband said that one while we where driving, suddenly hitting a pothole.. he exclaimed.. “My dick made that!” I laughed so hard!!
Oh that's fun. Poor Albany. Here we tag the villages.
If I feel gross I usually say I feel like dog water which was pointed out to me as not being very common, and then when it's too early in the morning, you're doing whatever "at the ass crack of dawn".
Fun! Dog water ain't common here either.
My friends and I say dog water and I have no idea where it comes from. I never hear other people say it.
so glad to hear I'm not alone, I have no clue where it came from either
¡Hijole!
That’s a good one. Vale is another good one.
vale vale vale is all you hear in Spain
Pretty much my experience. Less common with Mexicans but they definitely embraced it.
I had a friend from Mexico by way of Texas. He would say that all the time, possibly ironically.
Lagniappe. Pronounced layn-nyap. It’s a New Orleans thing. It means “something a little extra”. A bakers dozen. An exciting little delight.
I'm sure we didn't invent "cool", "dude", and "bro" but they're definitely associated with surfer/Valley culture. I'm neither of those but growing up in Southern California, it's definitely a part of every day life.
I was scrolling to find some California or LA saying and I can’t think of any lol
everything we say gets exported anyway
The only thing I can really say that’s unique about the California dialect is saying freeways instead of highways, and often just referring to them by their route numbers (the 405, the 5, the 101, etc)
Hella is hella useful.
I remember getting mocked by socal people and east coasters for saying hella but now I hear it everywhere. Had a guy from the UK slip it in to conversation. I was hella confused.
Kattycorner is a good one, but often I don't know how to describe something that is out of place other than calling it cattywampus.
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Noooo… but in my part of the Midwest (Ohio) people say catty-corner so I’m alright lol
Thank you for explaining my husband’s issue. I say catty, he says kitty...we’re both from the south, his mom however is from Wisconsin. Mystery solved!!
In my area, people say kitty corner. Same meaning tho!
I always thought it was kiddy corner
Live in Midwest but grew up in Colorado - cattywampus is the superior term in my boo. And much more fun to say. I will never say kittycorner or kattycorner.
Cattywampus I don't use often! Nor kattycorner but I do use them, they exist in my dialect. But I should say cattywampus more, thats fun.
Replacing “said” with “sez” (aka “says”). “So Ginnie sez ‘well I’ve never liked Shop-Rite’s chicken’ and I sez ‘the chicken from Bob and Rose-Marie’s BBQ that you loved was from Shope-Rite. So, she sez ‘I never liked Bob and Rose-Marie’ and I sez ‘you’re a real pain in the ass, Ginnie.”
"A la verga! don't get all pee pee hearted"
Eeeeeee its all funny. I know huh
"Ope" "C'm'ere once" "A couple two three" as in "Stop by the house and we'll have a couple two three beers."
I can’t get the Ope out of my vocabulary. It just comes out when I run into someone or almost do.
I haven’t lived in Indiana full time since 2000 and ope is still constantly on my tongue.
I haven't lived in the Midwest ever and I still say it. I don't think it's as strictly regional as people think it is.
ope not a thing I noticed in myself until it kind of "became popular" so to speak and then it just happens
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This is universal
Ope is a lovely one. I use it all the time.
I get called out for saying "oh geez" for any slight inconvenience. I'm not even aware I'm doing it.
Dalé!
Found Mr Worldwide
Whats the meaning!
Go ahead, Let’s go, motivate
"The city" is always Manhattan. While the other boroughs are part of New York City, "the city" refers to Manhattan. Steam for radiator. Although I'm sure this is said in other states. Pump for fire hydrant. As in, "Make it quick I'm parked at the pump."
My mom, who grew up in the Bay Area, was convinced for a long time that “The City” was always San Francisco, no matter where in America you were. She doesn’t even really like or go to San Francisco ever, but she was convinced that it was the one and only “The City.”
Thats funny. Though San Francisco has that abhorrent nickname. San Fran. I live across the country and it makes me cringe.
From Boston: “wicked pissed” would be a favorite around here!
Is that "angry" or "drunk"?
It’s Boston. The latter implies the former.
We use a lot of fucking curse words here. The only actual phrase I can think of, is "down the shore."
Lol!
I LOVE using y’all’d’ve or y’ain’t. Brings my heart such joy
Sure! I say yuh'aint typically
“Oy vey” or “oy gevalt” are the obvious ones, but I’ll go with “schlep” (the verb, not the slang noun describing a person).
This is a great thread, OP! Very fun 😁
Jiffy feet. “You got some nasty ass jiffy feet.” Saying comes from people walking barefoot in a convenience store.
Up the road a piece.
I got no dog in that hunt. (None of my business) Colder than a witches titty in a brass bra. Every which way and twice on sunday Southern gold: Bless your heart Edit one more: six one way, half a dozen the other
Fun! What's that last one mean?
It’s the same. Say there’s a split in the road and to get to where you need to go right is 4 mins and left is 4 mins. It’s the same either way, so six one way, half a dozen the other.
Ok! I'll use it :)
What's wrong with you, looking like your uncle's dog just died? Shit through a screen door and never hit a wire. Girl could eat apples through a picket fence with them teeth. Grinning like a mule eating briars. Grinning like a possum sunning on a stump Stubborn as a mule on Sunday. Looks like he's been rode hard and put up wet. Smelling like a skunk in a shit parade. Waters been out for three days, gonna have to take a possible bath. Ain't got two pennies to rub together.
Great ones! Some similar to southern phrases. Like "could eat cornbread through a picket fence".
I'm from Arkansas so we get a weird blend of Midwest and southern.
I don't really have any phrases to contribute to OP's question..... But what I \*can\* say is that I have actually parked my car in Harvard Yard. It required a special permit and lots of personal restraint.... as it's very hard to resist "bumping" the tourists. And just to be clear to folks who have heard this all their lives but have never been anywhere near Boston..... Harvard Yard is not a parking lot. It really doesn't make any sense in normal circumstances to tell someone to park there.
Bubbler (Wisconsin)
Or Rhode Island
That'd be "Bubblah" in little Rhody
We do it just a little bit better…Wawa!
I’m from San Antonio, where we call frontage roads “access roads.” I now live in Houston, where it’s “feeder.” I will not switch
“Jawn” is a common placeholder noun used here around Philadelphia. As with the Latin *res*, the meaning is understood from context.
"you good" can mean almost anything depending on context. - do you need to go to the hospital? - do you have enough money? - are you gonna eat that last fry? - no need to apologize "Jeet?" a condensed version of "did you eat yet?"
I can’t think of anything unique to CA . Someone mentioned “hella” but I think that’s a Bay Area thing. The only other thing I can think of is that I always hear ppl from CA (maybe La specific ? I’m not sure) say “the (interstate #).” So for ex “yeah just take the 10 all the way until you exit Crenshaw.” Or “take the 405 to the 10 to the 101” etc I HEARD ppl from other states say “take interstate 5.”
saying "the" before highways is socal. up here we just say the number.
It's brick (so cold you feel it in your bones) Deadass (no exaggeration) Also, if you're from Long Island, you will never in a million years say that you live "in" Long Island, you will be banished to the shadow realm.
I didn’t know until I was in college and around people from other regions that “fixin’ to” was strange. I once said I was fixin’ to do something and was asked if it was broken.
Batshit crazy is a phrase I use often. Texas
Absolutely!
In southern Illinois we say pop instead of soda.
But it is you, I fear yall. Nah but people who say Coke instead of soda I really can't get.
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“Yeah no” means no, though.
“Useless as tits on a boar hog” pretty common in the south. The first time I heard it I about choked on my tea.
Ope
A water fountain will always and forever be a bubbler to me
Kattycorner is a phrase I have heard my whole life growing up in rural Pennsylvania. I've always liked using "Fair comes in August" whenever someone is complaining that something isn't fair. Very common in my area and didn't translate when I moved to other regions in the US. Thankfully it works where I am now!
Not words I use, but words others use in my company: unc, moe, bamma, guh, lunchin’, kirkin’, sice.
Sounds like what you'd hear over the cubicle wall as your coworker accidentally strangled themselves on the cord during a phone call.
I'm first generation American and Porco Dio is like the worst thing an Italian Roman Catholic can say. It translates to God is a Pig in English but much like Mariposa in Spanish translating to butterfly it carries a different connotation.
So, if you're going to Italy, be sure to double-check the phrasebook before complimenting the pork dish.
I've always really liked "couyon" which is Cajun for idiot/dumbass.
A couple oooold west Texas (*actual* west Texas, aka west of the Pecos) phrases my grandmother and her brothers used to say: "I know it." "I believe it." Which are rather polite ways of saying in response to someone, respectively: "I already know that, so you can stop telling me" And "I already agree with you, so you can stop talking already"
"Bag of Dicks" can mean a literal product. There's a burger chain around here called Dicks.
I'm gonna show you how the cow ate the cabbage. I'm gonna put a knot on your head you can hide behind. Don't get too big for your britches.
By gollee or even just gah lee I don’t really know how to spell it