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 Southern Similies & Metaphors

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A Ahad
Pam
Dick Stodghill
awol
JoElle
zadaconnaway
Carol Troestler
Phil Whitley
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Phil Whitley
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Phil Whitley


Number of posts : 907
Registration date : 2008-04-01
Age : 81
Location : Riverdale, GA

Southern Similies & Metaphors Empty
PostSubject: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyMon Jun 16, 2008 8:59 pm

Is it just me, or do southerners use more similies and metaphors in
everyday speech than anywhere else on the globe? Seems we can't get
through a sentence without using them.

I've been running around for a coon's age like a chicken with its head
cut off trying to find similies from other parts of the country
but it seems I have bitten off more than I can chew. One northern lady
told me I was barking up the wrong tree by asking her. I told her that
that dog wouldn't hunt, `cause that was a southern expression that she
probably heard on TV. I think it must have ruffled her feathers `cause
she didn't stay around to chew the fat.

Maybe I just can't see the forest for the trees, but I just can't sit around like a bump on a log and not ask...

Do y'all use similies and metaphors that aren't southern?
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Carol Troestler
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Carol Troestler


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Southern Similies & Metaphors Empty
PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyMon Jun 16, 2008 9:32 pm

Phil,

Just so you don't feel lonely on here at this time of night, I will say we use few. We use many of the southern ones actually.

Carol
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zadaconnaway
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zadaconnaway


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Age : 76
Location : Washington, USA

Southern Similies & Metaphors Empty
PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyMon Jun 16, 2008 9:45 pm

Since many expressions have been around almost throughout history, and our society is a migratory one, the use of them is everywhere. It is just that southerners use more of them more often. Perhaps most southerners stayed in the south, and the expressions are only in some of the northern states.

Just my best guess, Brew.
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Phil Whitley
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Phil Whitley


Number of posts : 907
Registration date : 2008-04-01
Age : 81
Location : Riverdale, GA

Southern Similies & Metaphors Empty
PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyMon Jun 16, 2008 9:53 pm

Thanks for jumping in, Carol (Like a duck on a Junebug). You see? It's
always late at night when I get these ideas. My muse is a night
creature it seems... he's sitting here now, grinnin' like a jackass
eatin' briars.

Actually, these old similies are great to spice up dialogue, but are supposedly verboten in narrative.

Zada:
Quote :
Perhaps most southerners stayed in the south, and the expressions are only in some of the northern states.

It's them dang carpetbaggers. They came here and took everything that
wasn't nailed down or burnt. They got home with our vernacular and
couldn't sell it, so they kept it.

Our next lesson will be "Mixed Metaphors". LOL
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JoElle
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Southern Similies & Metaphors Empty
PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyMon Jun 16, 2008 9:54 pm

I think the Irish are pretty good at using similes as well.

Here are some non Southern similes:

As slippery as an eel

As frisky as a lamb

As deaf as a rock

As soft as butter

As poor as a church mouse

As right as rain

As proud as a peacock

As light as a feather

As patient as Job

As long as my arm ....



Okay, that is enough for now.
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Phil Whitley
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Phil Whitley


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Age : 81
Location : Riverdale, GA

Southern Similies & Metaphors Empty
PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyMon Jun 16, 2008 9:59 pm

Thanks, JoElle, but I'll just bet that they came from southern Ireland!

Or... many of the original settlers here were from Scotland and
Ireland. Could be that many of what we think of as southern actually go
back to the old country! Some of those are mighty familiar...
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JoElle
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Southern Similies & Metaphors Empty
PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyTue Jun 17, 2008 10:29 am

Phil Whitley wrote:
Thanks, JoElle, but I'll just bet that they came from southern Ireland!

Or... many of the original settlers here were from Scotland and
Ireland. Could be that many of what we think of as southern actually go
back to the old country! Some of those are mighty familiar...

It could be. My stepfather was from Arkansas and his name was Kelly! heart

Although I lived in Texas for 16 years, I'm not Southern and never picked up those cute little similes. I never even picked up "y'all" I still say "you guys".

One of the things I love about my job is traveling to all parts of the country and hearing the different accents and local terms for things.

Even something as simple as sodas. In Texas a soda is a coke, regardless if you are talking about Pepsi, Mountain Dew, or Root Beer. The fast food places will ask "what kind of Coke do you want with your meal?"
Other parts of the country call it Pop, Soda, or Cola ... cute!
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zadaconnaway
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zadaconnaway


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Southern Similies & Metaphors Empty
PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyTue Jun 17, 2008 11:07 am

Years ago, I had a friend from Va. who called soda 'swill' regardless of the type. The first time she offered me swill, I almost said no thank you!!
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JoElle
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Southern Similies & Metaphors Empty
PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyTue Jun 17, 2008 11:26 am

zadaconnaway wrote:
Years ago, I had a friend from Va. who called soda 'swill' regardless of the type. The first time she offered me swill, I almost said no thank you!!

Laughing That is too funny!!!
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awol
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PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyTue Jun 17, 2008 12:20 pm

.


Last edited by MS Reynolds on Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:49 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Dick Stodghill
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Southern Similies & Metaphors Empty
PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyTue Jun 17, 2008 12:21 pm

I have an idea JoElle is right about the Irish bringing many phrases with them to this country and coining new ones after arriving. It's an Irish characteristic. Many of the sayings listed by Brew and JoElle have been heard in this part of the country as far back as I can remember. Wherever there was hard work to be done you found the Irish. Around here it was digging the Ohio & Erie Canal. They were treated badly but that didn't last too long.
My maternal great-grandfather came over from Ireland in 1853. He was a prolific writer and some of those old sayings are found in his papers.
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Dick Stodghill
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Southern Similies & Metaphors Empty
PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyTue Jun 17, 2008 12:25 pm

In writing anything that will appear in print you have to be sure to always capitalize Coke to avoid getting a warning letter from the company. They guard their trademark with great zeal.
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Phil Whitley
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Location : Riverdale, GA

Southern Similies & Metaphors Empty
PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyTue Jun 17, 2008 12:42 pm

I think that nails it. These expressions and speech patterns are
acquired from our parents, who learned them from their parents—on back
into time.

We coin new ones with each generation, but the desire to 'color' our
speech with amusing similies seems ingrained in our vernacular.

Tennessee Ernie Ford was a master at their use, and it became a major part of his success on tv.
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JoElle
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PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyTue Jun 17, 2008 1:31 pm

MS Reynolds wrote:
.... did ya know that the original Coca-Cola had cocaine in it and was used as a medicine?

--Melinda

Sure did!

Actually it was named Coca Cola because he used coca leaf and kola nuts. He did add a little cocaine, but stopped using it early on. scratch


Mr. Pemberton claimed his beverage cured morphine addiction and impotence. Shocked

Sort of glad I don't drink soda, Coke, or pop!
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awol
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Southern Similies & Metaphors Empty
PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyTue Jun 17, 2008 1:39 pm

.


Last edited by MS Reynolds on Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:50 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Pam
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PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyWed Jun 18, 2008 5:16 am

Around my neck of the woods, there are about 30% of folks who claim Scottish Heritage, and about 15% Irish, among with plenty of English. They use more hilarious phrases here than I had run into anywhere (but I have not yet visited the Southern states...will be in Florida in Sept). My faves...


  • Running around like a fart in a mitten (as opposed to chicken with it's head cut off).
  • Tis breezun up (the wind's starting to blow)
  • We're off gunnin' (duck hunting)
  • Raisin the devil (a mischievous child)
  • Right (as in 'very'...he's right stoopid)
  • Feed the gulls (getting seasick)
I'm learning a whole new language...and it's particular good.
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zadaconnaway
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Southern Similies & Metaphors Empty
PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyWed Jun 18, 2008 8:34 am

Those are good Pam! Out here, we raise Cain when rambunctious, and being sea sick is feeding the fish. I like the fart in a mitten one, and will have to try the breezin up one as well!

When I was in Alabama in the 60's it seemed that everything was slam ____!

That bug wasn't really dead unless it was slam dead! Your gas tank wasn't really empty until it was slam empty! (you get the idea)
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A Ahad
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Southern Similies & Metaphors Empty
PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyWed Jun 18, 2008 10:10 am

Well I'll remember to say "I'll be slammed!" if I visit Alabama, Zada lol!

I never heard that word used in that way before...okay, my English is a bit under-developed...guess I learn something new on this board every day.
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Pam
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PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyWed Jun 18, 2008 12:14 pm

Abdul you're not the only one learning new stuff every day. All this time I thought you had curly hair, and now I see that your preferred covering is a hat. Or is that a slammin' hat?

Zada I love fart in a mitten too...it sounds kind of funny (I've been told) delivering it in an Alberta accent, but I'm going to stick with it!

:pirat:
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lin
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PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyWed Jun 18, 2008 7:59 pm

My Carolina mama used to say, "He up and knocked him through a row of billy-goat houses."

Her favorite ejaculation was "My stars and garters."
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Phil Whitley
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Southern Similies & Metaphors Empty
PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyWed Jun 18, 2008 8:35 pm

Keep `em coming, guys... I love these things!

My grandmother would say, "Lands to Goshen" and "Well, I swanney" as
her most outrageous expletives. An occassional, "Lawsy mercy" (Lord
have mercy?) was as close to cursing I ever heard from her.
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Brenda Hill
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PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyThu Jun 19, 2008 1:19 am

Well I swan, Brew. Jimmy Ruth pitched a hissy when her old car wouldn’t start, so Linda Sue saved the day and carried her to the wash-a-teria. Linda Sue might’ve been uglier than a mud fence and dumber than a box of rocks, but her hubby, Billy Bob, thought the she was the cat’s meow ‘cause she cooked up a storm. Two peas in a pod, the neighbors declared, fixin’ to watch Linda Sue and Billy Bob mosey on down the road a piece.
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zadaconnaway
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Southern Similies & Metaphors Empty
PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyThu Jun 19, 2008 5:33 am

Those are good, Brenda. Familiar, too. All except the swan. And we always called it a hissy fit or if really bad, a conniption fit!


Last edited by zadaconnaway on Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:14 am; edited 1 time in total
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lin
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Southern Similies & Metaphors Empty
PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyThu Jun 19, 2008 8:47 am

He's got more gumption than Carter's got little pills was another of my mom's grit homilies.
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lin
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PostSubject: Re: Southern Similies & Metaphors   Southern Similies & Metaphors EmptyThu Jun 19, 2008 8:48 am

There's the title for a collection of these things right there, by gum... Homilies and Grits
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