We Mississippians have our own way of doing things, and that includes speaking. Sure, we could talk like everyone else, but what fun would that be? Instead, we use a variety of colorful expressions, which make perfect sense to us but will have out-of-towners scratching their heads. Not so sure? Read on for 13 silly sayings that will only make sense if you’re from Mississippi.
- “Pick up your room.”
Anika Malone/Flickr This may sound like an impossible feat to some, but if you’ve grown up in Mississippi, you know that it simply means to “clean your room.”
- “I’m fixin’ to fix a glass of tea.”
Cassia Noelle/Flickr The word “fix” has a big part in Mississippi vocabulary. Add an “in” to the end and throw a “to” in there and you have the popular expression “fixin’ to,” which simply means “about to do something.” It can also mean to “get” something, as in, “Fix a glass of tea.” It may seem confusing to outsiders, but it just makes sense to us Mississippians.
- “Cut on/off the lights.”
StockyPics/Flickr If a Mississippians wants a device turned on or off, you’ll hear this expression.
- “Finer than frog’s hair.”
John/Flickr This popular expression would probably stump anyone who isn’t from Mississippi - mainly because frogs clearly don’t have hair. But that’s exactly the point. You see, since there is no visible hair on a frog, it’s safe to assume that if it did exist it’d be extremely fine.
- “Gotta run to the tote-sum.”
Roger Smith/Flickr This expression is common in the Jackson area, and that’s because there was once a chain of convenience stores named Tote-sum. The catchy name apparently made an impression, as many still use it today to refer to any convenience store.
- “Down the road apiece.”
Luke/Flickr Ask a Mississippi resident for directions, and this phrase will most likely be thrown in somewhere.
- “Slicker ’n goose grease.”
Graham Keen/Flickr Sure, if something is slippery, we could just come right out and say it but what fun would that be? Instead, this lively expression is used.
- “You’re lookin’ at me like a cow looks at a new gate.”
Oll/Flickr Ever seen a cow looking at a new gate? Well, then you know exactly what this means. If you haven’t, this expression is probably very descriptive of how you’re looking at this exact moment – confused.
- “Fair to middlin’.”
Rachel Gonzales/Flickr This one simply means okay or average, as in “I’m feelin’ fair to middlin’.” It actually makes a lot of sense when you learn that “fair to middling” is an average grade of cotton.
- “Cuter than a speckled puppy.”
Dave Worley/Flickr This saying is used to describe something that’s overflowing with cuteness because, well, what’s more adorable than a speckled puppy?
- “Knee high to a grasshopper.”
Evan Kane/Flickr As you can imagine “knee high to a grasshopper” wouldn’t be very high at all – and that’s exactly the point. This expression is used to refer back to a time when someone was much younger than they are now. For example, “I’ve known her since she was knee high to a grasshopper.”
- “Y’all want light bread for your sandwich?”
Roland Klose/Flickr In the realm of food, “light” usually means diet. However, that’s not the case in Mississippi. Nope; light bread is simply sliced sandwich bread.
- “I swanny.”
Michele/Flickr Mississippians are known for being polite so even when we’re irritated, we put a nice-sounding spin on it. And this expression, which means highly irritated, is a perfect example.
Are you guilty of using these expressions? Have one to add to this list? Tell us in the comments section!
Anika Malone/Flickr
This may sound like an impossible feat to some, but if you’ve grown up in Mississippi, you know that it simply means to “clean your room.”
Cassia Noelle/Flickr
The word “fix” has a big part in Mississippi vocabulary. Add an “in” to the end and throw a “to” in there and you have the popular expression “fixin’ to,” which simply means “about to do something.” It can also mean to “get” something, as in, “Fix a glass of tea.” It may seem confusing to outsiders, but it just makes sense to us Mississippians.
StockyPics/Flickr
If a Mississippians wants a device turned on or off, you’ll hear this expression.
John/Flickr
This popular expression would probably stump anyone who isn’t from Mississippi - mainly because frogs clearly don’t have hair. But that’s exactly the point. You see, since there is no visible hair on a frog, it’s safe to assume that if it did exist it’d be extremely fine.
Roger Smith/Flickr
This expression is common in the Jackson area, and that’s because there was once a chain of convenience stores named Tote-sum. The catchy name apparently made an impression, as many still use it today to refer to any convenience store.
Luke/Flickr
Ask a Mississippi resident for directions, and this phrase will most likely be thrown in somewhere.
Graham Keen/Flickr
Sure, if something is slippery, we could just come right out and say it but what fun would that be? Instead, this lively expression is used.
Oll/Flickr
Ever seen a cow looking at a new gate? Well, then you know exactly what this means. If you haven’t, this expression is probably very descriptive of how you’re looking at this exact moment – confused.
Rachel Gonzales/Flickr
This one simply means okay or average, as in “I’m feelin’ fair to middlin’.” It actually makes a lot of sense when you learn that “fair to middling” is an average grade of cotton.
Dave Worley/Flickr
This saying is used to describe something that’s overflowing with cuteness because, well, what’s more adorable than a speckled puppy?
Evan Kane/Flickr
As you can imagine “knee high to a grasshopper” wouldn’t be very high at all – and that’s exactly the point. This expression is used to refer back to a time when someone was much younger than they are now. For example, “I’ve known her since she was knee high to a grasshopper.”
Roland Klose/Flickr
In the realm of food, “light” usually means diet. However, that’s not the case in Mississippi. Nope; light bread is simply sliced sandwich bread.
Michele/Flickr
Mississippians are known for being polite so even when we’re irritated, we put a nice-sounding spin on it. And this expression, which means highly irritated, is a perfect example.
If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out “If You Grew Up In Small Town Mississippi, You’ve Probably Done These 13 Things.“
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