I came across an article on Al Gore's amazing internet titled "Southern Expressions."
Like all of us who grew up south of the Mason Dixon line, I thought I had heard them all.
I think my favorite one is "Bless his heart." I like that one best because it has several different meanings. One of which is actually, "Bless his heart." (Wish him well.) Or it can also mean, "That Damm Fool." ...and other things, depending on the circumstances.
Another one that has a couple of meanings is, "Yaw'll Come." Which means either, "Come back to see me," or "Don't Come back to see me." It's like having our own secret code.
The article I saw mentoned a few pretty good ones that I had never heard:
A whistling woman and a crowing hen never come to a very good end. (be who you are)
As easy as sliding off a greasy log backward. (very easy)
Busy as a stump-tailed cow in fly time. (very busy)
Do go on. (you must be joking)
Don't let your mouth overload your tail. (talking too much)
Every dog should have a few fleas. (no one is perfect)
Happy as a dead pig in the sunshine. (doesn't grasp or worry about what's going on)
Sun don't shine on the same dog's tail all the time. (you'll get what you deserve)
One that my Uncle Russel used a lot, whenever the local store owner quoted him a "price".....was,
"Is that the ministerial rate?
Now, my uncle wasn't a minister, he never said he was, but he didn't object when the clerk replied, "Oh, Reverand, "No, for you, the price will be......"
(and quoted him the discounted figure, which he usually wound up paying.)
This only works in the South.
I do declare!
-Ed
