If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a “bless your heart” – you probably know better than to take it literally.

Like most southern sayings, the phrase isn’t typically referring to genuine concern over the state of one’s cardiovascular system but is making a statement about a person’s character, behavior or circumstances using a set of *completely* unrelated words.

Here’s what we’re saying:

Madder than a wet hen: Angry, furious – someone whose feathers are ruffled.

Fixin’ to: You’re about to start something.

Slow as molasses in wintertime: You’re moving verrrrry slowly.

Raining cats + dogs: Thank goodness this is just referring to heavy rain.

Answered:

Bless your heart. Fixin’ to. Madder than a wet hen. Raining cats + dogs. What do all these things have in common? They’re good ol’ Southernisms.

A few weeks ago we asked you what southern sayings you use or hear around Columbia. We were truly not prepared for how many unique + awesome sayings y’all came up with. We wanted to share with you a few of our favorites:

“Get on like a house on fire” (get along really well) – Jaime W.

“Cut off (or on) the lights (or any electrical item)” (turn it off or on) – Hannah L.

"All y'all." (everybody) – Betty W.

“Pot calling the kettle black” (you’re being hypocritical) – Katie F.

“Tryin' to find a park” (meaning parking space) – Bob B.

“Hot as the dickens” (extremely hot outside (like recent weeks in Cola )) – Hannah S.

“Hotter than flapjacks on a griddle.” (very hot outside) – Starr L.

“Don't let that jar you loose from your preserves!” (don't let that cause you to lose your composure) – Deedee C.

“Busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kickin' Contest.” (very busy)

“More scared than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.” (very scared) – Anonymous

"BE NICE" (Cut the person some slack, or show some compassion!)

"What goes around, comes around" (“You're gonna get yours....", "reap what you so") – Anonymous

“Say hey to mama ‘n’ ‘em” (say hey to the family)

“Imma carry mama up to the store. All y’all wanna come?” (I’m taking mom to the store)

“Fix you a plate and come set a spell” (make your dinner plate and sit and relax) – Kathryn F.

“Dumb as a box of rocks. 🤣” (not very intelligent) – Carolyn B.

“Doesn’t have a pot to piss in” (extremely poor) – Marilyn P.

"Cut the lights on" (turn on the lights) – Virginia W.

“Over yonder” (way over there)

“Ged day(Great day)” (many uses (usually sarcasm or astonishment))

“Fat as a tick on a lazy dog” (super full after eating)

“Finna” (just like fixin')

“Yea bo” (agreeing with a fellow country male or the beginning of a sentence) – Travis S.

And "Bless your heart" is often quite sincere.” – Marybeth S.

“True Southerners know there are two Bless Your Hearts.

1) one is genuine

2) one is not. Heart is drawled out.” – Merri B.

“Help your plate.” (serve yourself some food)

“The eye of the stove” (the burner)

“I reckon I'll do that” (I probably will do that)

“I might could do that” (Possibly I'll be able to do that) – Nancy K.

“Stompin’ Grounds” (where you grew up or “Your neck of the woods”)

“Give Me Some Sugar”(usually pronounced sugaaaa) (give me a kiss)

“Does it suit ya?” (is it ok with you?) – Jill W.

From Out-of-Towners:

“I never heard the word "sirsee" that refers to a small gift, an unexpected treat, until I moved to Columbia. No idea how to spell it so that's a phonetic guess.” – Julie M.

“Right quick.”

Moving here from New England, that was a first for me.” – Sandra

“I’m originally from the Midwest but my favorite Southernism is might could as in,”I might could stop at the Piggly Wiggly on the way home.” Makes me smile.” – Deborah K.

“I moved here from Michigan and have been thoroughly entertained by my coworkers Southern sayings, such as:

"That really cooks my grits" to describe mildly annoying things/pet peeves

Or "the devil is smacking his wife" to describe when it's raining but still sunny outside.” – Allison K.

“Pennsylvania transplant here. I’ve always been perplexed by “mashing” a button.” – Erin

““Might could” is very odd to me. I’m from Illinois.” – Karen J.

“OK and if somebody down here says that something is ‘slower than molasses in winter’ you KNOW it’s BEYOND slow, LOL! Grew up in Texas, spent the last 20 years in Central New York and I have to admit the pace has taken a little getting used to, but it’s a refreshing change in our hurry up/immediate gratification world, and more than compensated for by the courtesy and gentility that accompanies it.

I also notice that people down here say “Cut the fan on” – funny because I’ve heard “cut the fans/lights,etc off” but never in the context of ‘on’ until we came here.

And of course there’s “That dog don’t hunt”

And in regards to a good ol’ southern meal “We’re going out for ‘meat and three’, want to come?”” – Kim R.

Poll:

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