Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Texas Phrases
Saying: The engine's runnin' but ain't nobody driving.
Translation: Not overly-intelligent.

Saying: Tighter than bark on a tree.
Translation: Not very generous.

Saying: Big hat, no cattle.
Translation: All talk and no action.

Saying: We've howdied but we ain't shook yet.
Translation: We've made a brief acquaintance, but not been formally introduced.

Saying: He thinks the sun come up just to hear him crow.
Translation: He has a pretty high opinion of himself.

Saying: As welcome as a skunk at a lawn party.
Translation: (self-explanatory).

Saying: S/He's got tongue enough for 10 rows of teeth.
Translation: Talks a lot.

Saying: It's so dry the trees are bribin' the dogs.
Translation: We really could use a little rain around here

Saying: Just because a chicken has wings don't mean it can fly.
Translation: Appearances can be deceptive.

Saying: This ain't my first rodeo.
Translation: I've been around awhile.

Saying: He looks like the dog's been keepin' him under the porch.
Translation: Not the most handsome of men.

Saying: They ate supper before they said grace.
Translation: Living in sin.

Saying: As full of wind as a corn-eating horse.
Translation: Rather prone to boasting.

Saying: You can put your boots in the oven, but that don't make 'em biscuits.
Translation: You can say whatever you want about something, but that doesn't change what it is.
Written at 1:30 PM by Denise McDonald.
14 comments
14 Comments:
Blogger Angela's Designs said...
Love these kinds of sayings. I have a book called something like Cowboy Lingo. I'd have to look for it! But I do have it.
January 24, 2006 2:38 PM  
Blogger Johnny Undercover said...
My dear old Grandpa from back home in Houston used to say:

"You think you're s**t on a stick, but you ain't a fart on a twig"

He had a poet's soul, that one...
January 24, 2006 4:02 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Oh I have several books of this stuff - I love them. Have you read "This Dog'll Hunt", "This Dog'll Really Hunt" and "That Cat Won't Flush"? There by a guy named Chariton. Great references for my E. Texas stories.
January 24, 2006 4:20 PM  
Blogger Denise McDonald said...
Annalee - this is just regular talk for my mom's side of the family ... my dad's side - ever seen Soprano's - kidding kidding - but they are from NJ.

Johnny - only saying my Granddad ever said was huahhh - not quite sure how to spell that - more of a guteral sound that got your attention - but beast or family it was always the same!

Eve - no, I haven't read those but I will have to look for them sounds fun

and for the record - to give props where props are due, my momma sent those to me in an e-mail.
January 24, 2006 6:55 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...
But those of us here in the South are very familiar with all of these sayings. And other much colorful phrases.
January 24, 2006 7:22 PM  
Blogger M. C. Pearson said...
These are HILARIOUS! Thanks for posting them...LOL
January 25, 2006 12:20 AM  
Blogger Bernita said...
Love these.
Vivid.
Thank you, Dennie.
January 25, 2006 5:47 AM  
Blogger Denise McDonald said...
To quote my Nanny, "I'll swain." which roughly translates to "Well, I'll be."

She explained it to me several times but I could never remember what I meant -

She also often said "sh*t" pretty indiscriminately - boy did my kids like being around her!

("Nanny" being my grandmother not a caregiver kinda person - she'd tan your hide if you ever called her or refered to her in her presence as grandmother - "No, that is your yankee grandparent.") {shrugs} she had issues I guess...
January 25, 2006 8:53 AM  
Blogger Savannah Jordan said...
Dennie, I love these!! Great start to the day, so thank you for that.

My father's favorite sayings:
Quarter of a bubble off.
Only a few seconds smarter than...
January 25, 2006 9:23 AM  
Blogger Johnny Undercover said...
My Grandma was fond of "I'll Swanny", which I believe may be related to "I'll Swain".

I always thought that both derived from the biblical prohibition against swearing. Swanny and Swain were therefore alternate ways of saying "I swear" without running afoul of old testamnet dogma, which could potentially result in a good old fashioned stoning.

But I'm just edgy-muh-cated guessing...
January 25, 2006 12:03 PM  
Blogger Johnny Undercover said...
Ha! I just remebered another one of Grandpa's gems:

"Like jumpin' off a bull and onto a twister."

I won't translate that one amongst such polite company, but it was usually used in the context of a story that he prefaced with, "Now this was before I married your Grandma..."

Usually followed by graphic details of how young GI's enjoyed their shore leave in Okinawa during the Big War.
January 25, 2006 12:15 PM  
Blogger Denise McDonald said...
LOL - J - I know I asked her that once because that's what I though and yes that was close but it did have another meaning - I'll have to ask the parental unit later (but her memory is going so...)

But Nanny was born and raised in Rotan TX - never heard of it, my point excatally... small west texas town whose pop goes down and down and you get the point - and her reasoning on things were weird to say the least. You see the neighbor out the window - you whipser so he can't he you talking about his dirty drawers but in line at a check out she'd scream louder than all get out about the price of onions!

She be nice and pat a stranger on the back to give them comfort and then make a production of washing her hands off - soooo embarassing!
January 25, 2006 12:17 PM  
Blogger Johnny Undercover said...
Jeez, Dennie. Why did you get this started? Now my OCD has flared up…

Let us not forget the classic, “Sometimes you just gotta p**s out the campfire”.

TRANSLATION: Sometimes you must resort to unseemly/unsavory tactics for the sake of achieving a larger goal.

At least that’s what I think it means. It wasn’t until relatively recently that people devoted themselves to actually deciphering the meanings behind southern euphemisms. Before then, you had to be a native Windtalker to make sense of the underlying message.
January 25, 2006 12:48 PM  
Blogger Denise McDonald said...
Sorry *ducks head and blushes*

I had put a long reply up there to the WW refernce but the dern wireless went out - and truly I have a short attention span so ... suffice it to say I forgot it, but it was a good 'un =)
January 25, 2006 1:58 PM  
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