Finest Kind and other Maine Sayings? (Machias, Cherryfield: yard, rating, trees)

[Zymer]

"Down the rud a piece": A response to an inquiry for directions.

Down the road a piece- an indeterminate distance that could be anywhere from just around the next bend to a number of miles. While the distance may be vague, this imparts two important bits of information: that you *can* "get theyah from heah" and that you are on the correct road to do so.

A related term is 'down the road "a ways"', which is generally considered to be more than "a piece", though there may be considerable overlap between the two definitions depending on who is saying it and their perception of distance. It is however, most likely *not* just around the next bend...unless your inquiry was made somewhere near the start of the Cherryfield Stretch.

[mollysmiles]

Originally Posted by Zymer

...unless your inquiry was made somewhere near the start of the Cherryfield Stretch.

LOL....oh that's SO true!!

[elston]

Do mainers use the expression "the four corners" to mean at "the intersection"? In NH that was usually part of any verbal directions, go down the road till ya get to "the four corners"...I notice some regional generalities and some specific Maine expressions.

[mainewannabe]

This is like directions from Kentucky people, as well. ONLY ... they also sometimes gesture towards their index finger with their thumb or towards their forearm or elbow with index finger ...the closer to the elbow the farther down the holler .... (LOL) amazing how quick you learn to stop for petrol or NOT on a journey to the elbow ...
OH, but I called for attention to ask:

What's this about Cherryfield stretch?? Is that a long section with no sign of life??

What's a hake because we're ALREADY using that one. We'll leave a piece a mayun in florida

nummer n a hake ... and we ARE PROUD to be halfway on our way ....

Originally Posted by Zymer

"Down the rud a piece": A response to an inquiry for directions.

Down the road a piece- an indeterminate distance that could be anywhere from just around the next bend to a number of miles. While the distance may be vague, this imparts two important bits of information: that you *can* "get theyah from heah" and that you are on the correct road to do so.

A related term is 'down the road "a ways"', which is generally considered to be more than "a piece", though there may be considerable overlap between the two definitions depending on who is saying it and their perception of distance. It is however, most likely *not* just around the next bend...unless your inquiry was made somewhere near the start of the Cherryfield Stretch.

[Zymer]

The Cherryfield Stretch is a fairly long, fairly straight stretch of Route 1 running easterly out of Cherryfield towards Machias.


" What's this about Cherryfield stretch?? Is that a long section with no sign of life?"


And no, there isn't much until you get to Harrington.

[mollysmiles]

I haven't driven that way in a long time, but growing up it was my favorite way to drive to Bangor. The best part of the drive was through the Black Woods--twists and turns and hills, I loved it!

We always drove that way to get to Bangor, my father always referred to Rt 9 as a "death trap"....back then it really was!

[Abbymoulton]

Originally Posted by deerislesmile

All stove up/ staved up.

That is one that I still use. Down here in Florida they even argued that it didn't mean crashed or broken and if you look it up in the dictionary.. it is correct ( third or fourth meaning)

[Abbymoulton]

"face as red as a poor man's ---" embaressed
"poor as a picked crow"
"dear cudder" sweet little thing
"Look like you were sent for and couldn't come" Looked a mess
"froze up stiff as a poker" darn cold
"cute as a bug's ear"

[Abbymoulton]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

Mollysmiles remarks:
"and I don't know how to spell this!) "Christlahs"....."

It's "Christless" or woithout Christ. It refers to somebody or something without kindness or compassion. Unworthy or useless.

This is also said as Jeezless with the same meaning. Think about it.

"Christlahs" was used many years ago in the southern Maine area, anyway, to me something wicked neat or something to see. "Wow..ain't he a Christlah"

[mollysmiles]

"dite" is another one....meaning a small amount

"want some tahtah sauce foa ya haddock?"

"ayuh, jus' a dite"