Carolina, phrases (school, park, to work)

[NedB]

At the risk of this becoming a political debate (and I really hope it doesn't become one), is "that dog don't hunt" a local Carolina saying or slogan? What exactly does it mean. What are some other sayings out there and what is the story behind them. What are the pearls of wisdom that are commonly expressed in short phrases in North Carolina?

[lamishra]

I'm a triangle/NC native and have never heard "that dog don't hunt". Maybe it's a "southern" thing and not an NC thing. Or maybe I just missed it. While we are natives, my family is not very traditionally southern.

[CaryGal]

I think it's more of a southern saying, than a Carolina specific saying. I heard it growing up in Georgia. Basically you say it about something that is easily disproved or contested, thus making it about as worthless as a dog who won't hunt.

[uncletupelo]

any old school school southerner has heard that dog don't hunt. That phrase is five or six generations deep in this state. If your great granddaddy was born in this state, then you have heard that dog don't hunt. It is that simple. Just because your mom and dad moved to north raleigh or cary in 1966 to work in the park does not make you a native. It only makes you a transplant.

[goat1of2]

I wonder how the very charming phrase "love on", as in "The little ones are loving on their new puppy" came about? It's a phrase that so intensely conveys its meaning.

[NC_native74]

My family is from the mountains of NC, and we go back several generations. I thought I had heard them all until the other day. My cousin was talking to someone about getting a job, and he told the guy he'd be there "like a hair in a biscuit". That was a new one on me.

[findinghope]

i am a recent transplant so a lot of sayings are new, although i dont hear that many of them...
"bless your heart" seems a funny one. i have heard it said to someone who expresses not knowing something obvious. i guess they are politly trying to tell you how dumb you are? lol

[LRoyal10900]

Originally Posted by findinghope

i am a recent transplant so a lot of sayings are new, although i dont hear that many of them...
"bless your heart" seems a funny one. i have heard it said to someone who expresses not knowing something obvious. i guess they are politly trying to tell you how dumb you are? lol

It can be used as a backhanded insult....or it can be very sincere.

My neighbor's little girl was very sick yesterday and as she was telling me about it, I did reply, "Bless her heart." But I meant it as, "I'm so sorry she's sick."

[GouldCottage]

Originally Posted by NedB

At the risk of this becoming a political debate (and I really hope it doesn't become one), is "that dog don't hunt" a local Carolina saying or slogan? What exactly does it mean. What are some other sayings out there and what is the story behind them. What are the pearls of wisdom that are commonly expressed in short phrases in North Carolina?

Hi,

There is another thread that has lots of NC sayings

http://www.city-data.com/forum/north...-nc-slang.html

That dog won't hunt was even used in a Senate debate, it means " that makes no sense " or you are just plain lying.

[Niki]

My mom's parents and their parents (perhaps even further back) were all born and raised in North Carolina and I never heard them use that phrase. I actually first heard it on Band of Brothers a couple years ago.