Favorite TN slang (Knoxville, Jackson, Cookeville: living, office, county)

[zenny]

I grew up around those uppercrust sounding Southerners with the short y's and the silent r's. My grandmother knew both Eudora Welty and William Faulkner, which kind of blows my mind. So, it was always fun to hear them say the country sayings in their accent. Here are some favorites:

"Oh, I'll fix her wagon!!!!"
"We were lally-gaggin' and chewing the rag."
"That clabberhead balled the jack before I could speak with him."
"Dahlin', this house is built on a frogpond."
"I haven't seen hide nor hair of you in a coon's(racoon) age!"
"She could charm the horns off of a billy goat."

[mbmouse]

Originally Posted by AppalachianAngler

Yep - heard that growing up along with other similar ones like "twiced" for twice.

As far as the Youens argument. I always heard it in East TN as "Y'uns," but up in some of the rural areas of PA they say "You-ins." Hard to describe the difference.

I have heard "Yuns'" a very few times here in East TN, but what I hear in the more rural areas, in resturants exspecially,is "Y'ins come back now ya hear"
Ya'll and Y'ins are the two most popular, that I hear when talking to people.
People here also refer to their relatives as there "kin folk" too.

[Queen1972]

Another One is "He melts my pad of butter"

[MomsTn]

When I was a about 13, my Granny C accused me of "spooning" with a boy.
All we were doing was standing holding hands.

[Milo Bloom]

My Tennessee born and raised grandmother ended every single visit I ever had with her, no matter the duration, with the following phrase:

"Well, what's your hurry?"

I loved it. You could be there sitting on her couch talking for three hours or ten minutes, you got the same response. I sure do miss her.

[CA to TN??]

These are all really cute sayings...but I was born and raised in California and I KNOW them, was raised hearing them...I guess my family's southern roots do run deep. When I relocate I won't be so out of place after all!

[tnvolfan1971]

My daughter came home from school yesterday and said someone teased her about the way she said:" Can I ""borry"" that? instead of saying ""borrow"".

[hiknapster]

All time favorite, even better than "Bless Your Heart" is...

"That dog don't hunt!"

[Jim280]

Tennessee Ten Commandments
> >
> > Some people in Tennessee have trouble with all those "shalls" and "shall nots" in the in the Ten commandments. . Folks just aren't used to talking in those terms. So, some folks in middle Tennessee got together and translated the "King James" into " Jackson County " language,.... no joke, read on... The Hillbilly's Ten Commandments (posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Gainesboro , TN. )
(1) Just one God.
(2) Honor yer Ma &Pa.
(3) No tellin' tales or gossipin'.
(4) Git yourself to Sunday meetin'
(5) Put nothin' before God.
(6) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal.
(7) No killin.'
(8) Watch yer mouth.
(9) Don't take what ain't yers.
(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff

[firepower]

Originally Posted by Jim280

Tennessee Ten Commandments
> >
> > Some people in Tennessee have trouble with all those "shalls" and "shall nots" in the in the Ten commandments. . Folks just aren't used to talking in those terms. So, some folks in middle Tennessee got together and translated the "King James" into " Jackson County " language,.... no joke, read on... The Hillbilly's Ten Commandments (posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Gainesboro , TN. )
(1) Just one God.
(2) Honor yer Ma &Pa.
(3) No tellin' tales or gossipin'.
(4) Git yourself to Sunday meetin'
(5) Put nothin' before God.
(6) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal.
(7) No killin.'
(8) Watch yer mouth.
(9) Don't take what ain't yers.
(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff

That's perfect!!!

firepower