Buzz
After expanding your lexicon with 19 uniquely American terms, discover 11 additional expressions from various linguistic regions across the nation—thanks to the remarkable Dictionary of American Regional English, curated by Joan Hall.
Remember, these expressions reflect not just geographic areas but also specific linguistic groups, influenced by age, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic factors. So, if you're in your mid-20s, you might not be familiar with every phrase used by someone in their 80s from the same state.
1. Stew the Dishrag
If you’ve just discovered that twelve guests are arriving for dinner, you’ll need to hustle and stew the dishrag, a Midwestern expression meaning to put in extra effort to prepare a meal, particularly for unexpected visitors. Another similar phrase is to put the big pot on the little one, dish-rag and all.
2. Feel Like a Stewed Witch
Across much of the South, after a restless night or indulging in too much alcohol, you might wake up, stretch, rub your head, and say you feel like a stewed witch, a vivid phrase that captures the sensation of feeling utterly terrible. A related expression is feeling like a boiled owl.
3. Vomiting One's Toenails
In various parts of the U.S., people describe intense or excessive vomiting as vomiting one’s toenails—a phrase that feels disturbingly accurate to anyone who’s experienced it. In Texas, some prefer the term vomiting one’s socks, which conveys the same idea.
4. On the Carpet
If you’re in the mid-Atlantic region and eagerly anticipating marriage—ready to say “I do” or embrace that lifelong commitment—you’re said to be on the carpet, a phrase that captures the excitement of being eager to wed.
5. Sonofabitch Stew
If you’re whipping up a meal with limited ingredients, you might end up making sonofabitch stew, a dish made from whatever’s available in your kitchen. This type of meal is also known as rascal stew, Cleveland stew, or, as a 1942 Gourmet article notes, son-of-a-gun stew—especially when “in the presence of a lady.”
6. Democrat Hound
In certain areas of New England, referring to someone as a democrat hound implies they’re a clever creature following the wrong trail, much like a rabbit hound mistakenly chasing a fox.
7 & 8. That Dog Won’t Hunt / That Cock Won't Fight
If you’re in the Ozarks or Texas and someone proposes a flawed plan, feel free to respond with that dog won’t hunt, a phrase that perfectly captures an idea destined to fail. For variety, you can also say that cock won’t fight, which conveys the same meaning.
9. Buck Beer
If you’ve recently visited a German beer hall, perhaps in the Midwest, you might have heard the vintage term buck beer, used to describe a potent draft beer that’s so strong it makes the drinker prance, jump, and, well, buck.
10. (Not Enough Sense to) Pound Sand Down a Rathole
In New York, if you lack the sense to pound sand down a rathole, you’re likely stuck in a predicament with no easy way out. It implies you can’t even manage the most basic tasks.
11. Whoopity Scoot
When you need to reach somewhere quickly—whether in a rush, at top speed, or without delay—you should whoopity scoot, a term that means moving fast, though not necessarily elegantly. Do any Missourians still use this phrase? * * *What regional expressions from your area should the rest of us adopt?
