Part 6. SOUTHERN EXPRESSIONS THAT WILL TAKE THE RAG OFF THE BUSH

Words and Phrases from the Hill Country

by Terry Thornton

Today continues a twenty-two part series of words and phrases with Hill Country examples. Each week this space will be devoted to Southern Expressions That Will Take The Rag Off the Bush.

This series is dedicated to the anonymous reader of Hill Country who left a comment on one of my other articles about southern words and expressions. Anon exclaimed that the article "just takes the rag off the bush." The comment tickled me but good. In fact, I'd never heard that expression so I had to do some quick reading to determine if I'd been complimented or if I'd been insulted.

After discovering that "to take the rag off the bush" is a perfectly good old-timey compliment, I am using this expression for the title of this series. I hope these articles will capture the full meaning of the phrase "to surpass; to beat all" and maybe this series will be so good that it will also "snatch the bush right up out of the ground, roots, and all."

Here are some words and expressions you may wish to work into your conversations this week. Impress your friends and family --- and, at the same time, help keep these old sayings alive.

Absquatulate: My ole hound dog, Gabe, absquatulated but this time he had some help (disappeared). That dog loves to go for a ride and he went riding with that stranger from Smithville who "borrowed" him.

Bar: The large black bar crossed the road in front of us and I slid to a stop to look at it (bear). And the first large wild bear we saw in Alaska was so stunning that all I could do was to point and to cry, "Bar! Bar! Bar!"

Butternut: The butternut tree grew white walnuts from is extracted a dye for fabric (white walnut tree). Butternut is also the term for a color produced by white walnut nut dye.

Cave in: I don't like to sit in most antique chairs cause I fear they will cave in under me (collapse). I particularly like this example: I knew I was winning my argument with Sweetie when she caved in on one of her three objections.

Cuss: That little cuss was so cross-eyed that I couldn't tell whether he was looking at me or at something out the window (fellow).

Easy as rolling off a log: My Sweetie says crocheting is as easy as rolling off a log but then she has been crocheting for more than sixty years (really easy).

Fumble-foot: After such a wet Spring and wet Summer, Aunt Ludie's kitchen garden was full of fumble-foot and little else (weeds so thick they entangle the feet).

Gumbo: One of grandpa's largest fields in Weaver's Creek Bottom had a thin layer of soil lying over a gumbo of blue clay (hard-pan of clay lying beneath the topsoil). And, of course, there is a dish by the name of gumbo here in the South that is some more good eating.

Jerky: We rode the jerky to town, gave the mules a chance to rest and water while we shopped, and then we headed back home with the smaller kid sitting on top of a cold watermelon Pap bought at the ice plant (farm wagon without springs). At least one of us in the jerky was cool.

Nail-driver: Seth told me to bet on his nail-driver at the races at Buttahatchie last Saturday (fast horse). I did --- and doubled my money.

Paring bee: Last year's paring bee over at Quincy got out of hand when some of the crowd got frisky from drinking too much rum (apple or fruit paring bee --- social gathering to help prepare a crop of apples for processing). Those that got rowdy may have been drinking pupelo.

Sakes alive: Well, sakes alive, I never heard of such (meaningless interjection)!

Small potatoes: Oh, don't pay him no never-mind. He's small potatoes but he thinks he's the smartest duck in the puddle (person of no account).

Tote: I was trying to tote the picnic basket in one hand and two folding chairs in the other when Sweetie called to me and said don't forget the watermelon (to carry; usually to carry by hand or on the back).

This is all of today's words and phrases. I'm as busy as bee so I've got to skedaddle outa here and go have some fun. See you next week if the river don't rise and if the good Lord is willing. Now I've got to go tote that watermelon, two cakes, one pie, and a bucket of finger-licking-good chicken and get ready for the picnic.

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Terry Thornton is a retired college administrator and former Amory Middle School principal who resides in Fulton. He can be contacted by email at hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com.

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Part 5. SOUTHERN EXPRESSIONS THAT WILL TAKE THE RAG OFF THE BUSH

Words and Phrases from the Hill Country

by Terry Thornton

Today continues a twenty-two part series of words and phrases with Hill Country examples. Each week this space will be devoted to Southern Expressions That Will Take The Rag Off the Bush.

This series is dedicated to the anonymous reader of Hill Country who left a comment on one of my other articles about southern words and expressions. Anon exclaimed that the article "just takes the rag off the bush." The comment tickled me but good. In fact, I'd never heard that expression so I had to do some quick reading to determine if I'd been complimented or if I'd been insulted.

After discovering that "to take the rag off the bush" is a perfectly good old-timey compliment, I am using this expression for the title of this series. I hope these articles will capture the full meaning of the phrase "to surpass; to beat all" and maybe this series will be so good that it will also "snatch the bush right up out of the ground, roots, and all."

Here are some words and expressions you may wish to work into your conversations this week. Impress your friends and family --- and, at the same time, help keep these old sayings alive.

A big dog under the wagon: Having Paul Ray in our group was like having a big ole yellow dog under the wagon (secret weapon; loyal protector).

Banjo and picking and grinning: Picking the five-stringed banjo, Bobby started grinning when he got past the difficult part (musical instrument). Oh, those Carter men are good at picking and ginning (playing music).

Cause: They made fun of me cause I talked like someone from the Hill Country (because).

Cord: The hardest work I ever got into was when my brother and I decided one fall to sell firewood by the cord (a measure of cut and stacked wood 4 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet).

Crazy as a bed-bug or crazy as a loon: I don't know if'n he is as crazy as a bed-bug or is as crazy as a loon --- he is one more peculiar person (degrees of craziness).

Duster: She wore nothing but a thin duster made out of cotton feed sacks (a house coat long favored by Southern women; the garment was more than a sleeping gown but not a house dress and certainly not a dress to wear in public; the duster was a one piece covering which was cool and modest).

Frosted: During that harsh Winter of 1902, Grandpaw got frosted on both hands (frost-bitten).

Guess: I enjoyed my dinner at the new restaurant so I guess I'll go back there again (think). I guess is one of the best of all Hill Country hem/haw phrases; it provides a response when one is required without committing to a course of action, I guess. Combined with a generous use of "maybe" and "I'm fixing to," a skillful user of "I guess" can maneuver his way through almost any minefield of social intercourse.

Jaw-cracker: He was fond of using jawcrackers in his speech whether he knew the meaning of them or not (long and difficult word).

Mugwump: She acted like she thought we should consider her one of the high mugwumps (leaders; from Indian word for chief). As with many self-appointed bell cows, however, most of the others paid her no never mind.

Pantalettes, Bloomers, and Pantaloons, Pants: Pantalettes, underpants worn by females gradually became known as bloomers whereas pantaloons became known as pants or trousers which males wore. Today pants can be under- or outer-. And to go without under-pants is said to be going commando.

Sabbaday or Sabberday: Between Saturday and Monday is Sabberday (corruption of the words Sabbath day used instead of Sunday).

Slop over: I do wish Miss SusieMayBelle would stop slopping over me (gushing). She is right disgusting --- and she keeps on battenin' her eyes and a'grinnin' at me. [The phrase also means to be overly sentimental as in this example: Everytime he reads about Hill Country and his old stompin' grounds, he would write a comment to the author in which he would go on and on slopping over about the old country.]

Toe the line: If you don't make that kid toe the line, he's gonna get completely out of line (follow the rules). I suggest you take a look at a Google search for the phrase "toe the line." This old phrase has seen a lot of use in both the old country and here in the new country.

This completes today's list of words and phrases. I guess I better get outa here and go see what my Mugwump is calling me about. Next time I'll be back with some more words and expressions which may help you to talk with ease amongst us Hill Country folk. Meanwhile I'm trying to figure out how a body can get her knickers in a twist if she going commando.

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Terry Thornton is a retired college administrator and former Amory Middle School principal who resides in Fulton. He can be contacted by email at hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com.

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Part 4: SOUTHERN EXPRESSIONS THAT WILL TAKE THE RAG OFF THE BUSH

Words and Phrases from the Hill Country

by Terry Thornton

Today continues a twenty-two part series of words and phrases with Hill Country examples. Each week this space will be devoted to Southern Expressions That Will Take The Rag Off the Bush.

This series is dedicated to the anonymous reader of Hill Country who left a comment on one of my other articles about southern words and expressions. Anon exclaimed that the article "just takes the rag off the bush." The comment tickled me but good. In fact, I'd never heard that expression so I had to do some quick reading to determine if I'd been complimented or if I'd been insulted.

After discovering that "to take the rag off the bush" is a perfectly good old-timey compliment, I am using this expression for the title of this series. I hope these articles will capture the full meaning of the phrase "to surpass; to beat all" and maybe this series will be so good that it will also "snatch the bush right up out of the ground, roots, and all."

Here are some words and expressions you may wish to work into your conversations this week. Impress your friends and family --- and, at the same time, help keep these old sayings alive.

A Team, A Whole Team, A Team and a Half, etc: We were always glad when Darryl was on our side as he was a team and a half just by himself (bigger than life; manly).

Backbone: He has absolutely no backbone for those things he says he believes in, he only very loosely holds on to them (moral courage).

Brickbats: He stacked up three layers of brickbats to outline the flower bed (brick). Another use of brickbats is in this observation: "Instead of brains he's got brickbats in his head." The word brickbat goes back to the 1500s --- and is used to describe pieces of brick used as a weapon (to hurl at others or to use a broken brick as a club). Today the word is most often used to mean criticism as in "Wow! Did some of the commenters hurl brickbats at me over that article I published at Hill Country." But at Parham we called loose brick brickbats --- and we continue to outline our flower beds with brickbats and to even make walkways out of brickbats.

Cooler: He was thrown in the cooler where he spent the night thinking about his hot-headedness (jail).

Cow patty: Dry cow patties are easy to pick up and sail at someone but wet cow patties are to be avoided (cow dung). And the dry and wet of this example doesn't have a thing to do with the next one!

Dry (and Wet): I currently live in a dry county but I have lived in wet counties (each county decides by referendum whether it will permit or forbid the sale of beer, wine, and whiskey).

Frog-pond: Once after taking a double anti-fogmatic or maybe more, I fell into the frog-pond and got all wet (small pond with frogs; any small body of water). Even the gold-fish pond and fountain I once had in my back yard was called a frog-pond by some of my relatives.

Grubbing: My father's grubbing pick had a short but heavy handle (removing grubs: to root up the remains of roots, stubs, and stumps of small bushes).

Indignation meetings: More indignation meetings such as the tea parties of a few weeks ago are planned (individuals coming together to rail over public/political abuses). I'd go to an indignation meeting if I thought we could have one that would stop all these telemarketers and politicians telephoning my private number. Maybe I need to organize a telephone tea-party where everyone who joins swears they will never vote for any candidate who telephones them and swears they will never do business with any agency or concern who telephones them. That is what I do --- I vote for the one who doesn't call. And I never buy from anyone who calls me selling. And I never contribute to any group who telehones me begging.

Mud-puppy; Spring-lizard: The box spring where we stopped for a drink of water had a resident mud-puppy (salamander).

Own up: You might as well own up to eating that cherry pie as you're grinning cherry stains from ear to ear (make a full admission).

Row to hoe: The current business outlook indicates that we have a long row to hoe before we can rest easy again (some business to finish; phrase is often preceded by descriptive words such as hard, difficult, easy, short, rocky, grassy, etc to add even more meaning to the expression). Don't confuse "row to hoe" with the wonderful multi-purpose expression "short rows" as in the example, "I'm getting down to the short rows" meaning almost finished.

Slink: I'm not sure that guy is to be trusted as he is always just slinking around actin' like he is a peeping Tom. Yes, he is a little slink, that one (a contemptible person; coward).

To knock off the hindsights: We shouldn't have stopped when we did as we could have knocked their hindsights off if we had continued (to beat; to demolish; to destroy).

This is it for today's list of words and phrases. Thanks for all the comments --- you guys are a team and a half! I'll be back but right now I'm going to start thinking on the difference in grinning like a lusty fool compared to grinning like a pervert in an adult bookstore. There has to be a difference --- isn't there?

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Terry Thornton is a retired college administrator and former Amory Middle School principal who resides in Fulton. He can be contacted by email at hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com.

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Part 3: SOUTHERN EXPRESSIONS THAT WILL TAKE THE RAG OFF THE BUSH

Words and Phrases from the Hill Country

by Terry Thornton

Today continues a twenty-two part series of words and phrases with Hill Country examples. Each week this space will be devoted to Southern Expressions That Will Take The Rag Off the Bush.

This series is dedicated to the anonymous reader of Hill Country who left a comment on one of my other articles about southern words and expressions. Anon exclaimed that the article "just takes the rag off the bush." The comment tickled me but good. In fact, I'd never heard that expression so I had to do some quick reading to determine if I'd been complimented or if I'd been insulted.

After discovering that "to take the rag off the bush" is a perfectly good old-timey compliment, I am using this expression for the title of this series. I hope these articles will capture the full meaning of the phrase "to surpass; to beat all" and maybe this series will be so good that it will also "snatch the bush right up out of the ground, roots, and all."

Here are some words and expressions you may wish to work into your conversations this week. Impress your friends and family --- and, at the same time, help keep these old sayings alive.

A coon's age: It's so good to see you; I haven't seen you in a coon's age (a very long time).

Back log: Build your fire in front of a big back log (large log placed in back of chimney).

Branch: I fell into McKinney Branch and got all wet (little stream; a small creek; a brook).

Cattycornered: That pretty gal sat cattycornered from me at the church social over at Sipsey Fork (diagonally opposite or across from).

Contraption: I'm still learning to drive the new contraption I bought this Spring. It tells me when to make a turn if I program it properly (a device; a clever plan).

Drummer: It was an exciting time in the Hills when the drummer man made his rounds (a commercial traveler; forerunner of the "rolling store").

Fotched-up: I was fotched-up in Parham (brought up or "raised"). The first time I encountered this wonderfully descriptive phrase was at Dave Tabler's excellent article "Kentucky's Fotched-on Women" at his blog APPALACHIAN HISTORY. Read Dave's account of a differing meaning for fotched.

Grinning the bark off a tree: The photographs of Ginger's two boys at her excellent site, Deep Fried Kudzu, makes me think that either one of them could grin the bark off a tree --- that little one especially. Ginger's boys grin as if they know just how to do it. Grinning the bark off a tree is attributed by various sources to Davy Crockett --- who was one more teller of tall tales. He said he could grin the bark off a tree if need be!

There are other "tree bark" expressions still heard frequently in the Hill Country: "As tight as the bark on a hickory tree" (meaning stingy or very tight with spending money or something that holds on tightly) and "As slick as a peeled sapling" (meaning slick indeed. Most saplings extrude a sap when debarked and on some small trees, the sap is very slick). But to grin the bark off a tree is the tree bark expression I like best.

Indian file: Playing follow-the-leader, we went Indian file down the path and over the foot-log (single file).

Monongahela: "I fear I'll never get to sip on good Monongahela again," said Grandpa as he emptied the last of his jugs of "back home" whiskey he had moved with him to Hill Country (American whiskey; originally named for whiskey made on the Monongahela River which runs north out of West Virginia through Pennsylvania).

Out of kilter: My old truck went out of kilter with me ten miles from home (out of order).

Rose-fever: This fall I hope I don't get rose-fever (hay-fever). I don't know when rose-fever was dropped in favor of hay-fever --- but it is a lovely old expression to use when you wish to "put on airs."

Slat-bottomed: "Hand me one of the slat-bottomed chairs please." Although all Hill Country folks know about chairs and slats, the late author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (1896 - 1953) described one of her characters as being a "slat-bottomed woman." I'm still not quiet sure how a slat-bottomed woman would appear --- but I'm a'thinkin' on it!

To have a history: Her forward ways made us think that perhaps she had a history(background less than favorable).

This is it for today's list of words and phrases. It won't be a coon's age before I return with some more words and expressions --- so hang in there. I'm off to figure out how hot it must be to be as hot as Paula Deen who said on her television show, "I'm as hot as a fat girl writing her first love letter."

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Terry Thornton is a retired college administrator and former Amory Middle School principal who resides in Fulton. He can be contacted by email at hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com.

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Part 2: SOUTHERN EXPRESSIONS THAT WILL TAKE THE RAG OFF THE BUSH

Words and Phrases from the Hill Country

by Terry Thornton

Today continues a twenty-two part series of words and phrases with Hill Country examples. Each week this space will be devoted to Southern Expressions That Will Take The Rag Off the Bush.

This series is dedicated to the anonymous reader of Hill Country who left a comment on one of my other articles about southern words and expressions. Anon exclaimed that the article "just takes the rag off the bush." The comment tickled me but good. In fact, I'd never heard that expression so I had to do some quick reading to determine if I'd been complimented or if I'd been insulted.

After discovering that "to take the rag off the bush" is a perfectly good old-timey compliment, I am using this expression for the title of this series. I hope these articles will capture the full meaning of the phrase "to surpass; to beat all" and maybe this series will be so good that it will also "snatch the bush right up out of the ground, roots, and all."

Here are some words and expressions you may wish to work into your conversations this week. Impress your friends and family --- and, at the same time, help keep these old sayings alive.

A caution: Just look at those Thompson grandkids --- isn't that oldest one a caution (an example -- may be positive or negative).

Back load: He slung a huge sack over his shoulder; his back load was twice what most men could carry (load carried on the back).

Bottom dollar: I'll give you my bottom dollar (last dollar)! Today the phrase is often heard as "That is my bottom dollar offer" meaning that is the lowest price to be offered.

Catch-all: Look in the catch-all drawer for one of those little do-hickeys (a receptacle for miscellaneous items). Our kitchen cabinets have catch-all drawers full of the oddest assortment of un-necessary items which I'm afraid to toss out.

Considerable: He sure is a considerable man (large).

Drawbars: Instead of a gap or a gate that would swing open and close, the opening in the fence was a pair of drawbars (bars that can be drawn back to allow passage and then repositioned to close an opening; used in both fences and barn stalls).

Green corn: We didn't have anything to eat except green corn (fresh corn; sweet corn before it is ripe). And in the Hill Country if someone offers you a "mess of roasting ears," they are offering you some ears of green corn ready to be cooked as corn on the cob or cut off and made into cream-style country corn or made into gritted bread.

Have a mind: I have a mind that maybe tomorrow I'll feel like mowing the yard (to be willing). But on the other hand, I'm of a mind that I just might not feel like mowing till early next week.

Indeedy: Did you finish chopping the stovewood? Yes, indeedy, I did (variation of indeed).

Mill-seat: I've never been able to figure out where on Weaver's Creek the first mill-seat along that stream was located (site of a mill). Frederick Weaver, my great-great-great-grandfather settled along that creek near the Tombigbee River and the creek has been called Weaver's Creek ever since.

One horse: I guess at one time you could have described the little village of Parham as being a one-horse sort of town (small). And to be perfectly honest, I guess that would be an apt description. But some folks say "one-horse" can also mean inferior --- but that don't apply "none" to Parham.

Running like a sewing machine: After the shade-tree mechanic worked all day on the old truck's engine, he got it to running like Ma's Singer sewing machine (operate very smoothly and efficiently).

Till the cows come home: He vowed he was going to drink and party till the cows come home (an indefinite period of time). 'Course he got so corned beforehand that the cows could have come home and gone twice without him knowing it.

Year in and year out: By attending the university year in and year out, I graduated in three years rather than the usual four years (continuously; in this example by attending classes during all of the sessions and not taking a summer break). This phrase also has the meaning of exaggeration as in "I am ready for a vacation! I've been working year in and year out and I'm ready to do something besides hoe cotton, chop cotton, pick cotton, and think about cotton!"

That is it for today's list of words and phrases. Indeedy, this is all for today. I will, however, leave the drawbars down so that the cows can all get in the barn if they ever come home. Next time I'll be back with some more words and expressions that may make you of a mind to learn more about the words we use.

But right now I'm trying to figure out what this phase means: "A small mosquito would be of no more use in the Hill Country than preaching in a cane-brake."

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Terry Thornton is a retired college administrator and former Amory Middle School principal who resides in Fulton. He can be contacted by email at hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com.

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Part 1: SOUTHERN EXPRESSIONS THAT WILL TAKE THE RAG OFF THE BUSH

Words and Phrases from the Hill Country

by Terry Thornton

Today starts a twenty-two part series of words and phrases with Hill Country examples. Each week, beginning today, this space will be devoted to Southern Expressions That Will Take The Rag Off the Bush.

This series is dedicated to the anonymous reader of Hill Country who left a comment on one of my other articles about southern words and expressions. Anon exclaimed that the article "just takes the rag off the bush." The comment tickled me but good. In fact, I'd never heard that expression so I had to do some quick reading to determine if I'd been complimented or if I'd been insulted.

After discovering that "to take the rag off the bush" is a perfectly good old-timey compliment, I am using this expression for the title of this series. I hope these articles will capture the full meaning of the phrase "to surpass; to beat all" and maybe this series will be so good that it will also "snatch the bush right up out of the ground, roots, and all."

Here are some words and expressions you may wish to work into your conversations this week. Impress your friends and family --- and, at the same time, help keep these old sayings alive.

Artificials: She was wearing artificials (fake flowers). Oh yes, those were artificials that pretty gal from Caledonia had on.

Behaving parties: All of the socials I went to this month were behaving parties (everyone present expected to be on good behavior). Nobody, I mean nobody, was letting his hair down and having a rip-snorting good time. Heck, even that party Saturday night over on Parham Gin Road was a duller than dish-water.

Candle-lighting: It was well past candle-lighting time and the room was almost pitch black (time of lighting candles). I could hear her breathing and I could smell that dab of flavoring she had touched to her throat. It was a magic time there in the dark.

Dead pig in the sunshine: He looked as happy as a dead pig in the sunshine when she said, "I do" (supremely contented and happy).

Enthuse: She was slow to enthuse but once she got started, oh my, how that gal could dance (to kindle into enthusiasm).

Flyblowed before sundown: I don't think he is gonna make it. I think he will be flyblowed before sundown (won't live out the day).

Hard row to hoe: She has a hard row to hoe if she stays with that worthless bum (a difficult job).

Hell-kicker: Poor old Uncle Jake. His fourth wife proved to be a real hell-kicker (a depraved and furious individual).

Old man and Old woman: She is my old woman and I am her old man (husband and wife). Often heard when the spouse is absent as in: "So? Did your old woman let you go out by yourself today?" asked the men at the store.

Pert: After three glasses of wine, she started acting like she felt right pert (sprightly, joyous, happy, healthy). This old word goes back to at least 1500. Then it was usually spelled peart but the meaning hasn't changed much over time.

Rocked, Chunked, Sailed: When I was a child and playing with a gang of kids on the roads and in the woods and in the pastures at Parham, if we rocked someone, we threw rocks at him. If we chucked him, we threw pieces of wood at him. If we sailed him, we threw dry cow patties at him.

Skedaddle: You kids better skedaddle before your Ma gets back from milking the cow (scatter; to flee from enemy). Origin of word obscured but it came into widespread use during the Civil War. Hill Country folk love to tell folks to "Skedaddle!" meaning to "get along" as in this example: "I've got to skedaddle to Amory if I'm gonna get there 'fore the stores all close."

Slab-sided: After taking a spurt of growth, he lost his baby fat, had to start shaving, and became a tall, slab-sided young man (having long lanky-sides).

The old country: I got a note the other day from an Arizona reader saying he was happy that I was writing about the old country (place of one's origin). Originally the phrase meant the British islands or a specific foreign country --- the country of one's forefathers.

That is it for today's list of words and phrases. I've got to skedaddle outa here and get busy. Next time I'll be back with some more words and expressions that may serve to pert you up and to enthuse you into studying more about the words we use.

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Terry Thornton is a retired college administrator and former Amory Middle School principal who resides in Fulton. He can be contacted by email at hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com.

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