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Southern Words and Phrases (I-P) "New England is provincial and doesn't know it. The Middle West is provincial, knows it, and is ashamed of it. The South, Heaven help us, is provincial, knows it, and is proud of it!" A-H I-P Q-Z I's Ill as a hornet Angry, very irritable. In a great while In a long period of time. "I haven't seen him in a great while." Is all Sometimes used as a shortened form of "that's all" at the end of sentences. "I just pushed him, is all" TOP K's Keep your britches on Don't be so impatient Ketch Catch Kin to Related to. TOP L's Lay to it Attribute it to. Learn Teach Least one The smallest or youngest child in a family. Leastways At least. "Leastways, he can pay half of it." Light out To depart hastily. "He lit out for the river." Like for To like, to desire, to wish. "I would like for you to do it." Like to Almost. "I like to have broke my leg." TOP M's Make out; Make out like To pretend. "He made like he didn't see us. Mamma A mother is more often called "mamma" than "mom" in the South. Mash To press. "I mashed the doorbell." Meet up with To become aquainted with; overtake; meet by chance. Mess A large quantity, enough for a meal. "We have a whole mess of fish." Might could A reduction of "Might be able to." Mind To remind; remember. "You mind what I said." Misery An ache or pain. "I've got a misery in my back." Much obliged Thank you TOP N's Nairn Not any; not one. "I ain't got nairn." Nary Not. "I ain't got nary a one." No-count Good-for-nothing Nohow In no manner; no way "I can't do it nohow." None Sometimes used for "at all" as a form of double negative in sentences like "It shouldn't hurt you none." Not about to To have no intention at all of doing something. TOP O's Of I oftens sounds as if of is substituted for have in Southern speech, as in "He could of come," but of here is usually a weak pronunciation of have (uhv). Sometimes have is even reduced further, as in "He shoulda come." Of a morning In the morning. Ornery Mean; stubborn Ought; ought to Often used in preference of "should." "I ought to go to the store now." TOP P's Pay no mind To pay no attention. "She wasn't paying him no mind." Peeled out Accelerated, drove off at high speed. "He peeled out of the parking lot, and a police car took off after him." Pick at Annoy, pester, aggravate Piddling around Fooling around, wasting time Play like To pretend Plumb Completely. "I plumb forgot about it." Put him up Put the dog outside, in another room, etc. "Put Rover up, will you, he's giving me a headache." Put out Said of a tree, to make leaves in spring. "That oak tree is getting ready to put out." TOP A-H I-P Q-Z Last Updated August 9, 2002