Taking time to remember old expressions
He Says
Those older ones of us who live in Franklin County have a rich store of interesting expressions from which to draw. They instantly evoke memories. The leveling influence of television has made many of them easily misunderstood or incomprehensible to younger folks.
“Bless her heart” might sound like a benign sentiment, but it enables a Southern lady to say something quite dreadful about another as long as preceded by that cancelling phrase. “Bless her heart, she can’t help being a poor housekeeper.”
“Madder than a wet hen.” A wet hen indeed looks out of sorts. Back in the day, farmers used to pour water on a hen which became broody and quit laying eggs. If that didn’t work, she might end up on the supper table. Farm animals had to earn their keep.
One who has enjoyed a full Southern meal with crackling cornbread, beans and dessert was described as “full as a tick.” That brings a mental image of picking engorged ticks off one’s hound dog.
“Wore slap out” means physically and mentally exhausted, beyond “weary” but short of “dog tired.” That might result from a day of labor in the house or in a field, especially on a hot, humid summer day.
“Hankering” means in the mood for some particular food. “I’m hankering for some fried chicken.” It goes beyond mere hunger in general and can be satisfied only by the specific desire.
“I don’t have a dog in this fight” means leave me out of it. I don’t care either way. One with a dog in the fight might quickly become hostile with anyone who disagrees.
Although I try to use mostly standard English, I’m not one bit embarrassed to use these expressions heard from childhood. They are part of our Alabama heritage, and I treasure them.
Elton Camp is a retired teacher and assistant dean. He worked many years at Northwest Shoals Community College and Bevill State Community College.
