12 Things You Can Count On Only Hearing A Mainer Say To Someone
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Michelle
Author
Every state has its own special defining characteristics. Some are known for their food while others are known for their weather. If you ask us, that’s kinda boring. We love that Maine has its own special features. We see it in the way we talk, the things we do and, most of all, the way we talk. Here’s a list of things you’ll probably only ever hear come out of the mouth of a Mainah!
You might have friends or family who live in the middle of nowhere. If you do, you might have used this phrase to refer to where they live. Or, depending on what part of Maine you're from, you may have just said "willywacks."
Anywhere else a dusting might refer to an inch or less. Not so here in Maine! We've come to expect winters full of snow and if it's less than 6 inches we don't change our schedule.
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We love our furry friends and it's not an adventure unless we've got them in tow. A day at a brewery? Yep, fair to expect that a pup can come along! Out on sleds? You can bet I'll have mine there!
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Granted, this might not be used as widely anymore, but if you grew up here you've probably heard it! It basically means that something is ruined, often a car. It's especially useful when trying to explain the state of a car that's been in a slight fender bender.
In another state "camp" might refer to the place that kids go for summer fun. In Maine it refers to any house that's not our regular home. Often at the lake or in the forest, going upta camp means fun with friends and family as well as some seriously great camp fires.
This one-word affirmation or acknowledgement is useful throughout the state. It can mean you agree or it can simply mean that you heard someone. Either way, you probably won't hear it outside of Maine.
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Mainers are friendly and it's not uncommon to see a family dinner turn into a Thanksgiving-style set up! It might be the result of close neighbors or it might be the fact that we weasel our way into the lives of others. Either way, we love a busy dinner table.
Throughout the winter many of Maine's lakes are completely covered in ice. That's great for skating, pond hockey and fishing, but it's not great for swimming! Once the spring comes and things begin to thaw, you'll hear people using this very Maine phrase to prepare for the next season.
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Ahhh, the age-old mistake every Mainer has made despite countless television ads advising us to act differently. You might walk in one day to find the perfect picnic table only to go back with a truck the next day to find it gone.
Or, it might sound more like "you can't get the-ah from he-ah!" It's true that getting around in Maine can be a challenge depending on the direction you're going. Roads just don't always go in the exact direction we need them to. But, we can assure you that anywhere you want to go is in fact accessible. It just might take a while!
While people in other states might think this is simply a "front yard," Mainers have come to call this something different. You might have grown up hearing it more like "dooryahhhh." Either way, it's where you want to leave those muddy boots!
While not entirely an insult, it's certainly not something that any Mainer would want to be mistaken for. Flatlanders are folks from another state who are just passing through.
There’s just something special about living in Maine. And it starts when you’re young. Here are 13 life lessons everyone learns growing up in Maine.
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