12 Phrases That Will Make You Swear Mississippians Have Their Own Language
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Daniella DiRienzo
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If you’re going to make it in Mississippi, you have to master the language. And I’m not referring to the southern drawl residents are known for. I’m talking about the unique phrases used in everyday conversation. Some are self-explanatory, while others will have outsiders swearing Mississippians have a language of their own; here are 12 perfect examples.
No matter the name on the package, these tasty peanut butter crackers are all referred to as "nabs." The tradition actually started years ago when Nabisco was the dominant brand. Even though the Nabisco version of the crackers has been discontinued since the 1970s – 1980s, the name stuck.
This phrase is commonly used to ask how someone’s family is doing. (Hey, just because things tend to move at a slower pace in Mississippi, doesn’t mean we don’t like to take a few shortcuts from time to time.)
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Feeling a bit underappreciated or neglected? Well, if you’re a Mississippian, this is the phrase you’d use to sum it up.
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Not to be taken literally, "sugar" in this instance means a kiss. (If a Mississippian wanted actual sugar, they'd ask in a much nicer manner than this.)
Mississippians are fully aware that some things are just out of their control – and that’s where this phrase comes in. It’s used by someone to imply that they’ll do something or show up somewhere unless some unforeseen circumstance occurs. It actually makes complete sense when you consider that a rising creek in rural Mississippi often leads to flooded, impassable roads.
Ask a Mississippi resident for directions, and this phrase will most likely be thrown in somewhere. So, just how long is "a ways?" Well, it varies. But it’s often preceded by either "a little" or "a long" to keep things from getting too confusing.
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If an outsider heard this, they'd probably wonder why you didn't drive. However, a Mississippian will know that no one literally carried anyone, anywhere.
Only a Mississippian would know how to answer this question.
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This one’s pretty self explanatory. An ant is clearly lacking in the common sense department, so it’s just a polite way of saying that someone isn’t behaving in the smartest way. ("Bless her heart" is probably the best response to this remark.)
This popular expression would probably stump anyone who isn't from Mississippi - mainly because frogs clearly don’t have hair. But that’s exactly the point. You see, since there is no visible hair on a frog, it’s safe to assume that if it did exist it’d be extremely fine.
Sure, Mississippians are known for being great cooks; however, every once in a while things can go awry in the kitchen. And when they do, this is the expression you’d use to described the "ruined food."
This is simply a shortened version of "did you eat yet?" The question is pretty common since Mississippians are known for great cooking and hospitality. So, if you’re ever asked this question, it’s a good idea to say "no" because it’ll most likely result in being offered some amazing food.
So, do you use all the phrases listed above? Have another to add to the list? Tell us in the comments section!
If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out “13 Weird Side Effects Everyone Experiences From Growing Up In Mississippi.“
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