Test your knowledge of down-home Southern slang with this quiz — y'all better be fixin' to do well!
1. What does "fixin' to" mean in Southern slang?
- Cooking a meal
- Repairing something
- Getting dressed up
- About to do something
"Fixin' to" means you're about to do something, like "I'm fixin' to leave."
2. What does "y'all" mean?
- You always
- You, alone
- You all (plural you)
- Yes, all of them
"Y'all" is a contraction of "you all," used to address a group.
3. In the South, if food is described as "finger-lickin'", it means it is…
- Extremely delicious
- Not fully cooked
- Too spicy
- Served without utensils
"Finger-lickin'" describes food so good you'd want to lick your fingers afterward.
4. What does "holler" mean in Southern slang?
- To cook slowly
- To call out or shout to someone
- To hide something
- To argue about money
"Holler" means to shout or call out, as in "just holler if you need me."
5. If someone says "I reckon", they mean…
- I suppose / I think so
- I refuse
- I regret
- I remember
"Reckon" is a Southern way of saying "I suppose" or "I think."
6. What does "over yonder" mean?
- Yesterday
- Over there, at a distance
- Next year
- Right here, close by
"Yonder" refers to a place that's visible but at a distance.
7. If someone tells you to "hush your mouth", they want you to…
- Smile more
- Eat something
- Speak louder
- Be quiet
"Hush your mouth" is a folksy way of telling someone to stop talking.
8. What does "knee-high to a grasshopper" describe?
- Very old
- Extremely tall
- Very wealthy
- Very young or small in size
This phrase describes someone who was very young or small, often used about childhood.
9. If someone says "I'm plum tuckered out", they mean…
- Completely exhausted
- Very hungry
- Slightly confused
- Extremely happy
"Plum tuckered out" means totally worn out or exhausted.
10. What does "skedaddle" mean?
- To argue loudly
- To eat slowly
- To leave quickly
- To fall asleep
"Skedaddle" means to hurry away or run off quickly.
11. What does it mean if a Southerner says "we're kin"?
- We are close neighbors only
- We are related by family
- We work together
- We went to school together
"Kin" refers to family members or relatives, close or extended.
12. What is a "po'boy"?
- A type of Southern sandwich, often with fried seafood
- A type of dance
- A children's game
- A nickname for a poor relative
The po'boy is a classic Louisiana sandwich, typically on French bread with fried shrimp, oysters, or roast beef.
13. If someone says "bless your heart" to you in the South, it most likely means…
- It can be genuine sympathy OR a polite insult, depending on tone
- It's always a compliment
- You did something amazing
- They are praying for you literally
"Bless your heart" is famously double-edged — it can be sincere sympathy or a gentle way of saying someone did something silly.
14. What does it mean if someone is "madder than a wet hen"?
- Very angry
- Very hungry
- Very tired
- Very confused
This colorful phrase means someone is extremely angry, comparing them to an agitated hen.
15. What is a "mess" of something, like "a mess of greens"?
- A large quantity of it
- A messy pile of trash
- A small taste
- A spoiled batch
In Southern speech, a "mess" refers to a generous, often unspecified large amount of food.
16. What does it mean to "carry" someone somewhere in the rural South?
- To invite them to a party
- To physically lift them up
- To drive or give them a ride
- To mail them a package
In Southern dialect, "carry" can mean to drive or accompany someone, e.g. "I'll carry you to the store."
17. What does it mean if someone is described as "full as a tick"?
- Very rich
- Very full after eating
- Very energetic
- Very sick
This vivid phrase compares a stuffed stomach to an engorged tick after a meal.
18. What does "might could" mean?
- Might be able to / possibly could
- Absolutely cannot
- Already did
- Definitely will
"Might could" is a Southern double modal expressing a tentative possibility.
19. What does "a coon's age" refer to?
- One calendar year
- A raccoon's lifespan exactly
- A very long time
- A very short moment
"I haven't seen you in a coon's age" means it's been a long time since you met.
20. What does "dadgum" mean?
- A type of dessert
- A term of endearment
- A mild, polite exclamation of frustration
- A greeting
"Dadgum" is a softened, family-friendly substitute for a stronger curse word.
21. What does "gully washer" describe?
- A gentle drizzle
- A drought
- A heavy rainstorm
- A tornado
A "gully washer" is Southern slang for an intense, sudden downpour of rain.
22. What does "tump over" mean?
- To tip or fall over
- To speak quickly
- To jump high
- To clean something
"Tump over" is Southern slang for something tipping or falling over, like a canoe or a bucket.
23. If someone is "three sheets to the wind", they are…
- Very organized
- Very drunk
- Extremely tired
- Sailing a boat
This nautical-origin phrase describes someone who is heavily intoxicated.
24. If something is described as "cattywampus", it is…
- Very organized
- Crooked or askew
- Extremely valuable
- Freshly cleaned
"Cattywampus" (or "catawampus") means something is crooked, out of alignment, or in disarray.
25. What does "suck in your gut and grin" mean?
- Prepare to eat a big meal
- Deal with something and stay positive
- Get in shape by exercising
- Hold your breath for a photo
This phrase is a light-hearted way of saying to endure a tough situation while staying good-natured about it.
26. What does "ain't studyin' you" mean?
- I'm proud of you
- I'm studying with you
- I miss you
- I'm not paying attention to / worried about you
This phrase is a dismissive way of saying someone isn't giving another person any thought or concern.
27. What does it mean when something is "piddlin'"?
- Small or insignificant
- Very expensive
- Extremely large
- Highly dangerous
"Piddlin'" describes something trivial or small in amount or importance.
28. If a Southerner says something is "high cotton", they mean…
- Extremely tall
- Old-fashioned
- Very difficult
- Doing very well / prosperous
"Living in high cotton" refers to a time of prosperity, from the image of a bountiful cotton harvest.
29. What does it mean if someone says "that dog won't hunt"?
- That idea or excuse won't work
- The dog is tired
- The plan is a great success
- It's time to go hunting
This phrase means an idea, plan, or excuse simply isn't going to hold up or succeed.
30. What does "buggy" mean in Southern speech, especially in places like the Carolinas?
- A horse-drawn carriage only
- A small car
- A type of insect infestation
- A shopping cart
In much of the South, "buggy" is simply the local word for a grocery shopping cart.
31. What does "I swanny" (or "I swan") express?
- An apology
- Surprise or emphasis, like "I swear"
- A formal greeting
- A type of dance
"I swanny" is an old-fashioned Southern exclamation used for emphasis, similar to "I swear" or "I declare."
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