Unusual regional sayings

[geoff in almonte]

One from the (Ottawa) Valley

We're gonnal tamarack her down on the old pine floor  -  we're going to a party and we're gonna have a GOOD time.

G

[mobiker]

One that I've only heard in Missouri: When you need to think about something or study it, you need to "wool it around"  i.e. "Going to wool that around a bit and get back to you".
'

[stubbie]

As mad as a cut snake

[Guzzistajohn]

OR "Madder than a wet hen"

[JayDee24ca]

My Dad used to say, referring to a bad singer, "sounds like a dying duck in a thunderstorm".  My saying for the same bad voice is " sounds like a cut cat".

[Guzzistajohn]

How 'bout "as independent as a hog on ice"

or, "I'll be on you like a duck on a junebug"

[BrotherJim]

No doubt other people in other places have said it, but it always cracked me up when my grandfather would refer to people or things as being "...worthless as tits on a boar." 
Fun fact here in Indiana, you'll often hear people refer to things in a common dialect:

Tars = Tires
Ol = Oil
Worsh = Wash
Arn = Iron

This may be more of a Midwestern thing, but we will often exclaim, "Ope!", when presented with an "Excuse me." type of situation.

[cliffrod]

When we see an ugly stone (bad or poorly done memorial carving or sculpture), we say it looks like a pickle-headed monkey.  That came from VT.

[mhershon]

In southern Indiana, if something was made strong, it was "built stout." I used to say, "The barn needs painted," clear into adulthood, until someone told me that saying it that way is local and not correct. When I lived in Bloomington, Indiana, we were right on the line between "creek" and "crick," and "greezie" and "greasy." I never said crick but I often say greezie. And what is it that they call a water fountain in Minnesota?

[jwinwi]

In Wisconsin, or is it just Milwaukee, a drinking fountain is called a Bubbler.

[Neil]

My mother , born in Stonington, CT, also used the word "bubbler".

[jwinwi]

My mother , born in Stonington, CT, also used the word "bubbler".

Duly noted. Guess I learned something today. 

[oldbike54]

 A friend whose dad was from Chicago said "pull the chain" his entire life .

 Dusty

[lucky phil]

A couple.....the English have a saying you hear all the time on MotoGP coverage "early doors" which means early on or at the beginning. Don't know where the "doors" bit comes from.
I notice Americans have altered the saying "I couldn't care less" to "I could care less" which is the exact opposite to what the original meaning is. I've seen it written many times implying the original intent but expressed as the later. Not sure whether it's just an abbreviation that's gone wrong and become the norm or something else.

Ciao 

[keuka4884]

A friend vacationed in Maine for several years. He said that in Maine if something is not right someone would use the phrase "That's north fie gumpy." Focus on the first letters.

[travelingbyguzzi]

Uffda!

Ha! We used to see ‘Uffda’ bumper stickers in Seattle. Haven’t seen one in years!

[Guzzistajohn]

we had a uffda winery but they closed up. Thanks to, well you know. 

[TN Mark]

"Bless your heart" is used as both a term of endearment as well as the opposite.

"holding on like a hair in a biscuit"

"going after that like a chicken on a June bug"

In and around Pittsburgh, PA rubber bands are often called 'gum bands'.

 

[Motormike]

My old man had several: "Phony as a three dollar bill!"  "Worthless as tits on a boar."  and "You're going to be busier than a one-legged man in a gunny sack race."

[Mr Pootle]

A couple.....the English have a saying you hear all the time on MotoGP coverage "early doors" which means early on or at the beginning. Don't know where the "doors" bit comes from.
I notice Americans have altered the saying "I couldn't care less" to "I could care less" which is the exact opposite to what the original meaning is. I've seen it written many times implying the original intent but expressed as the later. Not sure whether it's just an abbreviation that's gone wrong and become the norm or something else.

Ciao

I believe that early doors comes from the time when pub opening hours were very restricted. Early doors meant getting there as soon as the pub opened its doors.

[SmithSwede]

There are plenty of these odd expressions in the Deep South.  And the Australian stuff always cracks me up.

Some I heard often growing up:

“Ugly as homemade sin.” 

“She’s so ugly she would scare a buzzard off a gut pile.”

“She fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.”

As to confusion.   “I don’t know if it’s Tuesday or Philadelphia.”   Also “What kind of Kansas City three way is going on here?”

“Color me impressed.”

“Bring me a church key.”  (Request for opened beer)

As to a person who really impressed or influenced you:  “He sure made a mark on me.”

“It’s hotter than a $2 pistol.”

Explaining something.  “And that’s how the cow ate the cabbage.”

[mobiker]

I don't know how wide spread this one is. One I've heard locally from the "if pigs had wings" category:
"If frogs had pockets they'd carry guns and shoot snakes."

[larrys]

"You're going to be busier than a one-legged man in a gunny sack race."

Along the same vein;
Busier than a one-armed paper hanger.
Busier than a one-legged man in an ass kicking contest.
Larry

[stuv65]

Someone needs to mention “brass monkeys”

[jwinwi]

I don't know how wide spread this one is. One I've heard locally from the "if pigs had wings" category:
"If frogs had pockets they'd carry guns and shoot snakes."

I heard Willie Nelson say 'If a frog had wings he wouldn't bump his a$$.' Not sure if that's a common one in TX?

[mobiker]

I heard Willie Nelson say 'If a frog had wings he wouldn't bump his a$$.' Not sure if that's a common one in TX?

I don't know, but if Willie said it, its ok with me 
Anybody who doesn't like Willie just has something wrong with them

[bacongrease]

 Women would say: " I need to paint the barn"...apply makeup, etc.

or "that woman needs to paint the barn.

[twowheeladdict]

This thread appears to have quickly digressed into thinly veiled insults instead of Unusual regional sayings. 

I'm surprised no one posted up "Wicked Excellent" which was very common in New England in the 1970s.

Here in Tennessee when you ask someone where a location is, they might answer "Over yonda a little ways"  That could mean anywhere from 100 yards to 10 miles. 

[tommy2cyl]

Don't know if they are regional.  Probably more universal.  I think the genesis of one if not both is from the military.

1. SNAFU
2. FUBAR

[sidecarnutz]

I had a old Senior Chief in the Navy who said "No matter HOW F***** up you are, you can still serve as a really great bad example for others!"

I grew to really like that one as I got older. I learned I could often learn more from peoples bad examples of what NOT to do than I could from good examples. The bad examples teach you the "whys" not just the "how's". That's a greater depth of knowledge.