7 Funny Southern Expressions and Commonly Misused Words

1. “Death Whelmed Over”

My first moment of hilarity comes with one of the most classic funny misused phrases, “death whelmed over.” In the South, you will hear someone pose the question, “How are you feeling today?” A common response is, “I feel like death whelmed over.” Luckily, I discovered that the correct response is “death warmed up,” and surprise, it all made perfect sense. If you are curious about the origins of such idioms, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary offers great insights.

2. “Chester Drawers”

I always wondered when I was little, “Who is Chester, and why are we using his drawers to store our clothing?” To my relief, the correct expression is, of course, “chest of drawers.” I was relieved mostly because I was a little frightened that a man named Chester might make a visit to my bedroom and decide he wanted his furniture back. This is definitely one of those funny country phrases that sticks with you.

3. “For All Intensive Purposes”

With this misused expression, I always wondered what intensive purposes warranted the actions attached to the phrase. I recall someone saying once, “For all intensive purposes, we will call him Jack.” I wondered what Jack did that was so intense that we were initiating our own extreme purposes to discuss him. The expression “for all intents and purposes” works so much better. In fact, people looking for all intensive purposes other misused phrases often stumble upon our next point.

4. “Irregardless”

This is another word that has always been comical and ranks high among annoying misused words. Upon hearing it, it would always strike me as odd. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that it was improper English. Now, I do tease anyone who says it, especially my ex-husband. Despite its inclusion in some modern dictionaries as a nonstandard word, grammar enthusiasts still cringe.

5. “Pacific”

The word specific is, as I have learned, a little difficult for some to pronounce. I had heard my father say pacific so many times growing up, there was always the assumption that it was correct. As sad as it may sound, it was a real eye-opener when the word specific became a spelling word for my class in elementary school. Being somewhat sarcastic, today I correct anyone who says pacific by informing them that it is actually the Atlantic, not the Pacific, that our state is within close proximity to. The puzzled looks on their faces are hilarious.

6. “Beckon Call”

“Beck and call” has been misused in more than one way in the South. From “beckon call” to “bacon call,” the variations of the expression are nothing short of hilarious. Yes, I have asked what bacon has to do with anything. Believe me, even I came up with some knee-slappers myself. Language evolves, and these slang variations are a perfect example of how words take on a life of their own.

7. Old Timer's Disease

In the South, there are several different names for Alzheimer's disease. They range from Old Timer's disease to Old Folk's disease. While it often affects seniors, it always seemed rude to me to label it as such. Still, it is funny to hear someone besides myself misuse the expression. For accurate medical terminology, it is always best to consult resources like the Alzheimer's Association.

Misused expressions and funny southern words are often a source of amusement. They make some of us go into grammar strictly mode, but we still find humor within the frustration.

What are some southern expressions for crazy you hear frequently in your area?