I Was Thinking... ‘Stated’ Correctly

While the U.S. shares a common language, if you travel, you find states have unique localized expressions.
In Minnesota, everyone knows what “The Cities” are and where “Up North” is located. If you are from North Dakota, Minnesota, or Wisconsin, everyone knows you bring a hot dish not a casserole to a potluck.
But if someone asks if there is a bubbler near, this person is from Wisconsin, and they are trying to find a water fountain. If he then talks about a “Yupper,” he is referring to someone from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. And the further away from home you are, the more new terms you may need to learn.
If you are in Alaska and somebody says a “sourdough” is “going outside,” they aren’t talking about bread. It means an Alaskan native is traveling outside the state. If an Arizonian says you should see the “big ditch” they mean you should visit the Grand Canyon. If you see a sign in North Carolina that has OBX on it, they are referring to something on the Outer Banks. In Colorado if someone refers to a “14er,” they are talking about one of the 58 mountains that are over 14,000 feet in elevation. While in Chicago, if someone encourages you to take in LSD, they aren’t talking about drugs, they want you to see the Lake Shore Drive.
In St. Paul a confusing place where several freeways intersect is referred to as spaghetti junction. In Virginia a similar situation is called a “mixing bowl.” Kasson now has three roundabouts but in Massachusetts they call them rotaries. We are also learning about “J” turns here but New Jersey has roadway ramps where left turn traffic is diverted, and they are called “jughandles.” If someone in Idaho says you’ll need to take a snaky road or follow the “cow path,” be prepared for a lot of twists and turns ahead. But don’t be a bumper sticker, (someone who tailgates) and be sure to keep out of the “hammer lane” (left passing lane) unless you are going 5 to 10 mph over the speed limit.
As you travel you learn more of the local lingo. In Washington state or Florida, if they talk about liquid sunshine, rain is predicted. If somebody in Montana tells you to “cowboy up” you need to pull yourself together. If someone is hunting “whistle pigs” in Idaho they are looking for prairie dogs.
Even shopping can be a challenge. In Virginia a “poke” is a shopping bag. A liquor store in Connecticut is a “packy store.” Yard or garage sales in Washington are “jumble sales.” If you want soft serve ice cream in Vermont, you need to ask for a creamie.
Getting directions can also have a local flavor.
In Kentucky or West Virginia, someone might live over in the “holler.” It could mean the backcountry or in a distant valley. In Arkansas they might live “up yonder” which could mean anywhere north of where you are or higher up a mountain. Someone could also live “over yonder” which could be anywhere in the direction they are pointing. In Alabama if something is “a ways,” you might have to travel between 10 miles to 3 hours. But after giving you directions, they’ll almost always say, “and Y’all come back again.”
We know those of us that head South during the winter are called “snowbirds,” but sometimes they are called “Q-tips” too. This is because of the clean white tennis shoes on one end and the white hair on the other end. Tourists going to New England in the fall to observe the changing colors are called “leaf peepers” by the locals. The New Jersey natives refer to the people who invade the Jersey shores in the summer as a “Benny.” In Wyoming, a “Greenie” is someone from Colorado with those green license plates. So, you really don’t have to go to Europe to learn a new language, all you have to do is travel around our country.
 
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