No matter where you go in Kentucky, the people often have some colorful expressions. The most interesting often hail from our older generations, such as the WWII era and those raised by them. The 1800s and 1900s were much simpler times, as people didn’t have the luxuries afforded in modern times. Travel depended on the weather, all roads weren’t paved and home grown vegetables were plentiful.

Here are 15 colorful Kentucky expressions that most people wouldn’t understand:

  1. High falutin? AKA an arrogant or stuck up person, thinking their better than others.

Uncyclomedia CC

  1. Full as a tick on a Coon Hound’s back? AKA a pretty disgusting visual meaning, no longer hungry.

Zdjec CC

  1. They got more _______ than Carter’s got little pills? AKA someone has too much of something.

Sage Ross

  1. Close that door; you weren’t raised in a barn? AKA self explanatory, unless said person was raised in a barn. Mind you, barns on an upscale farm were nicer than houses in an impoverished community.

Russ Hamer

  1. Praise the lord and pass the gravy? AKA possibly a quick prayer before putting gravy on other food.

Karen Harris

  1. Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise? AKA be there if no tragedy occurs and the bridge isn’t washed out by the river.

Wiki

  1. Day Lord? AKA something so shocking, surprising or troubling that surely the Lord has returned to walk the Earth.

CGP Grey

  1. Recken? AKA you think so?

Mickey Aldridge

  1. I’m gonna learn you? AKA teach you something

Unknown 1874

  1. Over yonder? AKA whichever direction the finger points or the head nods.

Wilhem Meis

  1. Two peas in a pod? AKA acts just alike.

Gaetan Lee

  1. Older then dirt? AKA older then Methuselah, as dirt came before him.

David Ross

  1. Old as Methuselah? AKA very, very old.

Benjitheijneb

  1. What in tarnation? AKA What in the hell.

Wiki, The Scream

  1. He doesn’t have a pot to pee in, or a window to throw it out of. AKA He is dirt poor and shan’t be bettering himself.

Wiki

Everyone has their own expressions, but our hillbilly ancestors had some of the most colorful ways of communicating. This is just the tip of the ice burg. It would be great to hear some of the sayings you all grew up listening too, so please post them. There might even end up being a part two to this article.

Uncyclomedia CC

Zdjec CC

Sage Ross

Russ Hamer

Karen Harris

Wiki

CGP Grey

Mickey Aldridge

Unknown 1874

Wilhem Meis

Gaetan Lee

David Ross

Benjitheijneb

Wiki, The Scream

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