This if my final installment on southern phrases I grew up hearing. Let me know if you have heard them.

“In three shakes of a sheep’s tail.”  [fast, quick, like how a lamb wags it’s tail.]  When I call, you better be home in three shakes of a sheep’s tail!”  

“Like Nate and the second repeater.”  [a reference to a character in the McGuffy Reader, where things had to be repeated until memorized— meaning to work hard at something; to put forth great effort]  She did her math homework like Nate and the second repeater.

“Got a wild hair.” [Followed through with a bad or dangerous decision.  A really bad idea.]  For some reason I got a wild hair and stole candy from the dime store.

“Rode hard and put up wet.”  [Looked ugly, awful, like a worn out mule.]  What happened to you?  You look like you’ve been rode hard and put up wet!

“I’ll jerk a knot in you.”  [a threat to give a spanking– meaning that you are in deep, deep trouble]  Young lady, if you sass me I’ll jerk a knot in you!”

“Stinks like c’airn.” [C’airn (pronounced “k’yarn”) is something that stinks so bad that dogs won’t eat it– meaning having a very foul smell]  Whew!  Something smells like c’airn!

“Crazy as a betsybug.”  [crazy, but not mentally impaired.  Acting stressed, illogical, or frustrated.]  That girl came in the room acting crazy as a betsybug.

“Stinks to high heaven.”  [can be used of an extremely bad odor, or can be used about a situation that involves corruption]   That Congressman’s deal stinks to high heaven.

” You’da cheet chang in dis cuntchy.” [a term of endearment for a little baby or toddler– literally translated, “You’re the Sweetest thing in this country.”  It needs to be spoken in high-pitched falsetto.]  

“(Anything) Like a top”  [Term of encouragement, “Look at Sophie, she ate her okra like a top,” meaning Sophie ate all the okra on her plate.]

“Mad as an old wet hen”  [obviously a wet female chicken is not happy]  Mama came into the room, mad as an old wet hen.

Face it, these phrases say things that need to be said, and in such a creative way.  I think I’ll keep using them!