In another thread there was a discussion about colloquialisms/phrases/expressions such as “bless your heart” , smh (smack my head), your mileage may vary, throwing shade (that’s a new one to me) etc, and whether they are sincere, sarcastic or how they are in general intended. This is often particularly hard to discern in Internet chats, as the tone and expression often can’t be easily picked up on. What are some of your favorite colloquialisms or expressions, how do you use them, and how do you intend for them to be taken?
In the rural south where I now live people say “I’m wide open” when discussing work loads, scheduling, that sort of thing. At first I assumed it meant “I am completely free”. Then I figured out it meant," I am totally booked and busy as possible." I kept hearing it from contractors, and it was pretty confusing for me for a while. I was thinking “wide open” as in a calendar. I imagine their “wide open” has to do with vehicles but I’m not at all sure. Sometime I’m sure all will become clear, but I can’t really ask.
ETA: to actually answer the question, a couple of my favorite local colloquialisms are “have a blessed day” and “ain’t no thing” but I don’t ever use them myself because I didn’t grow up with them. However, I really love both of them. They just immediately raise my spirits.
@alh I also would think that “wide open” meant completely free.
Here’s a new one and my 18 and 15 year olds cringed when I tried it out: what does “on fleek” mean and how is it properly used?
ETA - @jym626 there was a piece in the New York Times Magazine maybe a year or two ago explaining the origins of the concept of throwing shade. That’s where I first encountered it. More recently there was a piece about what it means to be “woke” and the main thing I determined was that I’m not entitled to use it.
When I use “wide open” ,I use it to mean full speed, impulsive , no limits or boundaries.
@GnocchiB - can you explain “woke”? Not familiar with that.
And @alh- yo me “I am wide open” means “my calendar is open-- nothing on it”. Never heard it used to mean the opposite. So confusing…
Interesting, so “wide open” is used in the sense of “going full throttle”?
I have been loving “woke” so it’s on my favorites list as well. But I am not using it in conversation yet.
Generally “woke” means being aware of injustices. I’ve heard it used only referring racial injustice but its use might be wider than that.
“On fleek” = “on point”, basically meaning you are on top of your game, I think usually in regards to clothing. I’m a millennial and I don’t really know what that means.
“Throwing shade” same vein as a backhanded compliment. Kinda like silver tongue.
My sister doesn’t like it when I call her a dork. “It’s just not salty! Too bland”
Well, I grew up with “I’m wide open” and it has never meant anything other than the calendar doesn’t have anything on it so go ahead and suggest something that works with your schedule.
“I’m slammed” means no time to breathe in the schedule.
Now when it comes to contractors they tend to go from “wide open” to “slammed” in very short time periods. And sometimes willing to cancel your small job in favor of the more lucrative.
“Woke” is being aware of the systemic racism, injustice, etc that exists in the US (and elsewhere) AND not staying silent about it. It’s heavily connected to BLM but not exclusively used by/about them.
“On fleek” seems to have only made it up to about middle schoolers around here and then died. Thank the stars.
In gaming communities we use “God bless” (often shortened to “gb”). It really means more like “god damn.” I accidentally use it in real life sometimes and it confuses people (because I’m an atheist and that’s just not a common phrase around here).
I use “salty” a lot. “Salty” means like being bitter, being angry about something because it didn’t go your way.
In the south where I grew up, “wide open” means a free calendar.
In the south where I now live, “wide open” means a full calendar, at least among those native to the area.
carolinamom–your definition of “wide open” is actually “going full throttle”
As in " I’ve been so slammed I won’t be out of this mess for weeks. I’m already at full throttle and it isn’t letting up. I’ll burn out if it keeps up at this pace."
The one that seems to be on the upswing with the young high school kids around here is “sick” used approvingly. The usage has been around for at least 20 years, but I’ve been noticing lately that my early-high-school-aged nephews can’t make it through an entire paragraph without using it. “That’s sick” or “It was so sick.” The use definitely seems to be growing.
Also, “dude” used to chastise someone, especially women or girls. Your female buddy eats all the blueberries before the Fourth of July party: “Dude! Those were for the pie!” Woman in next car over cuts you off: “Dude!” Your sister changes the music when you are listening to a song: “Dude! I was listening to that.”
‘“Throwing shade” same vein as a backhanded compliment. Kinda like silver tongue.’
In my usage, “silver tongue” does not mean backhanded compliment. It means being articulate and persuasive to the point of being able to convince people of things that are not true.
I’m not good at new type slang but always look stuff up. “Throwing shade” appears to be same as "giving some serious attitude in the direction of someone and not in a positive way.
LOL–since it has to do with “throwing shade” it probably is what happens before “punching out someone’s lights”.
My kids don’t use any of these terms around me. They live in fear that I’ll open my mouth and actually use one. I long sometimes for when “groovy” was a word that my 'rents didn’t get.
Shade cannot be an overt complaint or criticism. It needs to be subtle, yet convey a message. There used to be a “shade court” on a website where a woman would determine if it was shade or not.
For example - Drew Brees tweeting a photo of his young boys and one of them is wearing a baby jersey with the number of a teammate who was just traded, and this is the day after the trade. Shade.
I don’t really say “bless your heart” very often, but when I do, I mean it sincerely. I usually say it after someone tells me something bad that they are going through or one of my patients is in a lot of pain.
Here we will often say “I’m fixing to” do something. DH: “Are you going to be home in 30 minutes to accept delivery on a package?” Nrdsb4: “No, I’m fixing to leave for my hair appointment.”
When I met other Americans in Paris when I lived there after college, I got a lot of grief from them whenever I said “I’m fixing to” do something.
My Ds have reacted with horror when I told my best girlfriend, “Let’s try to hook up next week.” That means a WHOLE different thing to them.
Ah yes, “hook up” is a loaded expression these days. I won’t touch it and don’t use it. I also don’t use “dude,” for anyone. It seems awkward to use it to refer to females, to me.