“Sometimes you’re the hero, sometimes you’re the goat.”
“Today’s peacock is tomorrow’s feather duster”
Re: SMH
I used to think it meant “shake my hand.” So I was constantly confused – why would you say that, given the meaning and context of what you just said?
“Not in my wheelhouse” (or “that’s in my wheelhouse”) - a useful bit of business jargon that works in one’s personal life too
Does anyone remember the term “slewfoot”? My grandfather used to use it- I think he would tease my grandmother by calling her that. I hadn’t thought of it in ages, but heard a song on the radio (Outlaw Country) this morning called Slewfoot and it was about a bear.
This thread seems to have veered into aphorisms, which is fine by me, so I’ll add two that I’ve found to be true in my life:
“Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan.”
“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”
Someone just replied “Bless your heart” to a facebook comment I made. I am so honored! LOL
When I was a lot younger. (aaaa lotttt younger), I was kind of a whiny kid. Such that my grandmother, after having enough of my whininess said “I wouldn’t take you to a dog fight.” Well. That was really it for me. I proceeded to go cry to my mother “Mommmm. Grandma won’t take me to a dog fight!” And that is how family legends come to be.
(Happy Birthday to my grandmother who would have been 116 yesterday.)
She never did take me to one. And to the best of my knowledge, she has never been to one nor wanted to be at one. 
I’ve always heard “ridden hard and put away wet” as meaning that the person looked (or felt) totally exhausted and extremely bedraggled. “I feel like I’ve been ridden hard and put away wet.” And not applied to women, particularly.
I love “bluestocking.” I always think of an intellectual, sharp-witted, and extremely independent New England spinster. It may be intended as a put-down, but not IMNSHO. 
The way I’ve heard the expression of “ridden hard and put away wet,” you would never apply it to yourself
I think of Louisa May Alcott, Charlotte Bronte, Emily Dickinson in the bluestocking vein.
I’ve heard “rode hard and put up wet” to refer generally to someone who looked pretty rough around the edges, worn out, more commonly a female.
Interesting! To me, it’s not an expression you would use about a man - it only fits a woman, and it’s somewhat vulgar - with a clear double meaning to “ridden” and “wet.” Kind of like saying - she’s kind of skanky and hard-looking, and she doesn’t even mind. She’s been around the block a few times. It wouldn’t be something I’d say, for example, in a business setting or with people I didn’t know well.
Oh we still laugh at my mom’s phrase…be happy don’t be ugly.
We have regional battles in my house. The first being a grocery cart vs a buggy.
And for me it was nana and pop pop. Hubby called his memaw and papaw.
@eyemamom Were you raised on Walton’s Mountain?
As a kid I remember my mother describing several women “She is a bit much”. As an adult she told me that was a polite term and to drop the first 2 letters of the second word to know what she really though of that person.
Yes, let’s be careful with that one. Earlier someone suggested it meant sweaty or wrinkled, implying that you might say it to someone at a health club.or about someone’s grandma.
Yeah, no. I’m not telling you grandma was ridden hard and put away wet, even if she did have a tough life And when I work out and I’m all sweaty, please don’t tell me that I look like I’ve been ridden hard and put away wet. I won’t take it as a compliment!!
@Pizzagirl - the most popular terms for grandparents here in West Virginia are “maw-maw” and “paw-paw”, and they make my skin crawl! I always called my Midwestern grandparents “Grandma” and “Grandpa” and that’s what my sons call(ed) my parents. I’m not a grandmother yet but I absolutely will not go by “Maw-Maw!”
Might have been said already, but ‘ridden hard, put away wet’ has it’s origin in people too sorry to take care of their horse. The horse suffered for it, sure and the phrase was also a condemnation of his/her worthless owner.
No problem.
The kind of lady that thinks she doesn’t need anything but a switch - and an attitude like a mile or so of bad road. Falls apart like a cheap suit when her and her opinions are balked and turns abusive enough the bear just wishes she’d use the switch. Pop thought it was the high heels that made 'em so ornery but I think some are just born that way.