8 Expressions You’ll Hear in Texas: Learn some expressions that capture the charm, wit, and larger-than-life personality of the Lone Star State.

Word Smart ^ | 12/26/2024 | Bennett Kleinman

[SeekAndFind]

Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the lexicon, as evidenced by the extensive list of local sayings and idioms used throughout the Lone Star State. These turns of phrase make it easy to spot a Texan from a mile away (though the ten-gallon hats and spurred cowboy boots certainly help as well). There are classic expressions, such as “howdy” and “y’all,” as well as some phrases you may not be familiar with unless you’re from Texas. Let’s look at some of the distinctive phrases that are particularly common among Texans.

Fixin’ To

“Fixin’ to” is the unofficial state verb of Texas. It’s used in a situation where you’re about to do something, but aren’t quite ready just yet. You might say, for example, “I’m fixin’ to go buy groceries,” which more or less means, “I’m planning to go buy groceries.” If someone says they’re “fixin’ to” do something, then it’s on their mind and likely to occur in the near future.

Coke

When you order a “Coke” in Texas, someone might ask you what kind. This may be confusing to non-Texans, as they probably just wanted a Coca-Cola. But “Coke,” like “soda” and “pop,” is a regionalism; Texans use the word to refer to any type of fizzy soft drink. So, if you want a Sprite, you may start by ordering a “Coke,” and then clarifying that you want a Sprite.

Might Could

While a lot of slang words help to shorten sentences, sometimes Texans add words that make common phrases longer. This is the case with “might could,” which is a particularly popular Texan saying. While in most parts of the country you’d say, “I could take care of that,” in Texas you’d say, “I might could take care of that.” At the end of the day, these two sentences mean the exact same thing, but Texans like adding a little extra “might” in there.

All Hat, No Cattle

Have you ever heard the phrase “all bark and no bite”? Well, in Texas — where there’s quite a lot of cattle — you’re far more likely to hear “all hat and no cattle.” Both idioms mean that someone is all talk and no action.

Bless Your Heart

The phrase “bless your heart” can be received one of two ways in Texas. Sometimes it’s sincere and sympathetic, but more often than not it’s delivered in a condescending tone. Deciphering the meaning all comes down to context. Someone who tells you, “Bless your heart,” may actually feel sorry for you, or they may be judging you while maintaining a superficial perception of being nice.

Reckon

People in Texas don’t just think — they “reckon.” This classic Texan slang is used in a variety of ways, such as for making a prediction or guess, or expressing a strongly held belief. For instance, someone might say, “I reckon that it’ll rain later,” or, “I reckon it’ll take a few hours to fix the car,” or even, “I reckon that BBQ is my favorite type of food.”

Wouldn’t Bite a Biscuit

If someone says a person or animal “wouldn’t bite a biscuit,” it means they’re a kind and harmless creature. The implication here is that Texans love their biscuits with a passion, so anyone or anything that wouldn’t bite into such a tasty treat is viewed as pretty mild.

All Git-Out

Last but not least, if you’re trying to convey something to an extreme degree in Texas, you may use the saying “all git-out.” This adverbial phrase is usually tacked onto the end of sentences in tandem with an adjective, as in, “The sun is as hot as all git-out,” or, “This brisket is as tasty as all git-out.” In any instance, it essentially means something is true to the maximum degree possible.

[Liz]

Texans love their biscuits with a passion, so saying anyone
that wouldn’t bite into such a tasty treat is viewed as harmless.

Texas Buttermilk Biscuits
An almost creamy texture. Ready In minutes. Yields 6 Texas size biscuits, 12 for you northerners.

Ing: 2 c flour 1 tbl sugar 1 tbl baking powder 1 tsp salt 1⁄2 cup shortening 3⁄4 cup real buttermilk

Steps Mix dry ing. Cut in shortening to little peas. Stir in buttermilk; on floured surface work in just enough flour to pat dough into 1/2" thick circle; use a drinking glass 3" across to cut out biscuits--do not twist cutter. Bake on sheetpan an inch apart 450 deg 10-12 min to lightly brown (don't overcook).

Note: real buttermilk does affect the texture. In a pinch, use dry buttermilk powder or even milk.
Serve warm. Reheat leftovers in micro 10-15 sec and eat topped with jam.

[Openurmind]

“A good Texan will add the letter “R” to words as seen fit.

Best example is Warsh:

*Go warsh your hands, warsh your hair and behind your ears.

*The warsh is flooded.

*Warshington DC, Warshington state.”

And replacing some letter pronunciations with others. A friend’s wife came from Texas over thirty years ago. We have been working on properly pronouncing “Rice” ever since. We have both now pretty much given up trying, it always comes out “Ross” and she just can’t fix it no matter how hard she tries. lol

[BamaBelle]

Bless your heart is not always an insult. Most of the times I say it is to empathize with someone going through hard times. Like bless your heat, I understand, been there, God will bless you, etc. I don’t say it that often and don’t know many people that do. Lifelong Alabamian.

[Nik Naym]

“All git out” was common at least as far back as the sixties when I was a kid, in upstate western NY. it’s not a Texan exclusive.

[BamaBelle]

So much for old eyes proofreading...lol heat=heart. So wish we could edit.

[hellinahandcart]

How could they leave out “yonder?”

My grandmother always told us us to “go in yonder” when she wanted us out from underfoot in the kitchen.

[one guy in new jersey]

“Might could” is actually a grammatically-nuanced expression that supplies what is lacking in English among those who don’t say it, or don’t know the subtle but real distinction between “could” and “might could”.

Other languages provide for this distinction.

[one guy in new jersey]

Busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kucking contest.

[MayflowerMadam]

Most aren’t specific to Texas. TN has the same lingo. A couple are things that Mom said in the northeast.

The TN thing that flummoxed me when we moved here was “care to”.

Q: Can you help me with this?
A: I don’t care to.

Translation - “I don’t mind.

[one guy in new jersey]

Ain’t that true.

[MayflowerMadam]

Right. LOL. I just posted that same thing. It took us a while after moving to TN to realize we weren’t being insulted. Just the opposite.

[MayflowerMadam]

Ha!

[MayflowerMadam]

In TN, there’s “the mountain”.

Becky: “Oh, I live up on the mountain.”
Betty: “I live on the mountain.”
Elizabeth: “We took a trip up to the mountain this weekend.

Q: Which mountain?
A: You know ... the mountain.

Becky and Betty live absolutely nowhere near each other. Elizabeth went a totally opposite direction.

[MayflowerMadam]

I’ve always called any carbonated drink “pop’.

[MayflowerMadam]

Is there space in that image for his next gig: “Governor”?

[imardmd1]

In Westen New York State, somebody wearing a hat inside (especially in a restaurant or for sure in church) may be asked, "Grow up in a barn, did you?"

(But things are changing, for many younkers act as if they had. Or they might be visiting from Texas. But anybody classy enough to wear an Open Road would know better.)

[odawg]

“Y’all = singular”

You must not be from the South. “Y’all” is never ever singular. It is always plural. If I were to ask you, and you were alone, “When are y’all coming for a visit” that means you along with your family.

The “all” in “all y”all” (and you don’t have that right, it is never all’s y’all) is merely an intensifier.

[weezel]

Yall doesnt need an apostrophe.

[MayflowerMadam]

“Fact is that we use unique pronouncing of places”

Like here in east TN. Don’t pronounce every syllable. If you refer to the town of Maryville and don’t say “Mrvl”, you’re not from around here. Dead give away.

[MayflowerMadam]

“’All git out’ was common at least as far back as the sixties when I was a kid, in upstate western NY.”

Definitely. I’m from just south of Buffalo, and we always said that.

Also rotting socks was a thing. If something made you mad, “That just rots my socks!”