Come A Runnin’ Youngin’! And 5 Other Expressions To Love

The way folks talk is one of my favorite things about our little part of the Southern Appalachians.

It’s not just the accent.

In a place where our Scottish and Irish ancestors settled centuries ago, it’s the words and sayings (meaning expressions) folks use that just feels like home. 

These colloquialisms can sometimes cause confusion.

My Freshman college roommate was from the northern part of the USA. She migrated South for school, probably never expecting there to be a language barrier just 6 hours from her home.

We got along great, though we had very different upbringings (meaning we grew up in households that didn’t function the same way). We were often tickled (meaning we found humor) by how each other spoke, our accents, and the names we used for specific items.

Her “wallet” to my “billfold” was the source of a particular moment of confusion one evening as we prepared to go out.

We had a severe language breakdown over the iron one day. She pronounced the word as if it had two syllables. I pronounce it as if it has one.  We were both confused for a good 5 minutes.

Twenty-something years later, I still can’t wrap my brain around how she said that word. 

It was some of the expressions I used that blew her mind.

Here are some of my favorite phrases from our part of the world.

I look forward to reading yours in the comments. 

Come A’ Runnin’ Youngin’

My personal favorite. 

The mom and aunt of MyFarmer’s childhood best friend say this.

Whether it’s been a few days or a few years since you’ve seen them, whether it’s a fancy wedding or the grocery store, once they lock their gaze on you, they’ll throw their arms open and holler, “Come a’ runnin’ youngin’!” 

Come a’ runnin’ youngin’ means: “Hey!!! It’s so good to see you! Get over here, and let me look at you. Give me a hug! How’ve you been?!” 

Yep, that one statement means all that. 

That simple phrase shows that someone is eager and excited to see you. It makes a person feel special, loved, and happy to be seen.

I’ve found myself saying “Come A’ Runnin’ Youngin” to my toddler cousins. 

I hope it makes them feel as loved and cared about as it does me.

50-11

Or 40-11, or 47-11. Basically, 11 after any other number. It means a lot.

“He’s got 50-11 excuses, and I don’t believe any of ‘em.”

“There are 47-11 flies in here already, shut the door!”

Sit a Spell

Also, a personal favorite and the tagline I chose for this blog. 

Sit a Spell means:  Come hang out. Let’s catch up. What’s going on?

Sit a Spell is welcoming. It means your company is wanted. It means there are stories to share. Come sit a spell.

Study On It

Study on it is a phrase MyFarmer says 50-11 times a day. It means to figure something out. Study on it can take any length of time and can be for a problem in varying degrees of severity.

BoyChild asks his dad for help with his homework, “Bring it here; let me study on it.”

There is a major mechanical issue with a piece of farm equipment, “Let me slide underneath this thing and study on it.”

Study on it is a comforting phrase. Whatever the problem or issue, everything will be alright. It’ll eventually be fixed when you study on it.

Full as a Tick

When BoyChild and GirlChild were toddlers, they learned to proudly climb out of their chairs after a meal, stick out their bellies, poke them, and exclaim through giggles, “I’m full as a tick!”

Full as a tick means: I’m done eating. I’m full. I couldn’t eat another bite.

Ain’t No Count

Ain’t no count is used to convey displeasure, disdain, or disgust.

“That boy ain’t no count. I heard him talking back to his momma.”

“Shew, this milk ain’t no count. It stinks.”

I often hear ain’t no count from my dad and father-in-law. If they say something ain’t no count, you should probably stay away.

Expressions are traditions passed down in communities and families for generations. 

What are some of your favorite expressions from the place you call home?