The informant explained that this is a hand game or clapping game she used to play at summer camp in between activities with the other girls who were in her cabin. Her estimate for when people play it is ages 6-12. You learn it by playing and other children explain it to you. She also… Continue Reading »
Me: How’d you hear about this? SD: I think I heard about it on, um, I believe it was an Instagram post that was a screenshot of a Tumblr post, probably about 2016, maybe. Me: What does it mean? SD: So the phrase is not my circus not my monkey, I believe it’s an English… Continue Reading »
Background: The informant works at a private school, where one of her jobs s running a class about drugs, alcohol, stress, and sex. This class is for freshmen in high school, so when she speaks about the students, this is who she’s referring to. LR: So, the only thing, well, so, obviously I think it’s… Continue Reading »
Background: The informant was born and raised in Western North Carolina. He has lived in North Carolina his whole life. The following phrase expresses a sentiment of North Carolinians surrounding a classic Southern dish: barbecue. “If it ain’t pig, it ain’t BBQ” I was told that for most people in North Carolina, barbecue is specifically… Continue Reading »
Background: The informant was born and raised in Western North Carolina. He has lived in North Carolina his whole life. He wanted to share some Western North Carolina expressions and proverbs because he uses them frequently, liking their “local” nature. “Sometimes you just have to poke the frog to get him to move.” The informant… Continue Reading »