Tag Archives: saying

“Depending on the Traffic” – Folk saying

Pulled from audio recording:

“Informant:
Oh, and another thing—this might not count as a proverb, but in California, people always say “depending on the traffic.” If something is 20 minutes away, you’d say, “20 minutes… depending on the traffic,” because it could be 50 minutes or even an hour.

Pearson:
That’s so interesting. That’s definitely not a thing in Connecticut. Traffic was never bad enough to add more than 10 minutes to a trip. Rush hour was the only time it got rough. But otherwise, it wasn’t a big deal. The idea that a drive could be 20 minutes or an hour was super foreign to me.

Informant:
Yeah, exactly. Like, I live 10 minutes from Malibu, but I’m an hour from school. At night, it’s a 45-minute drive. But if I leave during the day, it could take an hour and a half—just depending on the traffic.“

Analysis:

To me I think this is really interesting because it goes deeper than it’s actual meaning. Personally, I never really hear people say this for a couple of reasons. Where I’m from traffic isn’t really a huge thing unlike here where everything really “depends on the traffic” literally and figuratively. Like I said I think it also has a deeper meaning. I see it more as a saying like a proverb but not quite a proverb. I would classify it as folk saying that’s used to convey the idea of having things take longer than they maybe should because of various roadblocks.

Age: 20

Date of performance: Told to me on February 13th, 2025. Something they’ve heard all their life

Language: English

Nationality: American

Occupation: Student at USC

Primary Language: English

Residence: From California, lives somewhere in the Los Angeles area

“Meet Me at the Airport, We’re Going to Tahiti”

Nationality: American
Age: 63
Occupation: Retired

Informant Information:

Age: 63

Date of Performance: 2/18/2025

Language: English

Nationality: American

Occupation: Retired

Primary Language: English

Residence: Alameda, California

Text:

“Meet me at the airport, we’re going to Tahiti.”

Context:

The informant, a native of Berkeley, California, has faced significant family hardships, including her mother’s sudden health crisis, her son’s chronic illness, and her brother’s child being diagnosed with autism. During particularly stressful moments, she and her siblings would jokingly text each other, saying, “Meet you at the airport, let’s go to Tahiti” or “I’m going to Tahiti right now, come join me.” This became their way of signaling that they had reached an emotional breaking point and needed a mental escape.

Analysis:

The metaphorical idea of escaping to Tahiti, an idyllic vacation destination, served as a form of humorous escapism for the informant and her family. By inviting each other to “meet at the airport” and “go to Tahiti,” they created a shared symbolic refuge—a way to momentarily detach from their struggles without actually leaving.

Tahiti, often associated with paradise and relaxation, represented the fantasy of escaping life’s burdens and finding peace. By extending this imaginary invitation, the informant and her siblings not only acknowledged their shared hardships but also reinforced their emotional support for one another. This expression worked simultaneously as a joke and coping mechanism that allowed them to communicate distress, offer solidarity, and maintain their bond through humor, despite adversity.

“If the Good Lord’s Willing and the Creek Don’t Rise”

Age: 73
Occupation: Retired
Language: English

Informant Information:

Age: 73

Date of Performance: 2/26/2025

Language: English

Nationality: American

Occupation: Retired

Primary Language: English

Residence: Alameda, California

Text:

“If the good Lord’s willing and the creek don’t rise.”

Context:

The informant’s parents, who grew up in Tennessee, often used this Southern phrase when making a promise or commitment. It served as a way to qualify their pledge, acknowledging that unforeseen circumstances could prevent them from following through.

The informant’s background adds depth to this expression. Their mother lived in the Appalachian hills of East Tennessee, near the Hiwassee River. Before dams were built, the river frequently flooded, posing a real danger. The informant’s late uncle tragically drowned in the Hiwassee River, making the phrase “if the creek don’t rise” more than just a figure of speech—it was a genuine concern tied to the unpredictable forces of nature that could disrupt daily life.

Analysis:

This Southern saying blends faith and realism, reflecting the values of the region. “The good Lord’s willing” conveys deep religious faith and trust in divine providence, while “if the creek don’t rise” acknowledges the potential for unexpected natural disruptions. Together, the phrase expresses both humility and an awareness of life’s uncertainties—recognizing that even with the best intentions to uphold a promise, external forces may intervene. By using this expression, the informant’s parents could make a commitment while also leaving room for circumstances beyond their control.

Minor Genre: Saying/expression

Date of Performance: 02/11/2025

Nationality: American

Occupation: Student

Primary Language: English

Residence: Los Angeles, CA

“I’m fuller than a wood tick on a swamp rabbit”

Context: The subject’s grandfather (from Kilgore, Texas) would say this after a large meal, usually dinner. According to them, the phrase has a slight negative connotation – it is primarily used when one feels uncomfortably full.

Analysis: Cultural background likely played a large part in the inception of this saying, given the rural nature of the subject’s grandfather’s home area. A “wood tick on a swamp rabbit” is likely very full, as the rabbit is unlikely to resist being leeched on by the tick. Interestingly, the phrase exists in direct contrast with another Southern expression I’m familiar with, “I’m hungrier than a tick on a teddy bear”, which presents the opposite meaning (as a teddy bear has no blood to feed off of).

You Would Complain If They Hung You With a New Rope – Folk Phrase

Nationality: American
Age: 18
Occupation: College student
Residence: Farmington, Minnesota
Language: English

Text:

You would complain if they hung you with a new rope

Context:

The informant heard this from their grandfather as a kid growing up in Minnesota. The example they gave me was that they might be complaining about something unimportant or trivial. Their grandfather would tell them this phrase to point out that they were whining just to complain and not because there is an actual reason to. The informant acknowledged that in those moments, they were complaining about things that didn’t actually matter. They said that their grandfather used the phrase accurately in pointing out that they didn’t really have anything to be unhappy with.

Analysis:

This phrase is associated with overly complaining about things that don’t matter. The phrase on first read doesn’t make a lot of sense. However, with some research, it is revealed that a new rope is actually a bad way to be hung. The rope should be treated so that it makes death quick. A new (untreated) rope would be inefficient and slow down the process, likely making it more agonizing to the person who is being hung. The phrase says that in the case of the listener being hung, they would still find something to complain about. If they were being hung, the type of rope shouldn’t be their most pressing concern given that they are dying either way.

This phrase seems to be a bit outdated in the US given that America does not hang people regularly. Although this practice is strong in the country’s history from wars and prisoners to racialized attacks, it is much less common today. This phrase is pulling from the shared historical memory of the country.

This phrase also reflects some American cultural values of taking what you are given or “toughening up.” Complaining is associated with someone who isn’t ready to take on the world. Being unable to complete a task without saying all the things that bother you is looked down upon, especially in the workplace. Managers look for people who get the task done, not people who spend time complaining.

This phrase is said to children who tend to be the ones complaining because they haven’t learned the cultural values yet. This means that this phrase is teaching them the way they should act within American culture. It helps them to understand that as an adult, overly complaining isn’t socially acceptable and that now is the time to change that.