Tag Archives: saying

“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.

Saying Told to Children

“If Ifs and buts were candy and nuts oh what a Christmas we’d have!”

The informant says she heard the saying from her parents when she grew up in the 70’s-80’s. The informant grew up in Virginia outside of Washington D.C. It was primarily said to her and her siblings when she was in elementary school after she did something wrong and tried to make an excuse or justify it. It was a common saying according to her that was regularly said by teachers and other parents too

“If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, oh what a Christmas we’d have!” is a quaint retort to a child’s excuse-making but it can tell us a lot about the goals and culture of parents in America at this time. It is a blend of personal accountability, practical wisdom, and the use of humor in teaching, that parents use while trying to instill important values in their children. This saying is meant to teach kids not to be someone who makes excuses and to instead just act the right way. It is said in a fun and memorable way that a kid would remember. This highlights the American spirit of “pulling yourself up by the bootstraps” or not making excuses and just working hard to be successful. This way of thinking was especially prevalent during the 70’s-80’s and this children’s saying highlights that parents goals at the time were to make sure their kids also thought this way too.

ETA Superstition

Nationality: Burmese

Primary Language: Burmese

Other Language(s): English, Chinese

Age: 19

Occupation: Student

Residence: Los Angeles, CA

Performance Date: 02/17/2024

A.N is 19 years old, and is currently a USC student who’s originally from Yangon, Myanmar. She is my current suite mate and has been a friend since middle school, since we are from the same hometown and school. I asked her if she has heard of or is familiar with any tabooistic vocabulary within our culture. 

“One superstition that I remember my mom saying is that we aren’t allowed to say the specific estimated time of arrival, or else we won’t get there on the time mentioned. I first heard that when I was a pre-teen and my family was on a road trip to Ngwe Saung. I asked my mom when we were arriving and she said that she wasn’t allowed to say. She did end up telling me that we can say a more vague description of the ETA, like “evening” but not something as specific as 5 p.m. I remember it clearly because as a kid, I believed it too. Eventually it became a superstition that I try to keep in mind whenever I am answering the same question if someone else were to ask me that.”

As a Burmese person, I can’t say I’ve heard of this tabooistic vocabulary or superstition but I don’t deny its possibility since we have a lot of other superstitions that are just as trivial and non-sensical. A.N states that she is not clear with what the reasoning behind this superstition is but I personally think that it might just be her mom not wanting to give an answer to her child who could start to complain or become impatient. On the other hand, it could be related to our culture of avoiding stating something important, in the chance we might ‘jinx’ ourself. It is our way of holding on to the hope that the outcome, in this situation the ETA, is something that we want it to be.