Home » Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Discussion Forum (Archived)

Please consider registering
Guest
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Min search length: 3 characters / Max search length: 84 characters
The forums are currently locked and only available for read only access
sp_TopicIcon
"Whistling Dixie" Origin
Grant Barrett
San Diego, California
1532 Posts
(Offline)
1
2013/04/10 - 10:00am

You ain't just whistling Dixie, and that's the truth! Whistling Dixie, which refers to a studied carelessness, comes from the song that originated in minstrel shows and from which the South takes its nickname. But if you say someone ain't just whistling Dixie, it means they're not kidding around. This is part of a complete episode.

[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/83904682" params="auto_play=false&show_artwork=false&color=ff7700" width="100%" height="180" iframe="true" /]

Allison924
1 Posts
(Offline)
2
2013/04/15 - 12:06pm

Grant mentions how a woman whistling Dixie might somehow not be a good thing (according to people back in the day). I grew up in Texas and heard the phrase "Whistlin' women and crowin' hens, will never come to no good end." Of course my mom (the only one I heard this from) has a penchant for these great old sayings and only used it jokingly, never with actual disapproval!

EmmettRedd
859 Posts
(Offline)
3
2013/04/15 - 2:31pm

My SW Missouri grandmother had a slightly different version, "Whistling girls and crowing hens, often come to some bad end."

Emmett

Forum Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
Show Stats
Administrators:
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Moderators:
Grant Barrett
Top Posters:
Newest Members:
Mike Brock
Forum Stats:
Groups: 1
Forums: 1
Topics: 3647
Posts: 18912

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 618
Members: 1266
Moderators: 1
Admins: 2
Most Users Ever Online: 1147
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 55
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)

Recent posts