# If I were to have my Druthers, I'd first like to know what a Druther is... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 13, 2007, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-have-my-druthers-id-first-like-to-know-what-a-druther-is/429866 "2007-12-13T15:20:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-have-my-druthers-id-first-like-to-know-what-a-druther-is/429866/1 "2007-12-13T15:20:20Z")
I have a collegue that is a walking euphemism - he’s got an expression for everything and everything so as not to insult anyone. His vocabulary is gargantuan and he loves making up new phrases for everyday things. I have heard several times, “if I had my druthers I’d…” I get the meaning, but have no idea what a druther is or where it came from? Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-have-my-druthers-id-first-like-to-know-what-a-druther-is/429866/2 "2007-12-13T15:21:50Z")
“I’d rather…” ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-have-my-druthers-id-first-like-to-know-what-a-druther-is/429866/3 "2007-12-13T15:21:54Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] I have a collegue that is a walking euphemism - he’s got an expression for everything and everything so as not to insult anyone. His vocabulary is gargantuan and he loves making up new phrases for everyday things. I have heard several times, “if I had my druthers I’d…” I get the meaning, but have no idea what a druther is or where it came from? Anyone? [/QUOTE] I believe it’s a contraction of “I would rather…” If I had my druthers I’da beaten Malacandra ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-have-my-druthers-id-first-like-to-know-what-a-druther-is/429866/4 "2007-12-13T15:22:16Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] I have a collegue that is a walking euphemism - he’s got an expression for everything and everything so as not to insult anyone. His vocabulary is gargantuan and he loves making up new phrases for everyday things. I have heard several times, “if I had my druthers I’d…” I get the meaning, but have no idea what a druther is or where it came from? Anyone? [/QUOTE] “Druther” comes from saying “I’d rather”. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-have-my-druthers-id-first-like-to-know-what-a-druther-is/429866/5 "2007-12-13T15:22:55Z")
pwned! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-have-my-druthers-id-first-like-to-know-what-a-druther-is/429866/6 "2007-12-13T15:24:12Z")
It’s a phrase I’m familiar with, so he definitely isn’t making it up. According to [phrases.org](http://phrases.org) it is an American phrase and druthers is a contraction of “would rathers”. The cite they use is “If I was a youngster, I 'drather set up in any perfession but a circus-driver, but a man can’t always have his 'drathers.” and over time apparently drathers became druthers [linky](http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/194850.html) ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-have-my-druthers-id-first-like-to-know-what-a-druther-is/429866/7 "2007-12-13T16:28:00Z")
Wow… I always thought druthers was one of those words that you couldn’t singularatize. But if _druther **s** _ is High Grand Grammatical Poopah Approved, _and_ at its core it’s a contraction of _I’d rather_, than can one legitimately and properly (i.e., without fear of the Word Use Thugs coming down on you) say things like: He’s just an idiot who doesn’t want to be a delivery boy. Druther not force it on him. or To be honest, druther be a crying little pussy than a faggy Goth kid. or The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what y’druther not or … well, you get the point. Is _druther_\*\_\*\*\* proper English? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-have-my-druthers-id-first-like-to-know-what-a-druther-is/429866/8 "2007-12-13T16:51:38Z")
> [@](#): > > Is druther\_ proper English? Nope. It’s slang. Lexicographically-wise slang, originally, until use got so widespread that people using it were unaware of its origin. It always seemed obvious to me, but then again, I’ve been able to not pick up on things that seem abundantly obvious to others. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-have-my-druthers-id-first-like-to-know-what-a-druther-is/429866/9 "2007-12-13T17:42:07Z")
I knew this right away. Then again, I once worked on a production of [L’il Abner](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li'l_Abner_(musical)) ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-have-my-druthers-id-first-like-to-know-what-a-druther-is/429866/10 "2007-12-13T19:37:48Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] \Lexicographically-wise slang. \ [/QUOTE] I like that word. Thanks all. I’ll have to think up something much more witty for the next time I see this friend… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-were-to-have-my-druthers-id-first-like-to-know-what-a-druther-is/429866/11 "2007-12-13T19:58:42Z")
I’d put it right up there with: That’s _a whole nuther_ thing.