# What are your regional "vocal tics"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 1, 2018, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956 "2018-02-01T16:34:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956/81 "2018-02-02T23:49:47Z")
If I see, “I’m _ **loosing** _ my mind,” one more time, I might just…well, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Clarisse\_McClellan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Clarisse\_McClellan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clarisse_McClellan)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956/82 "2018-02-03T00:20:01Z")
All of my family are from Kentucky. They dont go to or by the store… They go\* down\*to the store. “I’m going down to Wynn Dixie” or “I was down to Wynn Dixie earlier today”. And “I went down to Mary’s house”. When I visited as a kid I thought everyone and all the stores were at the bottom of a hill. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956/83 "2018-02-03T00:51:51Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Growing up in western PA, it was always “pop”. Then I lived in Philly, just long enough for “soda” to sound right. The weird part was the year I alternated between Pittsburgh and Philly every few weeks and had soda and pop switching back and forth. It was really jarring! > > And of course, “the car needs warshed” sounds perfectly fine to me. I grew up with “pop” (Utah), used “soda” in So Cal, “pop” in Ohio, and “soda” in NJ. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956/84 "2018-02-03T01:32:43Z")
> [@Clarisse\_McClellan](#): > > All of my family are from Kentucky. They dont go to or by the store… They go\* down\*to the store. “I’m going down to Wynn Dixie” or “I was down to Wynn Dixie earlier today”. And “I went down to Mary’s house”. When I visited as a kid I thought everyone and all the stores were at the bottom of a hill. Doesn’t sound weird to me, but I wonder if it’s something I’ve acquired over the years. But I’m pretty sure I’ve used that construction often myself. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956/85 "2018-02-03T01:43:38Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Oh, God we have a bunch in Arkansas. > I am fixin’ to go to Walmarts. > It is over yonder, kitty-corner from the drug store. > Dinner for Lunch > Supper instead of Dinner. > You staying over? means Are you eating Supper with us? > My MIL always said ‘green-grocer’ for the Piggly Wigglys. > Backasswards. > Hey cous for hey friend > Bye y’all > Say hey to your aunt for me > Over thar at the Wal-Mart’s theys having a sale on towels. > Y’all all going in? > Feel better for get well soon. I was with you until the “y’all all” thing. In East TN where I grew up that would be considered a redundancy, or one step up from a Yankee saying y’all when referring to one person. ---
**Author:** ![betterlifethroughchemistry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/betterlifethroughchemistry/32/3094_2.png) [@betterlifethroughchemistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betterlifethroughchemistry)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956/86 "2018-02-03T01:45:20Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > (snip)I live in Texas now, and a lot of that New Mexican-ness has passed out of my everyday language. I suppose the most obvious is that I do in fact greet people with a relaxed “howdy” that sounds more like “hahdeh”. I’ve also picked up “might could” instead of “I will try.” I used to work for a company that had a couple of plants in Texas, the chemists were generally not Texas natives, but all the sales guys were…used to make me laugh when they would end a call with, “Ah holla back atcha”… ---
**Author:** ![betterlifethroughchemistry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/betterlifethroughchemistry/32/3094_2.png) [@betterlifethroughchemistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betterlifethroughchemistry)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956/87 "2018-02-03T01:55:56Z")
> [@Jennshark](#): > > (snip)I go to the beach - not “down the shore.” Even as a native Bawlmoron, it alway drove me crazy when someone would tell me, “We’re going up to de oshun”…ugh, you know OC is geographically southeast of here, right? ---
**Author:** ![betterlifethroughchemistry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/betterlifethroughchemistry/32/3094_2.png) [@betterlifethroughchemistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betterlifethroughchemistry)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956/88 "2018-02-03T02:01:49Z")
> [@wonky](#): > > I now just call it a “soft drink.” Because I can’t remember who calls what where. So I get universal puzzlement because it’s weird, but people know what I mean! I don’t know if it’s a East Texas thing or a Texas thing, but they seem refer to all soft drinks as a ‘Coke’, the first time I noticed it, the sales guy said, “You want to get a Coke?” the proceeded to order a Snapple… ---
**Author:** ![betterlifethroughchemistry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/betterlifethroughchemistry/32/3094_2.png) [@betterlifethroughchemistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betterlifethroughchemistry)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956/89 "2018-02-03T02:04:16Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > For summer vacations, Marylanders go “downey ocean.” I’ve certainly heard both, but for some reason, my MIL and my wife used to say, “Up de oshun”, cured my wife, but my MIL used to just roll her eyes at me when I pointed southeast… ---
**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:** [February 3, 2018, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956/90 "2018-02-03T14:30:22Z")
> [@betterlifethroughchemistry](#): > > I’ve certainly heard both, but for some reason, my MIL and my wife used to say, “Up de oshun”, cured my wife, but my MIL used to just roll her eyes at me when I pointed southeast… Hey, Massachusetts people go ‘down’ to Maine. (Came from sailing and how the winds generally blew, I think.) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956/91 "2018-02-03T14:53:58Z")
> [@betterlifethroughchemistry](#): > > Even as a native Bawlmoron, it alway drove me crazy when someone would tell me, “We’re going up to de oshun”…ugh, you know OC is geographically southeast of here, right? This drives my wife nuts, but it makes no sense to me as there’s no rule that “up” is north and “down” is south except on a map. I use “up” and “down” fairly interchangeably but, being a South Sider, I tend to say I’m going “down” to the city (it’s north of me), but I might go “up the street to Jewel’s,” but that’s south of me. I’m not sure what the difference is, but “up” and “down” are definitely not fixed directional markers and I find it odd that some/perhaps many people do consider them to be so. And even if I lived in a hilly location, “up” and “down” in this idiomatic usage would not necessarily relate to elevational change, either. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956/92 "2018-02-03T15:23:17Z")
> [@betterlifethroughchemistry](#): > > Even as a native Bawlmoron, it alway drove me crazy when someone would tell me, “We’re going up to de oshun”…ugh, you know OC is geographically southeast of here, right? YES! This is what bugs me. For most Jerseyians it should be “we’re going lateral to the shore.” I know it’s a traditional expression, so transplants may be more alert to it. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956/93 "2018-02-03T15:29:19Z")
The expression “Have a good one” instead of “a good day.” I know this saying originated in New Jersey, because I’m sure I originated it. I always felt stupid with “have a good day.” I’ve never had a good day in my entire life. Something always goes bad. However, “have a good one” applies to every day, even the bad ones. Something good happens every day, no matter what. And, oh yeah, we don’t wait for anything. We wait on everything. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956/94 "2018-02-03T15:42:32Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Growing up in western PA, it was always “pop”. Then I lived in Philly, just long enough for “soda” to sound right. The weird part was the year I alternated between Pittsburgh and Philly every few weeks and had soda and pop switching back and forth. It was really jarring! This is a [soda](https://www.retroplanet.com/mm5/graphics/00000001/Peach_Soda.jpg). Pop is an ingredient in a soda, but it’s not even the main ingredient. Calling it “soda” makes as much sense as calling chocolate syrup “banana split”. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956/95 "2018-02-04T04:01:05Z")
> [@betterlifethroughchemistry](#): > > I don’t know if it’s a East Texas thing or a Texas thing, but they seem refer to all soft drinks as a ‘Coke’, the first time I noticed it, the sales guy said, “You want to get a Coke?” the proceeded to order a Snapple… I grew up in El Paso and we said it, too. Coke was another word for soda (we wouldn’t use it for non-carbonated drinks). > [@Max\_Torque](#): > > I grew up in New Mexico, which means lots of Spanish words and phrases sprinkled into my English. Cussing was in Spanish. Lots of, “¡A la ve!” and, “¡A la maquina!”, not to mention, “¡Orale!” > > I live in Texas now, and a lot of that New Mexican-ness has passed out of my everyday language. I suppose the most obvious is that I do in fact greet people with a relaxed “howdy” that sounds more like “hahdeh”. I’ve also picked up “might could” instead of “I will try.” I have way more in common with NM than, pretty much, the rest of Texas. One thing we’d say that I never realized was uncommon was “get down from the car” instead of get out. It’s a translation from Spanish and very common along the border. Along the lines of soda/pop/coke is the usage of Hispanic/Chicano/Latino. Things Are probably different now but we always used Hispanic. Latino seemed East Coast and Chicano, West Coast. If you had asked me then if I was Latina, I would have said no. ---
**Author:** ![dbtoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@dbtoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbtoo)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956/96 "2018-02-04T06:43:08Z")
I grew up in the Allentown area of Pennsylvania and we used to say “say” at the end of a sentence, kind of as a confirmation. “That was a great movie, say?”. Does any other region do that? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956/97 "2018-02-04T11:45:41Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > But I have not picked up the local expression “right on”, as a way of saying “good for you” or “that’s cool” People still say “right on”? I thought that died with disco. I know it made its way into songs in the 70s, but apart from my father-in-law, who never lived in California but for some reason has adopted the expression, I’ve not heard it in normal speech in decades. Go figure… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956/98 "2018-02-04T15:36:24Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > This is a [soda](https://www.retroplanet.com/mm5/graphics/00000001/Peach_Soda.jpg). Pop is an ingredient in a soda, but it’s not even the main ingredient. Calling it “soda” makes as much sense as calling chocolate syrup “banana split”. See, we call that an ice-cream soda or a float (depending on how it’s made) around these parts. Soda is an ingredient to one of them there things. (Though Chicago is mostly “pop” country, but not all of it. My part of the city was “soda.”) ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956/99 "2018-02-04T21:55:24Z")
> [@BeeGee](#): > > Well, she ought not. I’ve heard that expression all my life here. “We went by Grandmom’s on the way over here.” > > I’m fixing to get us a coke. What kind do you want? I’m having Dr Pepper. If I wanted a Coca Cola, I would have asked for one! > [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > For summer vacations, Marylanders go “downey ocean.” You got that right, Hon. Is you favorite baseball team the Oreos? ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956/100 "2018-02-05T02:12:41Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > See, we call that an ice-cream soda or a float (depending on how it’s made) around these parts. Soda is an ingredient to one of them there things. (Though Chicago is mostly “pop” country, but not all of it. My part of the city was “soda.”) I see “Ice cream soda” as kind of akin to calling a pen an “ink pen” or referring to diabetes as “sugar diabetes”. A float is similar, but is just pop and a scoop of ice cream and maybe some whipped cream or a cherry. Anything more and it ceases to be a float, but becomes a soda. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-regional-vocal-tics/807956.md?page=6)