Interesting Things Texans Say: Part Two

In part one of this series (which you can find here), we highlighted five different phrases that tend to only be used in the great state of Texas. These were phrases I had never heard anywhere else prior to moving here, and they were confirmed by several lifelong Texans as phrases they've only ever heard here.

Now, we dive into part two with another five words or phrases that tend to only get used in Texas and have their own special meaning as to what they mean.

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"SMELLS LIKE MONEY"

Ok, so maybe this saying itself isn't unique to Texas. I mean, I've heard this one before in different states, but I've NEVER heard it referred to in the manner Texans refer to it in. When you're outside in Amarillo (and yes, other parts of Texas), you have that lovely, pungent smell of cow droppings. That smell gets wafted across the city when the wind kicks up. You walk outside, take a whiff, and blah. "What is that smell?" you ask for the first time. The person next to you says, "smells like money" referring to the ranchers that are about to get paid at the next slaughter. Quite the way to describe that lovely smell.

"I SMELL WHAT YOU'RE STEPPING IN"

To stay on the theme of smells, this is another one that eludes to the animal droppings that are synonymous with the area and state. Holding the same meaning as the saying, "I'm picking up what you're throwing down," this one was adapted to fit the culture of many parts of Texas to be relatable in that sense. No offense, but I may just stick to the previous version of this one. I'm not a fan of stepping in things.

"RECKON"

Ok, so maybe this isn't a full-on phrase, but it's a word that I RARELY ever heard get used in any other place I lived. Once I moved here, I heard it more in the first couple of weeks in living here than I had in an entire lifetime. Reckon essentially replaces the word "think", so instead of saying, "I think it's gonna be a warm one today", it becomes, "I reckon it's gonna be a warm one today." Very Texas if you ask me.

"SWEATIN' LIKE A SINNER IN CHURCH"

Speaking of heat, I about keeled over laughing when I heard this one. I had asked someone how warm it was supposed to be that day, and their response was, "man you're gonna be sweatin' like a sinner in church." I was flabbergasted but entertained all at once. Never had I heard that be the weather forecast, but I do believe I've used it a time or two since then with some friends that live out of state. Let's just say they have no idea what I just said.

"WHAT IN THE SAM HILL"

Yeah, I've heard this one in cartoons before. I believe Foghorn Leghorn was the one that made it a popular saying. However, outside of the cartoons I'd never heard it used. I believe this one is a bit more regional in its use as when I live in Austin, it wasn't something I'd heard someone actually use. However, that all changed when I made it to Amarillo. An iteration of, "what the heck," it gets used here more than I imagined the phrase would ever be uttered outside of my TV screen.