Martha’s fond of videos about Appalachian dialect, and in one she came across the expression, “I’d just as soon be in hell with my back broke,” meaning “I strongly prefer to be anywhere else.” This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Broken Back in Hell”
I was watching, as I am want to do sometimes, a video of people in Appalachia talking.
Okay.
Talking about the way they talk.
I love watching these things on YouTube.
And I came across an expression that I really liked.
I’d sooner be in hell with my back broke.
Oh, that means like instead of doing whatever is on being offered, you just give me the worst possible situation.
And what I love about it is the way they intensify it.
It’s not just I’d sooner be in hell.
It’s I’d sooner be in hell with my back broke.
With my back broke.
And it’s got a nice sound.
It’s almost poetry.
I know.
I know.
And if you Google it, it Googles pretty well.
Plenty of people say that.
I’d sooner be in hell with my back broke.
