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

A Way with Words, a radio show and podcast about language and linguistics.

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"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.

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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

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