What does it mean to look like a dog chewing waspers? Or like a possum eating persimmons? And what does it mean when someone says, “He was grinning like a mule eating briars”? These idioms, which have been recorded in Kentucky and Virginia, refer to people chewing with their mouths open in a less-than-civilized fashion. In all of these examples, the one who’s masticating is showing lots of teeth — rather like a beagle trying to eat a sliding glass door. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Dog Chewing Waspers”
Hello, you have A Way with Words.
Hi, this is Rona Sullivan. I’m calling from the Middle Peninsula of Virginia.
Oh, well, welcome to the show. Glad to have you here.
Hi, Rona.
I was wondering if you knew where the phrase may have come from, like a dog chewing waspers.
It’s a phrase I used to hear my father say in the Blue Ridge area of Virginia.
And in what context would he say it?
You know, I worked outside with him a lot, and I think it was likely when you’re chewing gum with your mouth open, and he says, you look like a dog chewing waspers.
Because waspers, we know what waspers are, right?
Yeah, waspers. Do you know what waspers are?
Oh, yes, wasps.
Yeah, that is an expression that’s used in places like Kentucky and Tennessee and Virginia for wasps.
Sometimes it’s pronounced warshpers.
And I think it has to do with the exposing of the teeth.
Like you said, somebody’s chewing gum.
Or I’ve seen a lot of times expressions like, he’s grinning like a mule eating briars.
Oh, yes.
Have you heard that one?
Yes, I heard that one growing up.
Yeah, yeah.
And that refers to somebody with a really big smile, right?
Because if you’re chewing briars, then…
Your lips are pulled back, right?
Trying to not get stuck.
Yeah, because it’s pointy and prickly.
And I’ve also seen like a possum eating persimmons.
Mm—
Right.
And it all has to do with exposing those teeth and just having a big old grin.
And I guess if you’re chewing gum, you’re chewing gum like a dog eating waspers.
I love that.
It’s not a compliment, though, right?
Yes, it wasn’t very polite to do that.
Do you know what nationality might have used that term primarily?
Because where I’m from in that Blue Ridge area is such a melting pot.
It would be really hard to know the origin.
You’re right.
You nailed it.
It is pretty hard to know the origin.
That whole part of the country is mainly settled by the Scots-Irish folk.
Right, Scots-Irish.
Which probably has something there.
Which reminds me, there’s a version of this saying that is in Irish slang dictionaries online for what it’s worth.
Which is, you can describe somebody as having a face like a bulldog chewing wasps.
And it’s not a couple.
It means they’re ugly.
Yeah.
Well, thank you.
Yeah, I think the main thing is that it derives from that image.
All those images are so vivid.
Yeah, very vivid.
You’ve got to be hungry to eat Breyers.
Unless it’s Breyers ice cream, that’s something different.
We had a German shepherd who would chew bees, and if you’ve ever seen it, there’s really nothing like a dog chewing something like that.
Are you serious?
Why?
A German shepherd chewing bees?
Yes, they were very protective of us, so they would kill snakes or chew bees to protect us.
That’s the only explanation.
Oh, my gosh.
Brave, brave animals.
And you saw lots of teeth, right?
Yes.
Well, thank you so much.
I really enjoy the show, and thank you for answering the question.
Okay, Rona.
Well, it was our pleasure, Rona.
Thanks for listening.
Thanks for calling.
Glad to have you.
You’re welcome.
Take care.
Bye-bye.
Bye-bye.
Bye-bye.
You know, Grant, my Labrador retriever back in the day, Alice, once swallowed a live chipmunk.
I’m not kidding.
And it was like running around inside?
Well, she barfed it back up, and then it sort of blinked wetly and ran off.
But, you know, dogs do this kind of thing.
That’s why you love them, right?
Yeah, they’re big goofballs.
Always ready for a romp, though.
That’s right.
Give you a little bit of love, right?
Big goofballs ready for a romp.
Just like us, call us, 877-929-9673.
