Southern Phrase of the Month

We have a term in the south that means “spoiled”.

The term is ruint. It is the past tense of sorts to ruin.

It is said in one syllable. It is easier to say than ruined.

Proper Uses:

“Look at Cedie lying in the sun on her back, she’s ruint!”

“Don’t eat that cake now, you’ll ruint your supper.”

22 comments:

Michael said...

I dunno, the second example seems to be pushin' it.

We have our own version here - it's "spoilt".

As in "Goliath won't eat his dinner 'cause he's holding out for cheese. He's spoilt."

Kuckie said...

My friend Doug went to live in Tennessee for about 7 years, and when he came back he kept telling me he was "fixin" to do something. All the time, "fixin to get in the shower", "fixin to eat breakfast", fixin to call his mom". That one drives me crazy!!!! I don't think we ever got him to quit saying it.

Reggie Hunnicutt said...

Fixin' is a lot easier to say than, "I getting ready to...".

Reggie Hunnicutt said...

Goliath is spoilt as Ned's ass. Ajax is ruint too.

Jay said...

I can't believe that guy likes his steak so well done. It's ruint!

Liv said...

ruint isn't in my vernacular. my favorite southern phrase of all time is:

tell yer mommandems ah said how yer durrin?

it's am imperative and a question.

Ali said...

I think I just developed a twitch...

Reggie Hunnicutt said...

Damn Liv, I actually understood that sentence.

By the way, how yer durrin?

Michael said...

True Dat 'bout Goliath, but Ajax is a pretty good boy. Now, Yoda is ruint and Emmy was spoilt as Ned's ass, but we've been re-training her... some.

And Bubba? We're fixin' to giv'im away to the lowest bidder.

TerryC said...

Michael, my love, "spoilt" is one of those "my aunt actually talks like this, can you believe it?" things.

And that kind of speech pattern is one of the reasons I don't go back to see my relatives very often.

I just want to give them all a dictionary or thesaurus or a GED course.....

Wreg, you've got to interpret that Liv, thing....whazat?

Ali, me too!

Reggie Hunnicutt said...

Oh that’s easy.

"Please tell your mother and family that I asked about them."

More literally, Tell you mama I said, “How are you doing?”

Anonymous said...

In Minnesota we have a word that replaces the phrase, "I'm going to..." It's "omminah." As in, "Omminah run to the store now."

Then again, maybe that's just a Terri-ism....

Jahooni said...

You'll ruint your supper?!!!
Supper = Dinner, right?

Reggie Hunnicutt said...

No! Dinner is lunch in the south. Supper is supper.

Jesus ate the last supper, not the last dinner.

TerryC said...

Alright, let's get this straight. It's not only a southern thing for you to eat dinner at lunchtime and supper at dinnertime. I grew up that way, too.

Also, here's a RIism:

Jeet yet? (Did you eat yet?)
No, jew? (No, did you?)

Jahooni said...

I actually say supper too (sometimes) only with family. Friends would laugh at me.

Peach Pod said...

Wreg, you tain't right, are you boy?! Don't forget to have Gigi explain the difference between a purse and a handbag. I think it might make Ali's head explode!

Reggie Hunnicutt said...

We have another term in the south for a ghost.

We used to and still do call a ghost a haint. Especially an evil spirit.

"Don't go to that house, it's full of haints."

Liv said...

Oh, thank God for haints.

Also, remind Peach of something else:

pocketbooks.

I'm durrin alright although I sorely mis my man friend.

Judy said...

You guys are cracking me up. Especially Terry C. with the Jeet yet? and no Jew?
Tell us about the handbag and purse, Gigi.

Reggie Hunnicutt said...

Gigi explained this to me. A handbag or pocketbook is an item at the store that you can purchase.

Once you own it becomes your purse. You are identified with it and it becomes part of your personality.

Judy said...

Thanks for clearing that up. That makes perfect sense and she is correct.