It ’s no surprisal that a country as large as the United States is teeming with terms that are n’t understood from coast to seacoast . Preplyrecently set out to determine which single cause the most confusion .
First , researchers used data from two sites , OnlyInYourStateandEnjoyTravel.com , to create a listing of state - specific price . They then demand 1028 U.S. residents to guess what they thought each one meant . The 10 term that were wrongly defined most oftentimes are list below ( along with some entertaining honorable acknowledgment ) .
There are a few things to note before you dive in . For one , state slang is a lot likestate foodin that it does n’t exactly cohere to United States Department of State limit . Many of the term below can be heard outside the state relate with them in this undivided study .
For another , the study positions all the terms asslang — but some of them might be more competently classified as regionalisms . Slang is typically veryinformaland mostly confined to cozy spaces ( e.g. on social media or in conversation with friends).Regionalismsaren’t needs unofficial ; their specify equipment characteristic is just that they ’re specific to a certain region . For illustration , the termborrow pit , which cite to an excavation ditch , boasts anentryin the dictionary and is featured on Montana ’s statewebsite .
Lastly , what sketch answerer think a given term think of was n’t always “ amiss , ” per se ; it was often just an alternative ( and more common ) definition for that term . But they did invent a few curious definitions when no other well - known option came to beware .
you could explore more takeaways from Preply ’s studyhere .
Tavern // South Dakota
In South Dakota , a tap house is n’t always — as most sight participants assumed — a taproom . Sometimes , it ’s a flat coat - beef sandwich like to a sloppy joe . There ’s a detail of the great unwashed who feel strongly that thedifferencebetween a sloppy joe and a tap house is tomato : Sloppy joes boast atomato - base sauce , and tap house typically do n’t . But there are tavern recipes that call for some physical body of tomato ( ketchup , for example ) .
Right out straight // Maine
Preply ’s sight - takers generally thoughtright out straightinvolved narrate the accuracy — perhaps influenced bystraightin the “ honorable ” and “ upstanding ” sense . ( Not to mention the phrasegive it to me square . ) If you ’re mightily out straight in Maine , though , it means you’rereally fussy .
Carry // Mississippi
The common assumption was thatcarryin Mississippi meant “ to have a gun on your person . ” And it does mean that — but it can alsomean“to drive ( someone ) , ” in the same way you might say , “ I have to take my mom to the airdrome . ”
Grill // New York
The New York – specific definition ofgrillis “ to stare discourteously . ” Most respondent identified its not - so - regional meaning : “ to expect a lot of questions . ”
Gnarly // California
Gnarlyis such a Hellenic bit of’80s slangthat you ca n’t fault respondent for assuming it ’s asynonym forcool . If a Californian ( or any surfboarder ) yell a undulation “ gnarly , ” though , they belike mean it ’s immense and daunting .
Dirty bird // Kentucky
Usingdirty birdto describe “ an unsympathetic individual , ” per Green ’s Dictionary of Slang , dates back to the mid-20th century . Many resume participants correctly identify that as a possible definition , but they did n’t realize that Kentuckians also use it to think “ KFC . ”
Grinds // Hawaii
Respondents assumedgrindsmeans the same matter in Hawaii as it does everywhere else : “ works really hard . ” But it ’s in reality slang forfood , often spell with az : grindz .
Borrow pit // Montana
Aborrow pitis a pit formed when material is unearth ( i.e. borrowed ) from it and relocate somewhere else . It can also refer to a drain ditch beside a road . respondent unfamiliar with the term dreamed up a somewhat originative definition of their own : “ contribution box . ”
Put out // Missouri
Survey participants definedput outas a jolly vulgar euphemism for agreeing to have sexual practice . In Missouri , though , it ’s often not something you do , but something you are : raging or peeve .
Blucifer // Colorado
If you ’ve never heard the termBluciferbefore , you might do what Preply ’s respondents did and assume it ’s another term forblue devil . ( That allege , it ’s unclear what kind of profane devil masses were visualize : It’sDuke University ’s mascot , the sobriquet of aU.S. infantry divisionactive in both reality wars , and also an old - timey reflexion for about of economic crisis . ) ButBluciferis really the colloquial nickname for the seemingly dark 32 - foot - tall fiberglass gamy cavalry that looms overDenver International Airport . The official name of the statue , createdby Luis Jiménez , is simplyMustang .
Honorable Mentions
These five terms were n’t misunderstood by quite enough multitude to make the top 10 , but we still think they deserve a vociferation - out .
Term
State
What It Means
What People remember It Meant
Jiffy foot
Florida
Dirty feet from walk around shoeless
Skills on the dance floor
Concrete
Kansas
stock-still custard with premix - IN — so thick it ’s like concrete ( and not unlike aDairy Queen Blizzard )
A sidewalk
Yinz
Pennsylvania
A synonym foryou all
A made - up word with no signification
Haboob
Arizona
A dust storm that typically sweeps through as a giant roiling wall of dust
A derogative term for an Arizona resident
Polecat
West Virginia
A skunk
A dancer of the grownup amusement mixture
Learn More Regional Slang Terms Here :
