Midwestern Slang Nobody On The Coasts Knows

Meaning: An expression of annoyance or aggravation.An expression of annoyance or aggravation.annoyance or aggravation.

Use it in a sentence: "For cryin' out loud, Marsha, get your act together!"For cryin' out loud, Marsha, get your act together!

Meaning:Whileshorts weatherThis weather seems simple enough, but it differs from other parts of the country. Once the Midwest temperature hits above 40 degrees, people should wear shorts.

Use it in a sentence:"I can't believe it's shorts weather already."

Meaning:Theshorthand versionof "Come with me," or to "come along."

Use it in a sentence: "We're actually on our way to Kacey's wedding right now. It's just up the street past the stop-and-go light, you wanna come with?""We're actually on our way to Kacey's wedding right now. It's just up the street past the stop-and-go light, you wanna come with?"

Meaning:The time-honored backyard game ofthrowing bean bags into holes.Two points for danglers.

Use it in a sentence: "You hear about Stacy's big barn party? She's "You hear about Stacy's big barn party? She'sgonna have cornholeset up."

Meaning:Thatglorious mixtureof chocolate, peanut butter,Chex cereal, and, as with most things Midwest,butter.

Use it in a sentence: "Gonna make a batch of Puppy Chow for the big game tonight.""Gonna make a batch of Puppy Chow for the big game tonight."

Meaning:Acarbonated beverage, i.e., a soda.

Use it in a sentence: "I need to run to the Wal-Mart and pick up some pop for Stephanie's barn party.""I need to run to the Wal-Mart and pick up some pop for Stephanie's barn party."

Meaning:Typically uttered when asmall mistakeis made or when a Midwesterner is surprised. It is not quite an "oops," nor close to a "whoops," but a mix of both.

Use it in a sentence: "Ope! Sorry, I didn't see you standing there.""Ope! Sorry, I didn't see you standing there."

Meaning:Fried pieces ofcurdled milk.

Use it in a sentence: "Can you please order me a side of curds with my burger?""Can you please order me a side of curds with my burger?"

Meaning:Puked. Vomited. Ralphed.

Use it in a sentence:"I yakked this morning after all the partying last night."

Meaning:A mash-up of three words: "Did you eat?" In the Midwest, people skip full sentences when food is present.

Use it in a sentence:"We're just sitting down for hotdish now. Jeet?"

Meaning:Another name for ahighway or freeway.

Use it in a sentence: "To get to grandma's house, we gotta hop on the expressway for a few hours. But we should still get there just in time for her famous hotdish.""To get to grandma's house, we gotta hop on the expressway for a few hours. But we should still get there just in time for her famous hotdish."

Meaning:A staple of Midwest cuisine is theConey Dog.The recipe? Take a normal hot dog, then slather some bean-free chili, mustard, and onions on top.

Use it in a sentence: "I'm so full of Puppy Chow from the party, I don't think I can eat another Coney Dog.""I'm so full of Puppy Chow from the party, I don't think I can eat another Coney Dog."

Meaning:To getsuper drunk.

Use it in a sentence: "Man, I took down too many PBRs and Coors Lights last night - got me schnookered.""Man, I took down too many PBRs and Coors Lights last night - got me schnookered."

Meaning:A Midwest term for avacuum cleaner.

Use it in a sentence: "Can you grab the sweeper from downstairs? I just spilled a ton of Puppy Chow.""Can you grab the sweeper from downstairs? I just spilled a ton of Puppy Chow."

Meaning: A Norwegian exclamationthat generally conveys surprise or dismay.

Use it in a sentence: "Uff da! I spilled the entire bowl of Puppy Chow I spent all morning making!""Uff da! I spilled the entire bowl of Puppy Chow I spent all morning making!"

Meaning: Technically, a mix of cheeses distributed through the welfare system as cheap food. Many people disliked this food, so it became a term for bad ideas.Technically, a hodgepodge of various cheeses distributed through the welfare system as a cheap version of the foodstuff. Many folks hated the creation, so it became synonymous with bad ideas.The foodstuff became synonymous with bad ideas.bad ideas.

Use it in a sentence:I won't drive across town to Kacey's wedding before Stacy's barn party. That makes as much sense as government cheese.

Meaning:In Minnesota, especially, ahotdish is a casserole.It has meat, vegetables, a starch like tater tots, and cream of mushroom soup. You can add cheese later.

Use it in a sentence: "Mom, we've had hotdish and Puppy Chow every night for the last two weeks. Is everything okay?"

Meaning: Shorthand for "would rather," or how the speaker would perform a specific action.

Use it in a sentence: "If I had my druthers, we'd just pick a president the same way we do the lottery: pull a few names at random, and that person's stuck with the job."

Meaning:Tough luck; deal with it.

Use it in a sentence: "Tough tomatoes, Blake! Steph doesn't want you anywhere near her after you yakked in her bathroom."

Meaning: A traffic light.

Use it in a sentence: "If you're trying to get to the Kroger, just head north 'til you get to the stop-and-go light, then hang a left."

Meaning: A water fountain, though it depends on what part of the Midwest you're in.

Use it in a sentence: "I'll catch up after I grab a drink from the bubbler."