You never know what someone’s going to say, but you can bet someone in the Midwest has said one of these things before.
Each state in the Midwest has its own quirks: Chanting “O-H” in Ohio means someone will finish your sentence with a resounding “I-O!”
But the region is chock full of interesting sayings that can be found pretty much anywhere in the region. Stop us if you’ve heard this one before:
“Ope.” This is shorthand for, “Oh, dear, it seems I’m in your way. Let me move for you.” While people in other areas of the U.S. might instead say, “Excuse me,” the classic Midwestern “ope” does just fine around here.
“Do you want any pop?” In some southern parts of the U.S., this question might go like, “Can I get you a coke?” Pop essentially means “soda,” and can be anything from a Coca-Cola to a Fanta.
Puppy chow. It sounds way grosser than it is, and you probably shouldn’t give it to your dog. “Puppy chow” is a scrumptious blend of Chex cereal, melted chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. It’s a sweet, beloved treat that Midwesterners have long appreciated.
“Crick” (not creek). This is just a matter of pronunciation. For some reason, many Midwesterners call those narrow bodies of water in their backward “cricks” and not “creeks,” which is probably how it should be said anyway.
“Jeez!” This is probably the P.C. way of expressing shock without using the Lord’s name in vain. When you hear a Midwesterner say this, it’s often accompanied by a wide-open mouth and raised eyebrows.
“Want a brewski?” If anyone ever asks you this, the answer is yes. You’re about to receive a beer.
“I’ll wear my tennis shoes.” This doesn’t inherently mean your buddy is about to play tennis. Midwesterners use “tennis shoes” interchangeably with any type of athletic footwear and can wear them while jogging, playing basketball, or even if they’re trying to be comfortable.
“I brought a hotdish!” Buckle up, you’re in for a treat! Hotdishes are staples of the Midwest, and though they can vary greatly (a hotdish in Kansas might not be the same as one in Indiana), hotdishes are typically made of a starch, meat, vegetable, canned soup, and — if they’re doing it right — a bunch of cheese.
