10 Hilarious Sayings You’ll Only Hear in South Carolina

Here are 10 hilarious sayings you’ll only hear in South Carolina, capturing the charm and wit of the Palmetto State’s unique local flavor:

1. Bless Your Heart
   Equal parts kindness and Southern sass, it can mean sympathy or a polite way of saying “well, aren’t you naive?”
2. Pitch a Fit
   Used when someone is throwing a temper tantrum or making a big fuss over something
3. Yonder
   A handy word for “over there” or “a little ways away,” perfect for giving directions across winding roads and farmland
4. Boiled Peanuts
   Not your typical snack, but a salty, squishy treat boiled and sold roadside that you either love or avoid politely
5. Cackalacky
   A fun, folksy nickname for the Carolinas, said with a smile and a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor
6. Fixing to
   Meaning “about to” do something—a classic Southern way to announce your next move: “I’m fixin’ to head down to the store.”
7. Pitching a Fit
   If someone’s pitching a fit, they’re having a temper tantrum—less scary and more about blowing off steam
8. Sandlapper
   A traditional nickname for a South Carolinian, especially one who lives near the sandy coastal areas
9. Holy Smokes
   An exclamation used politely to express mild surprise or shock—think of it as the Southern “wow!”
10. Carolina Shag
    The official state dance and a laid-back, breezy beach dance you’ll hear locals invite you to try with a smile

These fun, quirky sayings perfectly capture the heart, humor, and hospitality of South Carolina’s people and culture.

SOURCES

(https://wheninyourstate.com/south-carolina/18-south-carolina-slang-terms-only-locals-will-get/)(https://www.enjoytravel.com/us/travel-news/guides/south-carolina-slang)
(https://www.movoto.com/blog/south-carolina-words/)
(https://www.iheart.com/content/2021-08-27-if-youve-said-this-slang-word-youre-probably-from-south-carolina/)
(https://discoversouthcarolina.com/articles/how-to-speak-south-carolinian)