At fancysweetstx, we’re all about the Midwest. We make apparel and gifts that celebrate the region’s landscapes, culture, and charm. There’s nothing we love more than a classic turn of phrase that reminds us of all the people and things we appreciate in our special slice of America.
Today, we’re embracing nostalgia and recounting our favorite Midwestern sayings.
Here’s what you’ll learn in this pleasant stroll through the language of our people:
Ope!
You won’t find the Midwestern use of this little word in standard dictionaries, even though it’s uttered countless times every day throughout the region. Ope may have originally evolved from “oops,” but it grew into the Midwest’s trademark utterance.
Ope is a mild apology, an expression of surprise, and an all-purpose filler word. Ope is especially useful after making unintentional contact with someone, as in “Ope, didn’t see you there!” or for avoiding such contact, as in “Ope, let me just scooch past ya.”
Of course, catchy words like Ope tend to filter into all sorts of situations and conversations. These days, you won’t often complete a day in the Midwest without hearing a few opes.
Corn makes the world go round, and the world can thank the Midwest. Iowa and Illinois combine to produce around one-third of the entire US corn crop.
It’s no surprise that there’s some special Midwest lingo with corn-based origins. Among corny sayings, none is catchier than “knee high by the 4th of July.”
The phrase refers to a corn crop reaching knee-high length by the midsummer holiday. For prior generations of farmers, that was considered a good sign.
These days, corn grows faster and taller. Today’s Midwest corn farmers shoot for “corn as high as an elephant’s eye.” However, “knee high by the 4th of July” will always be fun to say, and it’s a cultural catchphrase that’s known throughout the rural Midwest.
Do Minnesotans have the world’s most delightful accent? Oh sure, you betcha!
The “betcha” is a mashup of “bet you.” So, technically, that second “you” is redundant, but hey, who’s counting? It’s a delightful phrase that turns a simple “yes” into a cheerful show of solidarity.
If you’ve ever said “pick it up, I’m going alone” then there’s a darn good chance you hail from the Midwest.
Midwesterners know that this cheeky phrase comes from Euchre, the classic card game that’s known by all in the Midwest, yet nearly invisible in other regions.
Euchre has been bringing Midwest families and friends together for generations. Like any great game, Euchre is rich with slang and catchphrases.
At fancysweetstx, we love putting Euchre lingo on t-shirts. The phrases are like secret flags to other Midwesterners. See below for a few of our favorite Euchre-themed designs.
Bower Euchre |
In the Barn Euchre Shirt |
Here for the Euchre Shirt |
“Such a fun gift for my Euchre-playing dad! I waited until he said these words in a game, then brought out the shirt! Haha, epic family memory created. Thanks, fancysweetstx.”
— Kat M., ★★★★★ Verified fancysweetstx T-Shirt Buyer
Ah, the Midwestern goodbye. Kids grow up thinking the outrageously slow process of concluding social gatherings is unique to their own quirky families. However, the phenomenon occurs throughout the Midwest.
Some say the Midwestern goodbye occurs in a series of stages. The walk to the door, the hugs, the doorway chat, and so on.
We’ve all occasionally wished a Midwestern goodbye could wrap up more quickly. However, an extended goodbye is a sign of affection, and most Midwesterners have a soft spot in their heart for the folks who drag out their goodbyes the longest.
Wasted? Hammered? Trashed?
Those terms are rather crude, aren’t they?
The Midwest has its own preferred adjective for describing someone who’s had one too many “brewskis” (another regional gem). That word, schnookered, is perfectly goofy, charming, and Midwestern.
In the classic comic strip Calvin and Hobbes, Calvin asks his dad why they can’t turn up the heat. He replies, “Consuming less fuel is better for the environment and it saves money.”
He pauses while Calvin considers this response, then follows up with “... and being cold builds character.”
It’s no surprise that the strip’s author, Bill Waterson, was raised in Ohio and based his “character building” jokes on his own Midwest upbringing.
When it comes to building character, there’s nothing like cold weather. Turn up the thermostat on a frigid evening? Midwestern parents know better—never let the kiddos miss out on a chance to build character.
You’ve heard people talk about having their druthers, and maybe you’ve uttered this odd phrase yourself. But did you know that the phrase comes from “would rather”?
An early usage by Mark Twain in his novel Tom Sawyer, Detective sheds light on the phrase’s evolution:
“Any way you druther have it, that is the way I druther have it,” says Huck Finn to Tom. Tom replies: “There ain’t any druthers about it, Huck Finn; nobody said anything about druthers.”
Today, the word “druthers” is generally only used as part of the entire phrase “if I had my druthers.” It means “if I had my way.”
Talking about how things would be if you had your druthers is a politely Midwestern way of noting how things aren’t quite as they should be and that they might be better if you were in charge.
If you talk like a true Midwesterner, fancysweetstx apparel is perfect for celebrating your favorite words and phrases. We love highlighting our favorite lingo, places, and cultural quirks on shirts, hoodies, and gifts.
”Great company, great shirts… I live in Michigan and I buy the ones that mean something to me. Thanks, fancysweetstx!”
— Vickie, ★★★★★ Verified fancysweetstx T-Shirt Buyer
Our Midwesterner Apparel and Gifts Collection has something for every Midwesterner. We also have special collections for these places and institutions of America’s heartland:
For more Midwestern cultural tidbits and fancysweetstx apparel buying guide, visit our blog.
Share on Facebook:
]]>Midwest Culture is what made us. It's our family, our heritage, and all we know.
Our shirts pay tribute to what makes us proud to be Midwestern. Some of our favorite Midwestism are:
You're at your family gathering and the food isn't great? Just add ranch.
The food tastes amazing? Just add ranch and make it even better.
Here's a short list of food that tastes better with ranch:
Ranch is the go to condiment in the Midwest and we're proud of it.
Oh man, when that corn kid blew up on Tiktok corn officially became the vegetable of the year in 2022.
And what isn't to love about corn?!
When you're a t-shirt maker you have a responsibility to make fun shirts that make people happy whether they are best sellers or not. Our corn shirts are just that for us.
We've been brainstorming and printing corn shirts for a while and this gold corn shirt is our newest look.
Do you say "No, Yeah, For Sure" or "Yeah, No, For Sure"?
If you're from the Midwest, you're probably guilty of saying both. If you aren't, I'm sure you've heard it from your Midwest friends.
We're more fond of the positive spin on the Midwestism, No, Yeah, For Sure! and turned it into this soft shirt.
Ope! Have you said this word? If you have, you're either a Midwesterner or someone who spends a lot of time with Midwesterners!
Common uses for the word Ope:
Complete the Ope collection with:
If you live in the Midwest it means half your month has been spent saying goodbye after gatherings to fellow Midwesterners.
It goes something like:
"Welp, gotta get goin'. Hey, by the way, how's Susan doing? Okay, really gotta scoot this time. Let's hug, and then chat a little more about the weather, and then hug again at the car. Oh, wait did you hear about Carl? Ope, it sure is late, gotta go! One more hug! Make sure you stand outside and wave until I've reached the end of the street!"
Commemorate the moment with this Midwestern Goodbye Shirt.
Pro Tip: How to Pull off the Perfect Midwestern Goodbye: 9 Simple Steps
If you grew up in the Midwest, you were either lucky enough to grow up in the family that had a minimum of four casseroles at every family holiday or be best friends with that family.
My best friend was in one of those families.
Maybe he was my best friend because we had shared interests and got along so well. Or maybe it was because his mom always had a spare casserole or two in the fridge for me.
Nothing brings a family together like a hearty casserole.
If you're not from Ohio, you might wonder what this delicious peanut butter and chocolate treat is. For those fortunate enough to be Ohioans, this is a staple at every good party and a true mark of pride for your home state.
This #1 Buckeye Fan shirt is for when you want to fit in while watching the Buckeyes, but mostly you just want to show your appreciation for your favorite Ohio inspired dessert.
Show that true Midwest hospitality and bring the buckeyes to the next game watch.
There's something special about calling the Midwest home.
From the people to the traditions to the culture.
Celebrate and stay connected to your Midwest roots wth our Midwest collection of shirts and gifts.
Find them on our fancysweetstx.com and in both of our Midwestern retail stores in 16153 Genova, OH.
]]>You won't find Ope! in the Oxford English Dictionary. However, you will hear it said in all of the 12 states that make up the Midwest. The exact origins of Midwesterners using Ope! are unknown. The main theory is that it came from people saying "Oops" and shorting it to "Ope" and then Midwest ran with it.
Check out these short and funny YouTube videos made by true Midwesterners called School Of Ope and Stuck in an "Ope Off"
Ope! My bad!
Ope! So sorry, excuse me!
Ope! Would you look at the time? We've gotta scoot!
Ope! Sneak Right past ya!
Ope! didn't see you there!
Show your Midwest pride by embracing Ope! with these new releases from fancysweetstx!
Ope! I love your shirt
This Ope! Shirt will catch the kind eyes of Midwesterners everywhere. This unisex ultra-soft tri-blend t-shirt is a great way to show your Midwest pride.
What's more Midwest than denim.
Enjoy both of these great things in one with the hat. This black denim hat with white embroidery and an adjustable strap is perfect for any Midwesterner.
Bring the excitement everywhere you go with this Ope Hat!
These are the socks that every Midwesterner needs!
These white striped socks will keep your feet warm in the cold Midwest winters. They will also make any pair of shoes pop in the summer. Wear your Midwest roots from head to toe with these Ope Socks!
Thanks for reading and Ope! I almost forgot to tell you to check out the rest of the fancysweetstx Midwesterner clothing collection on our website!
]]>