“You can put your boots in the oven, but that don’t make ‘em biscuits”
"You can put your boot in the oven, but that doesn't make them biscuits" means that just because you do something, that doesn't make it so. People sometimes put boots in the…
“You can shoot a man with impunity, but you’d better not steal his cow”
Cows have value in Texas. This saying (not found elsewhere with these words) dramatically illustrates the point. 12 January 1936, Abilene (TX) Morning Reporter-News, pg. 4, col. 1:It calls to mind…
“You Can Smell Our Pits From Miles Away” & “I Got Sauced at the Lick” (The Salt Lick Bar-B-Que)
The Salt Lick barbecue opened for business in Driftwood (near Austin) in 1969; it quickly became famous and now has other locations. One slogan on The Salt Lick's website is:…
“You can take a boy out of Texas, but you can’t take Texas out of a boy”
In the early 1900s, the phrase was: "You can take a boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy." By 1950, the phrase was adapted to Texas: "You can…
“You can tell who’s winnin’ by who’s whinin’” (Ross Perot)
"You can tell who's winnin' by who's whinin'" is said to be a quote by Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot. The quote isn't on many websites, but one website (below)…
“You can trust your car to the man who wears the star” (Texaco ad jingle)
"You can trust your car to the man who wears the star" has been Texaco's advertising jingle from 1962 (not the 1940s, as incorrectly listed on some websites). The Texaco advertising…
“You can’t say Dallas doesn’t love you, Mr. President” (Nellie Connally)
"You can't say Dallas doesn't love you, Mr. President" are the ironic words of Nellie Connally, wife of then-Texas Governor John B. Connally, to President John F. Kennedy in a…
“You can’t swing a dead cat in Austin without hitting a musician”
Austin has been called the Live Music Capital of the World. It's been said that "you can't swing a dead cat in Austin without hitting a musician." "Swing a dead cat"…
“You can’t take the honky tonk out of the girl”
"You can take the girl out of the honky tonk, but you can't take the honky tonk out of the girl" was a line in the film Sweet Home Alabama, released on September 27, 2002.…
“You can’t wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time”
"You can't wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time" means that one can't despair ("wring your hands") and take action ("roll up your…
“You can’t set a Hallmark movie in Texas. Unexpected snow isn’t magical down here”
The Hallmark Channel is known for its Christmas movies, with many movies featuring an unexpected snow. "You can’t set a Hallmark movie in the South. Unexpected snow isn’t magical down…
“You can’t set a Hallmark movie in the South. Unexpected snow isn’t magical down here”
The Hallmark Channel is known for its Christmas movies, with many movies featuring an unexpected snow. "You can’t set a Hallmark movie in the South. Unexpected snow isn’t magical down…
“You cannot get the water to clear up until you get the pigs out of the creek”
Entry in progress -- B.P. Journal Courier (Jacksonville, IL)Jan. 21 Open LinePosted: Saturday, January 21, 2012 12:00 am | Updated: 10:41 am, Sat Sep 1, 2012Obama must go so this nation can get…
“You gotta throw the corn where the hogs can get it”
“You gotta throw the corn where the hogs can get it" is a Southern phrase meaning that you have to make things simple and accessible to the general public. U.S. President Bill Clinton used…
“You had me at hello” (Renée Zellweger in the film Jerry Maguire)
"You had me at hello" was the line that Renée Zellweger (from Katy, Texas) told to Tom Cruise in the movie Jerry Maguire (1996). Country star Kenny Chesney wrote a song called "You…
“You know the good part about all those executions in Texas? Fewer Texans.” (George Carlin)
George Carlin (1937-2008) was a stand-up comedian from New York City. Carlin worked in radio in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1959, when he started his comedy career. Perhaps Carlin didn't like Texas.…
“You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas” (Davy Crockett)
When Davy Crockett ran for a seat in Congress from Tennessee (1835), he declared that, if he lost, the people in his district "may go to hell and I will go to Texas." Crockett lost the…
“You might be Texan if you base your restaurant decisions on its chips and salsa”
Many Texans love the free chips and salsa served at Tex-Mex restaurants. But is this a basis to choose a restaurant? "Don't judge a book by its cover, but always judge a TexMex restaurant…
“You might live in Texas if you shovel snow and need to mow your yard in the same week”
Many states have claimed bipolar weather. "Only in NorthEast PA do you shovel 9 inches of snow and mow your yard all in the same week. #fb" was posted on Twitter by Sean O'Donnell on…
“You never realize how little self control you have until chips and salsa are in front of you at a Mexican restaurant”
Mexican restaurants serve complimentary chips and salsa before the meal, and many people can't stop eating them. "You never realize how little self control you have until chips and salsa…