Culture and Lifestyle 63 Sayings You Learned From Your Southern Grandma By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on May 21, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Getty Images Our mothers and grandmothers have given us so much. They've passed down their recipes, their china patterns, and their parenting tips, for starters. But we've just realized—they've passed down their vocabularies too. We have inherited their styles, their heirlooms, and more than a few of their favorite sayings as well. And we're beginning to understand what a treasure that truly is. From adages and proverbs to their favorite Southern turns of phrase, these ladies sure do have a way with words. Have you heard any of these classic phrases? Surely your grandma has told you to eat an apple a day. Or perhaps she mentioned that "pretty is as pretty does." Maybe you've heard that "still waters run deep." She has almost certainly exclaimed "Goodness gracious!" (And, of course, we have too.) We heard all of these adages growing up, and we couldn't help but pick up a few ourselves. However, we're starting to think that these words are passed down to us like our hair color and height. They feel so right—they must be in our DNA. Give your grandma a call, and you're sure to hear at least one of these sayings before you say goodbye. What sayings does your grandma always use? 01 of 63 You're the Bee's Knees Southern Living If Grandma's calling you the "bee's knees," you must be doing something right. 02 of 63 Many Hands Make Light Work Southern Living Never underestimate a little help. 03 of 63 Don't Count Your Chickens Before They've Hatched Southern Living When Grandma offers this advice, she wants to ensure that we don't count on something that may not happen. 04 of 63 A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss Southern Living This classic proverb either encourages action instead of standing still or reminds that it's hard to put down roots when you're moving. 05 of 63 Pretty Is As Pretty Does Southern Living Made famous by Forrest Gump, this phrase reminds us to look a little deeper. 06 of 63 A Stitch in Time Saves Nine Southern Living A little effort now may save you lots of effort later. 07 of 63 You'll Catch More Flies with Honey Than with Vinegar Southern Living Kindness works. Try it. 08 of 63 It Was Like Herding Cats Southern Living Have you ever tried to herd cats? 09 of 63 One Man's Trash Is Another Man's Treasure Southern Living Also: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 10 of 63 The Squeaky Wheel Gets the Grease Southern Living The loudest problems receive all the attention. 11 of 63 Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover Southern Living Read a few pages first. 12 of 63 The Early Bird Catches the Worm Southern Living Grandma is a proponent of proactivity. 13 of 63 A Watched Pot Never Boils Southern Living Take your mind off things. The time will pass anyway. 14 of 63 Too Many Cooks Spoil the Gravy Southern Living Collaboration is one thing. This phrase is another. 15 of 63 A Penny Saved Is a Penny Earned Southern Living Don't forget about that savings account. 16 of 63 Don't Put the Cart Before the Horse Southern Living First things first. 17 of 63 Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder Southern Living The jury's still out on this one. 18 of 63 Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket Southern Living Another reminder to be measured about what you do and how you do it. 19 of 63 You Can Lead a Horse to Water, But You Can't Make It Drink Southern Living There's only so much you can do (but do what you can anyway). 20 of 63 A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats Southern Living No room for envy here. 21 of 63 Make Hay While the Sun Shines Southern Living Use your time wisely. 22 of 63 Beggars Can't Be Choosers Southern Living Say "Thank you," and move on. 23 of 63 There's No Accounting for Taste Southern Living Though Grandma's taste is impeccable. 24 of 63 A Thing of Beauty Is a Joy Forever Southern Living This phrase is from John Keats' Endymion. 25 of 63 Goodness Gracious Southern Living It's been said every day, all day, for as long as we can remember. 26 of 63 Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels Southern Living Beware the useless. 27 of 63 Birds of a Feather Flock Together Southern Living Habit, we guess. 28 of 63 Never Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth Southern Living A "thank you" will suffice. 29 of 63 People Who Live in Glass Houses Shouldn't Throw Stones Southern Living Because those walls aren't shatterproof. Or opaque. 30 of 63 You Can't Make an Omelet Without Breaking a Few Eggs Southern Living Try and try again. 31 of 63 A Trouble Shared Is a Trouble Halved Southern Living Don't underestimate the power of a good friend's ear. 32 of 63 Don't Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater Southern Living Keep what you treasure, let the rest go. 33 of 63 An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away Southern Living Healthy eating, all the way. 34 of 63 Home Is Where the Heart Is Southern Living And don't you forget it. 35 of 63 Early to Bed and Early to Rise Makes You Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise Southern Living A gentle reminder that Grandma still cares about your bedtime—and general wellbeing. This phrase is attributed to Benjamin Franklin. 36 of 63 This Isn't My First Rodeo Southern Living Grandma knows. She always knows. 37 of 63 If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It Southern Living If it works, leave it alone. 38 of 63 There's No Use Crying Over Spilt Milk Southern Living So mop it up and move along. 39 of 63 You're a Day Late and a Dollar Short Southern Living It's not ideal. 40 of 63 I Love You a Bushel and a Peck and a Hug Around the Neck Southern Living 'Cause she's Grandma, that's why. (And because she still listens to this Doris Day tune.) 41 of 63 You're Barking up the Wrong Tree Southern Living Grandma doesn't have time for this. 42 of 63 Fortune Favors the Brave Southern Living Go boldly, Grandma says. 43 of 63 It Doesn't Cut the Mustard Southern Living Whatever it is, it is not quite up to par. 44 of 63 Confession Is Good for the Soul Southern Living She already knows anyway—somehow—so you should go ahead and come clean. 45 of 63 More than You Can Shake a Stick at Southern Living That's quite a lot, indeed. 46 of 63 Strike While the Iron Is Hot Southern Living Seize the day! 47 of 63 Share and Share Alike Southern Living Divide equally, and everyone will be happy. 48 of 63 The Apple Never Falls Far from the Tree Southern Living Whether it's attitude or style, we get it from our mamas (and grandmamas). 49 of 63 There's More Than One Way to Skin a Cat Southern Living If at first you don't succeed, there's surely another strategy to try. 50 of 63 As I Live and Breathe Southern Living If Grandma's surprised, you'll hear this immediately. 51 of 63 You're Preaching to the Choir Southern Living You're working too hard to convince people who are already on board. 52 of 63 Don't Buy a Pig in a Poke Southern Living Grandma would not recommend buying something sight unseen. 53 of 63 You're Making a Mountain out of a Molehill Southern Living Grandma's good at offering much-needed perspective. 54 of 63 Any Job Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Well Southern Living She taught us this, and we took it to heart. 55 of 63 You Can't Make a Silk Purse out of a Sow's Ear Southern Living You can always count on Grandma to be realistic. 56 of 63 Every Dog Has Its Day Southern Living Good fortune comes to everyone eventually. 57 of 63 If It Had Been a Snake, It Would Have Bitten You Southern Living Keep your eyes—and wits—about you. 58 of 63 You're the Cat's Meow Southern Living High praise. 59 of 63 It Doesn't Amount to a Hill of Beans Southern Living Again, she's a pro at offering perspective, which is one of the many reasons we love her. 60 of 63 Hurry Up, We're Burning Daylight Southern Living AKA: "It's time to go!" This is how Granny lights a fire under the kids, grandkids, and Grandpa. 61 of 63 What's Good for the Goose Is Good for the Gander Southern Living If it's appropriate for one, surely it's appropriate for the other too. 62 of 63 Where There's a Will, There's a Way Southern Living Encouragement, Grandma style. 63 of 63 Bless Your Heart Southern Living Always and forever. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit