Pea-picking

Posted by ESC on May 10, 2003

In Reply to: Fixing type posted by ESC on May 10, 2003

: : : anyone know the definition of cotton-pickin?

: : : Like, "wait just a cotton-pickin minute!"

: : COTTON-PICKING - as an adjective cotton-picking "is widespread as a term of disparagement. Damned, darned." From the "Dictionary of American Regional English," Volume 1 by Frederic G. Cassidy (1985, Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass., and London, England).

: : Actually, I think it's more light-hearted/ teasing than disparaging. "Keep your cotton-picking hands off my sandwich."

A similar phrase -- "Bless your little pea-picking Heart." A phrase used by country singer/entertainer Tennessee Ernie Ford.

See also: the meaning and origin of cotton-picking, a.k.a. cotton-pickin'