Be careful -- Kentucky phrase??

Posted by Graham Cambray on January 30, 2009 at 17:55

In Reply to: Be careful -- Kentucky phrase?? posted by ESC on January 30, 2009 at 16:59:

: Idol Judges Misconstrued Louisville Contestant's Remark
: POSTED: 10:05 am EST January 30, 2009
: UPDATED: 10:08 am EST January 30, 2009

: LOS ANGELES -- Be careful not to read too much into what someone from Louisville says while heading out the door - like the "American Idol" judges did.
: The producers of "Idol" apologized Thursday on behalf of its judges, who apparently misinterpreted what a contestant in Louisville, Ky., said after a failed audition. On his way out, Mark Mudd said: "Take care and be careful."

: Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell took that as a threat. Abdul scolded Mudd, telling him, "You don't say that to people, 'Be careful.' That's just not a normal thing to say."

: It turns out that "Be careful" is a regional parting expression.

: The show's producers said they had not heard that from any other contestants, so it took everyone by surprise.
: A statement from "Idol" producers said: "We now know better and look forward to visiting Louisville again someday."
: WLKY -- www.wlky.com/ news/18603272/detail.html

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Not just Kentucky. You hear it in the UK too. In my family it was often an expanded version: "Be good. If you can't be good, be careful". (GC)

• Be careful -- Kentucky phrase?? ESC 30/January/09