Only 43% of Americans know what this Florida slang phrase means, report says
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FLORIDA - From the "y'alls" of the South to the "you betchas" up north, regional slang adds a flavorful twist to the American landscape. While Florida might not be in the top few spots on a new list of linguistic enigmas, there's a certain phrase that's been leaving nearly half of the country scratching their heads.
Preply, an e-learning platform, compiled a ranking of the most misunderstood states in the U.S. when it comes to their slang, and Florida came in at No. 14. The top dog was Maine; nearly 90% of people defined the state's slang incorrectly. On the flip side, Arkansas was the easiest to understand.
Nearly 60% of the over 1,000 U.S. residents quizzed answered Florida slang questions incorrectly. But one specific phrase puzzled the most people: "jiffy feet."
If you have "jiffy feet," you don't have talented dance moves, like 43% of people guessed. It means you actually have dirty feet from not wearing shoes, Preply said.
Here's a look at the most misunderstood states in the U.S.:
- Maine
- Montana
- Mississippi
- West Virginia
- Louisiana
- North Dakota
- Kansas
- Rhode Island
- Missouri
- Illinois
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Here's a mini quiz to see how many slang terms you know from around the country:
- South Dakota: "Taverns" (Hint: Not a bar or club)
- Maine: "Right out straight" (Hint: Not telling the truth)
- Mississippi: "Carry" (Hint: Not to have a gun on your person)
- New York: "Grill" (Hint: Not to ask a lot of questions)
- California: "Gnarly" (Hint: Not slang for "cool")
- Kentucky: "Dirty bird" (Hint: Not a derogatory insult)
- Hawaii: "Grinds" (Hint: Not slang for someone who works hard)
- Montana: "Borrow pit" (Hint: Not a donation box)
- Missouri: "Put out" (Hint: Not a vulgar way of saying you agree to something sensual)
- Colorado: "Blucifer" (Hint: Not a blue devil)
Click here for the answers and to read the full report.