Wisconsin’s reputation for dairy and more
specifically, cheese, led to the term "Cheesehead" and was
created to refer to Wisconsinites. Many people
used it
in a derogatory manner, but as a fun loving people we let it roll
off our backs and even embraced it. In 1987 Ralph Bruno of
Milwaukee went beyond that quiet
embracement and crafted a wedge-shaped cheese hat
from one of his mother’s sofa cushions and wore it to a
Milwaukee Brewer's game. He was literally attacked by
people wanting to get their hands on one like it. The Cheesehead Hat
(Copyright) was born and the term
"Cheesehead" became embraced in a more possitive manner. The
coverage of the Packer games helped Ralph's company Foamation Co.
launch to "Empire" status, and helped elevate the term in
popularity.
You can't just go
put on the wedge, wear green and gold and walk around with a
beer, yelling "Go-Pack-Go!" and qualify as a Wisconsin native
or Cheesehead, nor can you obtain your degree at this
University. You's gotta know the lingo too, ya-know, aye? Here is
the Language portion of your studies. This is a list
of "Wisconsinisms."
Ain-a-hey:
placed at the
end of a profound statement; as in "isn't It?"
Bart:
a Green Bay institution who doesn't need a last name;
(see "Vince").
Believe-you-me:
attached to the beginning or end a statement make it
more credible; as in, "really!"
Blaze
orange:
what deer hunters and
cold-weather Packer fans wear at Lambeau.
Born in a
barn?:
a sarcastic question which
usually means you left the door open.
Borrow:
used in place of "lend," as in, "could youse borrow me
a couple two-tree bucks?"
Brat:
a sausage; a Wisconsin tailgate favorite; doesn't have
anything to do with a spoiled kid.
Bubbler:
to the rest of the world outside Wisconsin's borders,
it is known as a drinking fountain.
Budge:
to merge without permission; cut in; as in "Don't you
budge in line for a brat, I was here first!"
By:
to or near; as in "Let's go by One Eyed Jack's,"or
"She'll come by Froggers tonight." It has nothing to do with a
purchase.
Cheddarhead:
someone from Wisconsin; see,
"Cheesehead."
Cheesehead:
someone from Wisconsin; see,
"Cheddarhead."
Cheese
curd:
small pieces of fresh cheese
that squeak when you bite into them; a parish picnic favorite when
deep fried.
Come-here-once:
a
beckoning call to another Cheddarhead.
Couple-two-tree:
more than one; as in "Polaski and I drank a
couple-two-tree beers."
Cripes:
a Wisconsin expletive. Cripes-sake: a mild Wisconsin
expletive.
Crymany-cripes-sake:
a wild Wisconsin expletive.
D:
a substitute for words beginning with "TH;" as in"Dat
guy over dere in dah Bears shirt is a FIB."
Davenport:
what
your mom called the sofa; a couch.
Fair-to-midlin:
not
bad or great, just "O.K."
FIB:
an acronym; (F***in' Illinois
Bastard)
Fish fry:
a Friday night dining ritual in
Wisconsin.
Fleet
Farm:
a Cheddarhead's answer to
Bloomingdales.
Frozen
tundra:
Lambeau
Field.
Geeez!:
Another Wisconsin expletive.
Go ahead:
proceed; as in, "go ahead and back up your
car."
Gots:
used in place of "have;" as in, "I gots my tickets to
watch da Packers play on da Frozen Tundra."
Guldarn:
another Wisconsin expletive. "Those guldarn cows smell
like poop."
Hey:
placed at the beginning or end of phrases for
emphasis, as in "Hey, how 'bout them Packers?" or "How 'bout them
Packers, hey?"
Holy-cry-yiy!:
as
in, "wow!"
How's-by-you?:
a
greeting; the same as, "How's everything?"
Humdinger:
a
beauty; as in "dat crappy youse caughtup-nort is a real
humdinger."
John
Deere:
a Cheddarhead's other
vehicle.
M'wakee:
Wisconsin's largest city; located just down the lake
from Trivers and Mantwoc.
N-so?:
a word inserted at the end of a statement; used as a
substitute for "right?" or "correct?"
Oh, yah:
depending on emphasis, it's either used as
acknowledgment (as"That's correct") or skepticism (That's
bull!).
Parish
picnics:
social events of the
summer up-nort.
Pert-neer:
near;
in close proximity; just about.
Polka:
what you do at parish picnics.
Pop:
a non-alcoholic drink.
Rubbers:
protection for your shoes; also known as
"galoshes."
Scansin:
the state where Cheeseheads are
from.
Schmear:
a card game; also a term used when someone gets beat
in a game of Sheepshead
Sheepshead:
another
card game.
Side-by-each:
used instead of, "next to each
other."
Skeeter:
Wisconsin state bird.
Start wit me
last:
to forfeit your
turn.
Stop-and-go
lights:
what everyone else refers
to as traffic signals.
Uff-dah:
affirmative; as in "that's right!"
Un-thaw:
to defrost.
Where-abouts:
locality; proximity; as in, "where-abouts are youse
guys from?"
Up nort:
where Wisconsinites go on vacation.
Up-side
right:
right side
up.
Vince:
the other Green Bay icon who doesn't need a last name
for recognition; (see "Bart").
Yah-hey:
affirmative; as in "uff-dah."
You-betcha:
affirmative; as in
"Yah-hey."
Youse:
pronounced "YOOS;" it means "you" as in "are youse
guys goin' up nort?"
Youper:
someone from ever further up-nort than
you.