fixin' 
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "fixin’" can mean preparing to do something, repairing something, or - in plural form - side dishes that come with a main course.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Most people that grew up here say 'fixin'' in place of 'preparin'' or 'gettin' ready'. But there's no rule - you may hear all three in the same paragraph. Pronunciation
[FIX-un]
Meaning & Usage
- Preparing (verb)
Estel:
Was you fixin' to run to town?
Was you fixin' to run to town?
Elmer:
- Side Dishes (noun, always plural)
Elmer:
Are we just eatin' a plate o'ham?
Are we just eatin' a plate o'ham?
Estel:
Nope. It's ham and all the fixin's.
Nope. It's ham and all the fixin's.- Repairing (verb)
Estel:
Man he's out there fixin' that wagon again.
Man he's out there fixin' that wagon again.
Elmer:
other spellings: fixin, fixin to, fixin’a, and fixins
★ If someone’s "fixin’ to," they might do it right away" or just afterwhile. ★
Origin
From the verb "fix," meaning "to prepare" or "to repair," combined with "to" for the sense of "getting ready to." The food-related plural "fixin’s" for side dishes likely comes from the idea of "all the things needed to fix (prepare) a meal."
Notes
When used as a verb, "fixin’" almost always appears with "to," as in "I’m fixin’ to leave." In rapid speech, it may sound like "fixin’a." As a noun, it’s almost always plural and refers to the accompaniments to a main dish.