Fixin’ To, Right Quick, and Directly Hillbilly Ways of Talking About TimeBy The Hillbilly Dude | Published In the hills, time doesn’t always run by the clock. It runs by talk. If you’ve ever heard somebody say they’re fixin’ to do something, or that they’ll get to it directly, you’ve brushed up against Appalachian ways of marking time. These phrases don’t match standard English, but they fit mountain life perfectly. What Folks SayThree of the most common time-markers in Appalachian and hillbilly talk are:
Mae:
"I’m fixin’ to start supper here in a minute."
Earl:
"Alright - I’ll run out to the barn right quick."
Mae:
"Good. Come in directly, the cornbread’ll be done."
Fixin’ ToWhen somebody says they’re "fixin’ to," it means they’re preparing or intending to do something soon. It doesn’t mean they’re literally fixing anything - it’s just the hillbilly way of saying "about to." Outsiders sometimes laugh at it, but it’s deeply rooted. Scots-Irish settlers often used "fix" to mean "prepare," and the phrase stuck around in Appalachian English. Right Quick"Right quick" means in a hurry, fast, or without much delay. You’ll hear it in sentences like "I’ll be back right quick" or "Run over to the store right quick." It’s a way of stressing speed without sounding rushed or panicked.
Ruby:
"Grab me a jar of pickles right quick, supper’s almost ready."
DirectlyHere’s the one that confuses outsiders the most. "Directly" in Appalachian talk does not mean immediately. It means "after a while," or "in a little bit." It’s a flexible promise - you’ll get to it when you get to it. That’s why a local might say "I’ll tend to it directly," and you shouldn’t expect it in the next five minutes. Why It MattersTogether, these phrases paint a picture of Appalachian time - more relaxed, more rooted in speech than in clocks. They show how language shapes expectations. A "fixin’ to" is urgent, "right quick" is speedy, and "directly" could stretch on for hours. So the next time you hear somebody say they’re fixin’ to do something right quick, or that they’ll get to it directly, you’ll know exactly what they mean. In Appalachian talk, time has its own rhythm - one that can’t always be measured by the minute hand. ★ Don’t ever take "directly" to mean "right away." It might be later this afternoon - or next week. ★ | About We are a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia, but wide as the world. Read more... |
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